Abstract
For children with developmental disabilities in Japan, various social policies including education, medical care, pension and welfare have rapidly developed and prevailed during the last 50 years. The concept of living together with the disabled has been widely accepted. A high standard of social welfare has been established by virtue of high respect for human rights, progress in medicine and economic growth. Historically, the International Year for the Disabled played an important role in meeting the expectation of the disabled and their families. Amendment of the legal system has realized normalization and social independence. Based on this historical background, there are in the 21st century new trends of development in the education, welfare and social life of the disabled, aiming at a better society for all the people.
