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

Is the generous support only for children with disabilities, in other words, only for the "affected parties"?

No, it is also necessary for the parents raising children with disabilities.

People with this kind of thinking established a peer support organization in December 2012.

That is Certified NPO Parent Support Step.

The operating members are composed of parents of children with disabilities and people with disabilities.

In Nitta, Kurashiki City, they opened Parent's Place Usagi Cafe, where peers in similar situations gather, providing a place where they can casually consult, including the operating members.

As a parent of a child with developmental disabilities myself, I wanted to experience the atmosphere and have been to "Usagi Cafe."

I resonated with the thoughts and philosophy of Parent Support Step and wanted to know more!

In a world where awareness of various disabilities is increasing, what role will Parent Support Step play?

I will introduce what I want you to know as a member of society, not just as an affected or non-affected party.

What is Parent Support Step

Parent Support Step (hereafter: Step) is an organization that supports parents of children with disabilities.

The core operating members are parents of children with disabilities, making it a structure that understands the needs of parents of children with disabilities the best.

From the experiences of each member, they concluded that "support for parents is crucial", which is why the organization name includes the words "Parent (parent) Support (support)."

However, the goal is not just to provide parent support.

Through activities such as "peer support (consultation support project)" for parents of children with disabilities, the aim is to indirectly contribute to the healthy development of children with disabilities.

They aim to create a system where parents of children with disabilities can connect with supporters regardless of luck or misfortune, or where they live, and to realize a society where they can feel supported and raise their children with peace of mind.

The main activities of Step can be broadly divided into the following three categories.

Parent's Place Usagi Cafe

Parent's Place Usagi Cafe (hereafter: Usagi Cafe) has been operated since April 2016 as a "place" for parents to interact and find healing, as the name suggests.

It is also possible to casually consult with the staff at Usagi Cafe.

In daily life, when you think, "This is a problem, okay, I will consult," it can be hard to go out, and even if you do go, it can be difficult to consult.

The point of Usagi Cafe that lowers the barrier for consultation is that it is not just a "consultation office," but by having users pay for food and drinks as a cafe, the relationship with the staff becomes more equal.

This makes it easier to consult.

I thought, "Talking while having a delicious meal can ease the tension."

That might be one of the effects.

In late April 2021, I, my wife, and our child used Usagi Cafe.

The staff member, Director Ando Kiyoko, greeted us, and I felt reassured, thinking, "They are concerned about us."

The people using the cafe on the same day varied, including families and individuals.

Since I had a child with me, even though we were meeting for the first time, we could easily talk, asking, "How old is your child?" and "They are cute."

I felt a very warm atmosphere.

Some users even had conversations with advice from experienced mothers, saying, "I heard a bit of your conversation earlier."

Kurashiki Child-Rearing Handbook: You're Not Alone

There are two types of "Kurashiki Child-Rearing Handbook: You're Not Alone."

• Kurashiki Child-Rearing Handbook: You're Not Alone Series
• You're Not Alone: Support for Parents of Children with Disabilities Starting from Creating Places in Kurashiki

Kurashiki Child-Rearing Handbook: You're Not Alone Series

As of June 2023, three volumes of the series "Kurashiki Child-Rearing Handbook: You're Not Alone" have been published, created by parents raising children with disabilities.

In the process of raising children, they included thoughts like, "I wish I had this information" and "I didn't understand this..."

As you can see from the content, it follows the flow of children's growth.

You can purchase only the book with the content you want now, or read topics for the future.

Also, although it is named "Kurashiki Child-Rearing," the content is also useful for people from other cities and towns.

I, a resident of Okayama City, actually read it, and the columns in the latter part left a deep impression on me.

Because we are all "parents raising children with disabilities," there are parts that resonate.

The "Kurashiki Child-Rearing Handbook: You're Not Alone Series" is priced at 500 yen (tax included) per book and is available for purchase at the following locations.

Additionally, it is also available for purchase from the online shop "Handmade Usagi" and the official website's inquiry form.

You're Not Alone: Support for Parents of Children with Disabilities Starting from Creating Places in Kurashiki

The other type, "You're Not Alone: Support for Parents of Children with Disabilities Starting from Creating Places in Kurashiki," is a book written by the representative of Step, Ando, detailing the real daily life of parent support (activity records).

