SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES MUST BE DESIGNED TO AMPLIFY THEIR VOICES IN SOCIETY

By Morapedi Sibeko.

• The South African Department of Social Development team, currently on a study tour in Japan, has seen firsthand the ways that country structures support for people with disabilities.
• Central to the efforts of Japan’s welfare organisations is the principle of inclusivity.
• Purposefully created systems, based on policy, community engagement, and child or people disability-centred planning, change people’s lives.

The need to be recognised, supported, and given the chance to flourish is universal, including for children with disabilities, regardless of their disabilities or of their geographic location, culture, or language.

In search of best practice examples on creating more inclusive systems for children with disabilities, a South African delegation from the Department of Social Development is in Japan to learn about the support systems in place there.

Strong lessons, based on collaboration, dignity, and well-thought-out support, are being learned.

This knowledge exchange has offered the department officials a unique opportunity to see for themselves how Japan’s support system for people with disabilities is structured around customised planning, early intervention, and community-based services that protect and promote the rights of every child or person with a disability.

These reflections provide valuable insights as South Africa continues to strengthen its own programmes and policies.

Japan’s commitment to children with disabilities dates back over seven decades. The Child Welfare Act, enacted in 1947, laid the groundwork for a system that protects the rights of children facing physical, developmental, and or social challenges.

Services supported by a strong legal framework

Paediatrician and lecturer at the Saitama Medical University, Dr Michiaki Nagura, explained how the law enables the provision of comprehensive services like subsidies for children with chronic illnesses, daycare services for children with disabilities, nursing residential facilities, and specialised consultation and social support for caregivers.

To promote early stimulation, social engagement, and skill development, childcare access is actively encouraged for children with developmental disabilities, which continues to be the most prevalent type of disability in Japan today.

Services are planned to nurture their ability to participate in family and community life.

South Africa could benefit from this methodical approach, not just in terms of the services provided but also in terms of how they are provided with care, purpose, and coordination.

Social worker and director at KOAYU, Hayato Masuno, made a key point: “Planning goes far beyond administrative tasks, it is a vital tool for fostering inclusion.”

Beyond administration, to inclusion

When a child or individual with a disability is brought into the support system, two major interlinked tools guide their journey: the service utilisation plan and the individual support plan. The first outlines what services a person will access, and the second describes how those services will help them grow, belong, and reach their personal goals.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer.

However, Japan demonstrates how purposefully created systems, based on policy, community engagement, and child or people with disability centred planning, may change people’s lives.

The process of creating an individual support plan is a personal one.

It begins with a respectful and thorough assessment, which focuses on the person with a disability’s strengths and desires.

Their difficulties are placed aside, and inputs from the family and support team are encouraged, allowing everyone to share insights into what the individual enjoys, what they struggle with, and what kind of life they hope to lead.

South Africa’s Respite Care

In South Africa, too, family involvement remains a critical part of disability support planning, especially in programmes like Respite Care, which is designed not only to offer short-term relief for caregivers, but also to build their long-term capacity.

Social work manager at the Department of Social Development, Mmanoa Tshenye, explained: “Before joining or receiving Respite Care services, parents attend a parent empowerment session. These sessions empower them to understand disability in general, their child’s specific disability, and how to manage it daily.”

Support structures are important. “We also emphasise the value of connecting with other parents of children with disabilities. There is strength in shared experiences,” Tshenye added.

“Most importantly, we teach parents to recognise both their own strengths and weaknesses, and those of their children. This builds trust, self-awareness, and better planning for support.”

This model mirrors the principles seen in Japan’s family-centred support plans, where collaboration amongst stakeholders is foundational.

Whether in Kusatsu or Tshwane, empowering families with knowledge and connecting them to support networks is essential for helping children with disabilities thrive and for reminding caregivers that they are not alone in their journey.

The development stage of the individual support plan outlines the goals to be pursued, how they will be supported, who will do what, and when progress will be reviewed.

After the plan is drawn up, it is brought to the family for approval and discussion; this is a time for cooperation rather than teaching.

With everyone on board, the plan is put into action, followed by regular monitoring, so it can be adjusted as the child grows.

Amplifying the voices of people with disabilities

The founding director of the social welfare corporation at Biwako Gakuen, Kazuo Itoga, shared his decades of experience working with people with profound disabilities.

“No matter how severe a person’s disability may be, they have their own thoughts and feelings. They simply find it difficult to express themselves. It is our role to receive, understand, amplify their voices, and to keep them at the very centre of our support and development.”

This philosophy underpins Japan’s approach. People and children with disabilities are not passive recipients of care; they are people with preferences, rhythm, personalities, and potential.

The support system, whether through daycare, residential services, or individual support planning, is designed to amplify their voices and protect their right to expression and participation.

As South Africa continues to develop its policy targeted at improving the quality of the lives of people and children with disabilities, these lessons can help ensure that people with disabilities are not an afterthought.

The Department of Social Development delegation will return home with not only notes and slides but with a renewed conviction that every individual or child with a disability deserves a chance to be seen, to thrive, and to belong.