Nothing About Us Without Us (Don’t decide things about us without us).
This is the slogan of the United Nations human rights treaty, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The treaty was drafted with the participation of people with disabilities from around the world, adopted by the United Nations in 2006, and ratified by Japan in 2014.
I was told that a space would be created in Kurashiki City where people with disabilities and their supporters could speak frankly and share their true feelings, so I attended as a person with a disability myself.
The information presented here is current as of when this article was published in March 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
“Expose the Gaps in Disability Welfare”: A Gathering for People with Disabilities Who Want to Speak Honestly and Supporters Who Want to Listen
“Expose the Gaps in Disability Welfare”: A Gathering for People with Disabilities Who Want to Speak Honestly and Supporters Who Want to Listen is hosted by Kurashiki Shien LABO, which plans events that anyone can enjoy, regardless of whether they have a disability.
People with disabilities live with various conflicts in their daily work and relationships.
The gathering was held to give people with disabilities a chance to share the true feelings they experience every day with one another, and to help supporters understand them as well.
How the Day Unfolded
The gathering was held for an hour and a half, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, 2024, in the multipurpose hall at Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan in the Bikan Historical Area.
Although it was raining that day, 11 people with disabilities and 10 supporters attended, bringing the total number present, including staff, to 26. Along with people like me who hold a Physical Disability Certificate, attendees included people with a Rehabilitation Certificate and a Mental Disability Certificate, bringing together people with a range of experiences.
I have a hearing disability. When I arrived at reception, a staff member lent me a smartphone with a speech recognition app open, so I used the app to read what the other participants said.
Creating a Psychologically Safe Space
When the gathering began, the first thing explained was the following set of rules.
- What is said here stays here and must not be shared outside this space.
- Opinions are welcome, but no mere criticism or complaints.
- Do not name specific individuals or organizations.
- Speak your mind without holding back out of consideration for anyone.
- Keep your comments concise so others have a chance to speak.
Every rule was necessary to make this a place where people with disabilities could speak with peace of mind and to protect their psychological safety.
At the same time, everyone agreed that the honest feelings shared by people with disabilities were not simply gripes or complaints, but constructive opinions. I felt this created an atmosphere in which the supporters leaned in and listened intently.
After the explanation of how the gathering would proceed, people with disabilities and supporters sat together in one circle, and honest feelings began to emerge, one by one.
People with Disabilities Relate to One Another and Share Their Stories
What particularly stayed with me was how every participant listened warmly to others all the way to the end without interrupting.
They empathized without dismissing one another’s opinions, and gently shared stories about how they had come to terms with similar experiences.
Even people with disabilities who had been silent at first began sharing honest feelings that they could express precisely because everyone present was there for this occasion alone, such as “feeling lonely without anyone to turn to, whether or not they have a disability” and “the anxiety of not receiving reasonable accommodations.”
I also have a hearing disability, and there have been times when I felt lonely because I couldn’t understand what my hearing colleagues were saying.
So every person’s voice felt like I was listening to “another version of myself,” stirring my emotions. And each time another participant said, “You’re not alone,” I felt comforted. It was a strange feeling.
People with Disabilities and Supporters Share Their Stories Together
I was also struck by the fact that the final question at the gathering came from a supporter.
Nearly 80 percent of the sharing throughout the gathering came from people with disabilities speaking from their own experience. I think that shows just how many people with disabilities wanted others to understand them.
But the final question from a supporter was, “What would a society with a fully developed welfare service system look like?”
It was a profound question, but it gave people a chance to share their thoughts from both the perspective of people with disabilities and that of supporters.
It was a cold night, with winter rain falling steadily until the gathering ended, but the venue was filled with warmth, kindness, and energy.
From the Writer
“Don’t decide things about us without us.”
I had seen these words in many places, but the chance to share stories in person, gathered together with supporters, was a valuable firsthand experience.
I hope this place to belong will continue to exist, so that people from all kinds of backgrounds, with or without disabilities, can continue to live in Kurashiki.
“Expose the Gaps in Disability Welfare”: A Gathering for People with Disabilities Who Want to Speak Honestly and Supporters Who Want to Listen Information
| Name | “Expose the Gaps in Disability Welfare”: A Gathering for People with Disabilities Who Want to Speak Honestly and Supporters Who Want to Listen |
|---|---|
| Date | Thursday, February 22, 2024, 7:00–8:30 p.m. |
| Location | 2-23-18 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | ¥2,000 (welfare supporters, students aspiring to work in welfare, and people interested in welfare work), ¥500 (people with disabilities) |
| Website | Kurashiki Shien LABO |
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