2019 Volume 39 Issue 3 Pages 300-305
Social care in community-based rehabilitation is necessary to support persons with aphasia. It is not sufficient to give them language practice in medical facilities in order to promote social participation by aphasic people.
By 2025 a structure called the “Community-based Integrated Care System” will be established. Under this system, livelihood support, residents` associations, volunteer groups, NPOs, etc. will function usefully to support the community life of the people. Conversation partners who study about aphasia and learn how best to communicate with aphasic persons will help to eliminate communication barriers for aphasic persons trying to participate in social activities.
Since the training program for conversation partners was started in 2000 by NPO Waon, several local governments, including those of Itabashi City and Musashino City, have adopted the program. Local governments have carried out the training program under the Community-based Integrated Care System, or Support Services for Persons with Disability, implemented by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Conversation partners have made significant contributions to improving the quality of life of persons with aphasia and realizing a barrier-free society.
The training program of communication supporters for persons with aphasia started as a nation-wide public service in 2018.
This paper presents an outline of the training program of conversation partners and the activities performed by conversation partners as volunteers in their community.
