Current Status and Issues of Support for Selective Mutism at Employment/Career Transition Support Offices for People with Disabilities in Japan

Abstract

This study aims to clarify the current status and related issues regarding support for users, who are also persons with selective mutism (SM), of Employment/Career Transition Support Offices for People with Disabilities (hereafter, "Job Support Offices") in Japan. Survey request documents were sent by postal mail to 4,096 Job Support Offices throughout Japan, with requests for survey questionnaire responses to be provided online. The response data received from 586 offices were analyzed. As a result, the following items (among others) were clarified: users with SM symptoms are registered at approximately 40% of Job Support Offices; numerous and diverse communications means are used in daily communications with said persons; support toward finding employment is provided for these persons, but almost no support is given to alleviate/eliminate their SM symptoms. Based on these results, future support for said persons is discussed.