Lobbying Movements by Japanese Parents of Children with Severe Motor and Intellectual Disabilities during High Economic Growth and their Backgrounds

抄録

Current measures for the care of children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities that emphasize home-based support had previously not been implemented prior to the period of high economic growth in Japan. At that time, particularly when policies for the expansion of facilities ware being promoted, the energetic movements by parents of children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities greatly contributed to the expansion of facilities that provide care for these children. Although grass-roots movements by these parents can be seen starting in the 1960s, their parental affection and responsibility were emphasized in order to appeal for the need for these facilities during actual lobbying. These movements began to be successful in implementing dramatic policies starting in 1965 as a result of the expansion of such facilities being positioned as a part of social development. The fact that these policies were naturally considered to be a family function defined the stance and attitudes adopted by parents. Finally, on the basis of these considerations, this paper points that the limiting nature of the policies at that time is attributable to the fact they relied heavily on parental responsibility.