Kurashiki Support LABO - People connecting welfare and society. Aiming for a society where everyone can enjoy life beyond disabilities.

The desire to enrich life through enjoyment of entertainment and love is a wish that everyone holds.

While it is ideal for a society where everyone can be happy beyond disabilities, currently there are not many events where people with disabilities can participate on equal footing.

To solve these issues, Kurashiki Support LABO has been planning events that anyone can enjoy, regardless of disability.

Rather than providing special support, we aim for a community where events are held regularly without distinction.

We spoke with one of the founders of Kurashiki Support LABO, Sato Masakazu, about the thoughts and ideas that have made it possible to hold enjoyable events for everyone, regardless of disability.

We will introduce Sato's vision for an ideal society.

What is Kurashiki Support LABO?

Kurashiki Support LABO plans events that anyone can enjoy, regardless of disability.

We will introduce Kurashiki Support LABO, which provides a new kind of welfare that has never been seen before.

Overview of Kurashiki Support LABO

Kurashiki Support LABO is creating a system for people with disabilities to lead rich lives within the community.

While it is possible to live a minimum standard of life through public social welfare systems, existing systems cannot provide more options for living that allow people with disabilities to engage with the community.

To change this situation, Kurashiki Support LABO has been holding events such as matchmaking seminars, music events at café bars, and floral arrangement (flower decoration performance) events that anyone can participate in, regardless of disability.

Since August 2021, stakeholders involved in social welfare projects centered in Kurashiki City have gathered to implement events that connect welfare and society.

People who operate Kurashiki Support LABO

Kurashiki Support LABO was initiated by Sato Masakazu, who runs a job support project for people with disabilities in Kurashiki City, and Ando Kiyoko (安藤希代子), who conducts support activities for parents of children with disabilities in Kurashiki City.

Additionally, volunteers involved in social welfare projects in Kurashiki City are also active.

People who agree with the philosophy work together to plan events, and there is no system of membership.

Engaging in welfare activities within a free framework is a characteristic of Kurashiki Support LABO.

Operators of children's cafeterias, free schools, and companies involved in job support, as well as parents of children with disabilities, cooperate with the activities of Kurashiki Support LABO.

Moreover, to receive specialized advice on disabilities, university professors also participate in the activities.

Three Divides in Welfare

At the core of Kurashiki Support LABO's initiatives is the issue known as the three divides in welfare.

The following are the three divides in welfare:

1. The divide between individuals and their families and welfare (welfare information does not reach families struggling with disabilities)
2. The divide between society and welfare (many people living in society have little interaction with people with disabilities or the welfare system)
3. The divide within welfare (lack of collaboration among welfare service providers)

Kurashiki Support LABO is working to resolve these three divides.

For example, the roles of matchmaking seminars, music events at café bars, and floral arrangement events are to connect society, welfare, and individuals with disabilities.

Additionally, to resolve the divide among welfare service providers, Kurashiki Support LABO is developing a notebook for individuals with disabilities to record their support after adulthood.

To Resolve the Divides in Welfare

Events Connecting Society, Welfare, and Individuals

Kurashiki Support LABO provides projects where everyone can enjoy the same event in the same venue, regardless of disability.

Rather than providing special treatment for people with disabilities, it is ideal for a community to have events that anyone can enjoy without distinction.

Therefore, even for matchmaking and music events, we have invited professional instructors and conducted events in a format where participants pay a fee.

We provide events that allow individuals with disabilities to feel that it is completely normal to be in the same space.

Notebook to Resolve the Divide within Welfare

Individuals with disabilities over the age of 18 often do not have records of their support, leading to challenges in providing appropriate responses when support is needed.

For children under 18, there is a Kagayaki Notebook as one of the initiatives supported by Kurashiki City, which allows for recording growth and support.

By presenting the Kagayaki Notebook to kindergartens, schools, and medical institutions, parents can eliminate the hassle of repeatedly explaining their child's situation and accurately convey information.

However, the Kagayaki Notebook ends at the age of 18, making it difficult to share information and provide consistent support thereafter.

To solve this problem, Kurashiki Support LABO is developing an adult version of the Kagayaki Notebook.

Report Meeting "Kurashiki Support LABO Festival - The Chemical Reaction of 'Welfare' x 'You'"

On September 3, 2023, as a culmination of the activities of Kurashiki Support LABO, a report meeting titled "Kurashiki Support LABO Festival - The Chemical Reaction of 'Welfare' x 'You'" was held.

Sato and Ando, who have been leading Kurashiki Support LABO, reported on their initiatives, including matchmaking support and the adult version of the Kagayaki Notebook.

Additionally, a talk event was held where guests involved in welfare projects engaged in conversation on a stage similar to those seen in variety shows on television.

From Kurashiki companies, Akiba Yuichi (秋葉優一), CEO of Kurabiz Co., Ltd., Yamashita Yumi (山下祐美), who runs a marriage consultation business in Kurashiki, and Miyamoto-san, who operates a job support project for people with disabilities in Nagoya City, participated.

Events were also held where individuals with disabilities shared their realities regarding work and life, as well as a public viewing of a survey on the sexuality of people with disabilities.

A report meeting that approached the topic of people with disabilities from a new perspective was realized by Kurashiki Support LABO.

Certified NPO Parent Support Step - It is our role to convey the needs of parents of children with disabilities. An organization composed of parents of children with disabilities and people with disabilities.

Is extensive support only for children with disabilities, meaning only for "the individuals"? No, parents raising children with disabilities also need it. People with this kind of thinking...

Related Reading

How did the founders of Kurashiki Support LABO, Sato Masakazu and Ando, realize the necessity of events that gather society, welfare, and individuals with disabilities?

Through an interview with Sato, we will convey the activities of Kurashiki Support LABO.

We deliver selected articles from Kurashiki Tocotoco via LINE