TOKYO: Japan’s Welfare Ministry plans to consider measures to support the smooth transfer of  people with disabilities aged 18 or over at facilities for children to those for adults, including facilities for employment aid, to help them stand on their own feet, Jiji Press learned Saturday.

The ministry plans to establish a council comprising local government officials and others in December to discuss a mechanism for ensuring that such transfers are conducted smoothly. The council is expected to compile specific measures in summer 2021, informed sources said.

Facilities for children with disabilities are mainly for people aged up to 18 with physical, intellectual or mental disabilities. Those aged 18 or over are encouraged to move to facilities for adults battling disabilities so that they can receive appropriate support to become independent.

However, some people for whom transfers are difficult for reasons such as the needs to receive special care related to their disabilities remain at facilities for children. In particular, transfers to facilities for adults have not been smooth mainly in some urban areas where support for services to severely impacted people is insufficient.

As of July 29, some 400 people aged 18 or over remained at facilities for children because places for adults that can accept them had not been found, according to the sources.

The planned council will be made up of officials from prefectural and municipal governments, as well as workers at facilities for disabled children and adult facilities for self-reliance support, the sources said.

Members will discuss administrative procedures for smooth transfers and how to provide self-reliance support after the transfers. The council will also consider steps, including turning facilities for children where most of the residents are 18 or over into those supporting adults with disabilities, the sources said.

JIJI Press