In this study, we examined how to improve the environment for the establishment of workplaces for people with intellectual disabilities with autistic disabilities, based on the case of working support in cooperation between a T corporation that conducts pre-employment training and a job coach. As a result, the following three conditions were found: 1) continuous cooperation with employment support organizations, 2) sharing and updating of person-centered plans, and 3) information transfer regarding workplace support. Therefore, in order to satisfy these conditions, the importance of a mechanism in which related parties continuously confirm the person-centered plan after the establishment of the workplace and support based on the latest personal information is suggested.

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In this study, I considered on the future of university students education by examining how students feel about International Cooperation volunteers, through the use of audiovisual materials. The teaching materials were accurately communicated, and students correctly understood the teaching materials provider’s intents. The teaching materials were effective in improving the perception of volunteers by students. As a result of text mining, students' empathy for International Cooperation volunteers was centered on concepts of volunteers being good; change and growth; way of life; and continued usefulness“. I considered that in order to ensure that class planning, selection and development of teaching materials make the best use of students’ sense of empathy, teaching materials with clearly defined and visualized intents should be used effectively.

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The processes experienced by mothers having school-aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) when dealing with difficulties were examined. Interviews were conducted with mothers (N=8) having school-aged children with ASD. The results of a qualitative analysis using the Modified Grounded Theory Approach indicated the following processes that are experienced by these mothers. (1) Understanding the problem behaviors of children from different perspectives and recognizing changes in children, and making repeated trials and errors before understanding the children’s characteristics and dealing with them. (2) Changing the lifestyles of mothers through a better understanding of their children, which reduces their confusion. (3) Social support for facilitating the above processes. It is considered important to correctly detect problems in each stage of supporting mothers having school-aged children with ASD by understanding each process described above.

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This study analyzed the social activities of seniors in an area, using a welfare center for the elderly—a leisure facility for the seniors. The investigation also delved into the factors affecting social activities, factors that led to continued use of the welfare center, and factors that hindered its usage. This study also intended to understand the additional support required for the continued use of the welfare center by the elderly. A survey was conducted with 30 seniors who used the welfare center for the elderly through individual interviews with semi-structured questions. The Krippendorff content analysis method was employed to examine the results. In total, 402 codes, 18 subcategories, and 4 categories were extracted. The social activities of the seniors who frequently visited the welfare center for the elderly were categorized into “individual activities,” “social participation/volunteer activities,” “academic activities,” and “work.” It was found that the interpersonal relationships formed through the use of the center resulted in friendships and in active participation in social activities conducted in the area. It was suggested that providing activities that users enjoy, and events pertaining to personal health maintenance and management should be formulated for the continued use of the welfare center by the elderly. The center also requires social support to continue to facilitate events.

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With the cooperation of the Elderly Welfare Department and regional residents of City S, a regional joint exercise program was conducted over five years for residents of cognitive impairment group homes throughout the city. It has been reported that cognitively impaired elderly persons are eight times as likely to fall than people who are not cognitively impaired 1 ), so a group exercise meeting accompanied by a greeting and sending off entails significant unpredictable risks. Nonetheless, facility participation rates have exceeded 60% for five consecutive years. The ADL of participant users tends to show an increase in the severity of conditions requiring nursing care, as 78.8% can walk unaided, roughly 80% require carers to change their diapers, 12.8% improved their independence, and 37.2% cannot participate or have suffered from declining independence. However, the participation rate varies according to daily conditions, the anticipated value of the regional joint exercise program is high, and the “demand for an emergency system for use when a disaster occurs” for regional residents was evaluated highest at 4.7 on a 5- level scale. Transporting severely cognitively impaired users to the venue once yearly revealed the substitution function of evacuation training. As the significance of participating in the city joint exercise program, it can be stated that opportunities for interaction with regional residents significantly contribute to communicating the need to understand and to monitor cognitive impairment while accompanied by unpredictable risks. Also, the demand for a regional, collaborative assistance system during emergencies is clarified, and the potential for communitybased function expansion is revealed.

