1: What is the Independent Living Support Council?
Under the Act on the Support of Persons with Disabilities for Independent Living, enacted in April 2006, the Independent Living Support Council is positioned as a forum for building networks among relevant organizations and addressing local issues, with the aim of promoting community welfare tailored to regional circumstances. Moka City, in collaboration with Haga Town, Ichikai Town, Mashiko Town, and Motegi Town, established the Haga District Independent Living Support Council Charter. The council holds annual discussions to develop support systems for citizens with disabilities.
2: Role of the Support Council
To realize Moka City's vision of “Moka: A Community of Mutual Support, Filled with Compassion and Security,” the council identifies challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and their families—such as difficulties in daily life revealed through individual support—as shared community issues. It builds a collaborative network among relevant organizations to address these challenges.
3: Specific Initiatives
The council's main activities include holding plenary meetings 2-4 times per year (based on past records) with representatives from relevant organizations. It also conducts secretariat meetings to review discussion content, implements training sessions aimed at building networks and enhancing the skills of support providers, and continuously operates specialized subcommittees to discuss improvements and development of existing services for problem-solving.
4: Organization of the Self-Reliance Support Council
In addition to the “General Meetings” held with the above members, the Self-Reliance Support Council has established several subcommittees. Furthermore, to ensure smooth coordination between the subcommittees and the General Meetings, “Secretariat Meetings” are held. Each subcommittee carries out the following tasks:
○Consultation Support Subcommittee
This subcommittee identifies, organizes, and proposes solutions for challenges within the Haga district arising from consultation support services. It also works to enhance the consultation support system, focusing on planning consultation support, in response to revisions to the Comprehensive Support Act for Persons with Disabilities.
○Employment Support Subcommittee
This subcommittee examines the current situation of individuals working at companies and other organizations, considering their working environment, livelihood, and appropriate support methods.
○Healthy Development Subcommittee
This committee aims to promote the development of community support systems for children with developmental differences or delays. It discusses parent programs and collaboration with educational institutions. It is a forum where those involved with the children share various information and challenges, considering how to support the children and their families so that the children can lead independent lives in the future.
○Safety Net Subcommittee
This committee discusses emergency reception systems for situations such as sudden illness of a caregiver or changes in the condition of a person with disabilities.