TOWARDS A CARING SOCIETY: LESSONS FROM JAPAN ON SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

By Morapedi Sibeko.

• Empowering Families for Independence – Japan’s approach focuses on equipping families to help children with disabilities become more independent
• The Importance of Measuring Impact -South African social work leaders stress the need to assess the real-life outcomes of services—not just their delivery—to ensure lasting improvements for families.
• Breaking Stigma and Promoting Inclusion – While stigma remains a barrier, the South Africa–Japan partnership is driving change by advocating for integrated, community-based care and enhanced respite services.

Every child deserves the opportunity to grow, play, and live with dignity. This is especially true for children with disabilities, many of whom face additional challenges that affect both their daily lives and those of their families.
Japan’s approach to supporting children with disabilities is centered on empowering families to promote greater independence. Dr. Akiko Nagae, a Japanese expert in medical treatment for children with disabilities, explains: “Children can enjoy active movement, which is crucial for their mental and physical development.” She adds that specially designed utensils help families maintain their children’s eating and chewing abilities—simple tools that make a lasting impact.
“Children with disabilities live more naturally and sustainably when their families are supported to help them become more independent,” Nagae emphasizes. These strategies are rooted in decades of experience and evidence-based practices designed to enhance quality of life.
The knowledge shared through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) programme has sparked an essential dialogue in South Africa about the effectiveness and quality of services available to children with disabilities.
Boniswa Kanguwe, a social work policy developer from the Northern Cape, highlights the importance of measuring impact: “It’s not enough to just deliver services; we must ask what difference they make in the lives of families and children with disabilities.”
Speaking from personal experience—having family members with disabilities—Kanguwe understands the sense of isolation many people with disabilities face and the emotional toll placed on caregivers. “When it works, respite care feels like a much-needed extension of support,” she says.
However, significant challenges remain. The goal of integrating children with disabilities into everyday community life is still a work in progress. “Some families continue to hide their children indoors due to stigma or fear,” Kanguwe notes. “Changing that mindset is one of our biggest challenges.”

This partnership between South Africa and Japan goes beyond knowledge sharing—it’s about adapting practical solutions that honour the resilience of families and affirm the value and potential of every child, regardless of ability.
By strengthening respite care and integrating it into broader family support policies, the Department of Social Development is taking essential steps toward a more inclusive society. With the proper support, families don’t just survive—they thrive. And children with disabilities gain the opportunity to grow, participate, and live with dignity.