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In this study, a subjective and objective health assessment––using a frailty check method from a population health approach––was conducted with consenting participants in a frailty prevention class for those over 60 years old and for the unemployed who are not eligible for long-term care in the long-term care insurance system. Based on the results of the health assessment, we examined the current status and issues of pre-frail and frail subjects. Of the 96 participants in the class (27 men and 69 women), we obtained consent from 82 subjects (21 men and 61 women; 85.4%). Using a checklist, we classified them into a frail group of 11 (13.4％) subjects, a prefrail group of 26 subjects (31. 7%), and a non-applicable group of 45 subjects (54. 9%). There were no significant differences in age or sex among the three groups. Significant differences were observed in TUG, grip strength, the Kana Pick-out Test, subjective health, exercise habits, the presence/absence of friends who exercise, the presence/absence of counseling, the presence/absence of stress, and sleep habits. High grip strength, a high Kana Pick-out Test score, a low amount of daily walking, and subjectively feeling that one exercises enough were extracted as factors for subjects with friends who exercise. It became clear that events apart from health status appear both subjectively and objectively from a condition of pre-frailty

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In this study, it was assumed that the consciousness and intention to interact with the elderly was related to the experience of interacting with the elderly. To verify this, Awareness survey on the elderly was conducted for elementary school 5-6 graders. As a result, it has become clear that simply having Living together with or experience interacting with the elderly does not necessarily willing to interact with the elderly. However, the relationship between “Current relationship with grandparents” and “Intention to interact with the elderly” needs further verification. It was found that children who do not want to actively interact with the elderly do not necessarily have negative feelings towards the elderly, but tend to be less interested in the elderly. Those who wanted to interact with the elderly wanted to participate in intergenerational activities more than those who did not. Based on these results, in order to nurture positive emotions toward the elderly in children, it is first necessary to raise interest in the elderly.

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To clarify the types of care support equipment that have been introduced into and are used in care facilities, and the training for care staff that use the equipment, we conducted a questionnaire survey by postal mail on all intensive care homes for the elderly, long-term health care facilities, and support facilities for persons with disabilities (311 facilities) in Prefecture A. The results revealed that the highest implementation rate was for sliding boards (52.1%), while that for wearable support suits for the transfer of clients was 2.7%. The highest accident rate was 40.0% for bed-leaving sensor mats that detect weight removal. Of 61 pieces of equipment, manuals for 41 (63.1%) had not been made at all facilities and training levels varied by facility and type of equipment, from “listening to the explanation from the supplier of the equipment and making use optional” to “preparing a manual, explaining the device to all staff members, conducting practical skills tests, and allowing use by those who pass the test.” Hence, it is essential to develop equipment use manuals and check sheets to evaluate the skill levels of care staff, and establish training systems matched to the human and physical environments of each institution.

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By the semi-standardized interview method, I interviewed seven staff of continuous Working Support Institutions of Type B in A prefecture. I studied that QWL(Quality of Working Life) depends on how to match the approach of staff and persons with mental disabilities. I newly studied that it is important for staff to contact with mental disabilities like the intimate friends each other ,and also studied that the nature of work of mental disabilities at Type B must be considered not only as that of the worker but also as that of home. And I also studied that the improvement of QOL of persons with mental disabilities and that of QWL of them complemented each other.

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Community based practices have been developed in cooperation with various specialized agencies and professions as well as people living in the region and other interested parties. The author considers it particularly important to involve participants from various backgrounds in the evaluation of community based practice through collaboration. This paper reports two participatory evaluations as case studies, which took place at Community Café and Dementia Café in [A] area, Matsumoto City. The events identified participatory evaluation’s advantages in: (1) facilitating discussions and forming consensus; and (2) easing program improvement efforts. On the other hand, it also highlighted the difficulty of setting up standards for achievements in evaluation workshops.

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This study reconsiders the practical meaning of “supportive relationships,” that is the relationship between social workers and their clients, established during social work practice in the public assistance field. It also clarifies the current significance of such relationships and considers issues that crop up in practice.

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