Abstract
Modern social work or social welfare is specialized alomg various lines. The object of specialization has been historically and socially constructed for each “field” in response to differing perspectives on the object.
This paper discusses developments in the concept of Intellectual disabilities and the rise of institutions for the disabled in the Meiji and Taisho eras. First, those deemed to be ‘idiots’ were eliminated from public schools. Second, those with ‘Teino’ was identified in public schools, and the concept for them was developed by observation and study in special schools for such children.
