There are cases in which people with disabilities become less socially connected and withdraw from welfare support due to the death of a relative.



A representative of a welfare group said, "If the connection is cut off, people are more likely to be harmed by people who defraud them of their money or who take discriminatory treatment. We need to create a system that does not cut off the connection with society."

Social Welfare Corporation Haramachi Adult Dormitory in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, is a facility that provides people with disabilities with opportunities to work and live. I'm here.

Hirotaka Tachibana, who has been involved with many people with disabilities as the facility director, suffers from being unable to receive welfare support and being discriminated against when his ties to society weaken due to the death of a relative. It is said that he has seen many cases here.

Lost connection, living on the streets

A woman in her 60s with an intellectual disability who attends a facility said that after marriage, her husband used her savings without permission or forced her to borrow money, so she divorced.

As a result of their weakened social ties, such as the death of their parents, they began to live on the streets and spent a long time without receiving welfare support.



According to Ms. Tachibana, the reason she was finally recognized by the government as having a disability and was able to receive support was when a person with a child with a disability happened to notice the woman's condition.

Currently, I live in a group home run by Haramachi Adult Dormitory and work at the facility.

Another man with an intellectual disability has weakened his connection with society since his parents died, and he has not been paid his salary at work and has been cheated out of money by his friends.

By chance, the teacher who was in charge of him when he was in junior high school noticed the man's situation, which led to welfare support and started working at the facility.

Connecting with society Creating a seamless system

Hirotaka Tachibana, the director of the facility, said, "As soon as the connection with society is cut off, even after discovering that the person has a disability, they are more likely to be harmed by people who defraud them of their money or take discriminatory treatment. We need to create a system that works,” he said.