2017 Volume 57 Issue 4 Pages 121-132
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among people with neurodevelopmental disorders, their caregivers and community residents after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. An interview survey was conducted of 22 caregivers (mothers) who had been living in prefecture A that was seriously affected by this disaster. As a result of classifying all the contents of the interviews, some categories were established. (1) Children’s physical and psychological changes or aggravation of their symptoms had 9 categories (e.g. severe anxiety, hyper sensitivity, tantrums). (2) Caregivers’ cognition had 4 categories (e.g. attribution changes of their children after this disaster to characteristics of neurodevelopmental disorders) and caregivers’ affection to their children had 5 categories (e.g. sense of burden). (3) Community residents understanding of persons with a disability had 4 categories (e.g. positive attitude to the disability) and their supporting had 4 categories (e.g. instrumental support). Then, Hayashi’s quantification methods Ⅲ were conducted, and it was assumed that the interaction between the persons with neurodevelopmental disorders, their caregivers and community residents had occurred during their time when they were evacuated from their homes. Therefore, it is important to not only promote community residents understanding after a disaster but also to construct a good relationship with them on a day-to-day basis.