It includes a wealth of content about the establishment of Step, how to create places, parent support, and recovery support after the heavy rain disaster in July 2018.

I resonated with the following sentence at the beginning.

"I think everyone is not trying hard enough!"
Looking back now, it was quite an arrogant statement, almost laughable. However, at that time, I had a sense of pride in "I am doing my best," and because of that, I felt frustration towards those who seemed "not trying hard" or "not enthusiastic" from my perspective.

Quoted from page 16

Embarrassingly, I sometimes think the same way.

However, the feelings that Ando experienced became a kind of driving force, and I thought they might have been helpful in the operation of Step up to now.

Like the "Kurashiki Child-Rearing Handbook: You're Not Alone Series," it is also available for purchase from the online shop "Handmade Usagi" and the official website's inquiry form. The price is 1,650 yen (tax included).

It can also be purchased on Amazon and at bookstores.

Other Activities (Lectures, Tea Gatherings, Events, Online Courses, Supporter Training Courses)

Step also conducts other activities such as "lectures," "tea gatherings," and "events."

For lectures, they plan and coordinate study sessions and training sessions according to needs, and also dispatch lecturers.

One major event is the "Forum for Raising Awareness of Support for Parents of Children with Disabilities," held every March.

Tea gatherings provide a space for interaction for parents of children with disabilities who feel that "it is difficult to go far from home," visiting schools, kindergartens, community centers, and welfare service offices.

Examples of events include the following.

For example, Usagi Shokudo is held in the evening and is specifically for fathers.

Director Ando also participates in these events, and the other staff members are all male.

As a result, even fathers who are usually not good at speaking find it easier to engage in conversation.

Staff members have remarked, "This scene is very precious."

I also want to participate at least once.

The online courses and supporter training courses include a course called "USAGI-LABO (Usagi Labo)" aimed at supporting citizens engaged in community improvement activities, focusing on creating places, town development, and community building.

This is a continuous course held from April 30, 2021, to March 25, 2022, over 12 months.

If you become interested midway, don't worry.

There are options for "catch-up full-term enrollment" where you can watch videos of previous sessions and "full-term enrollment from the middle."

For more information, please see Step's relevant page.

"Handmade Usagi" Conveying the Realities of Parents of Children with Disabilities

Step supports parents of children with disabilities through various support and projects.

In April 2021, they started selling handmade works by parents of children with disabilities at the online shop "Handmade Usagi."

Initially, the focus was on online sales and exhibitions at Usagi Cafe, but it has expanded as a "place for parents of children with disabilities to present their activities."

On May 14, 2023, the "Handmade Market at Mizushima Ai Ai Salon" was held, attracting about 300 visitors, including babies, grandparents, and people with and without disabilities.

Chairperson Ando Kiyoko stated the following.

“I thought that the presence of handmade creators could serve as a model for parents of children with disabilities to live their own lives as the main character without letting go of what they love, so I made it a project of the NPO.

I hope that the lively appearance of the creators selling their works will empower mothers in the same situation.”

Welfare Platform "Kurashiki Shien LABO"

“Kurashiki Shien LABO” is a project established to create a platform to advance community welfare in Kurashiki City, receiving grants from the Toyota Foundation, transcending affiliations and fields.

Step serves as the secretariat.

Particularly focused on “the lives of adults with disabilities.” It seems that many people live their daily lives without adult-like enjoyment, merely commuting between home and workplaces such as employment support facilities.

Therefore, we continue our activities while planning events that everyone can enjoy, regardless of whether they have disabilities, such as live performances and theater.

Since December 2012, Step has been supporting “parents of children with disabilities.”

I spoke with Chairperson Ando Kiyoko, who established Parent Support Step with her colleagues.

Data of Certified NPO Parent Support Step

Name	Certified NPO Parent Support Step
Location	2463-6 Nitta, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture
Contact	086-431-1651
Parking	None Please inquire about parking before your visit
Business Hours	Phone reception hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Rabbit Café: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Tuesdays and Thursdays only) Individual consultations: Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon (1 PM and 2 PM for one hour)
Regular Holidays	Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays There may be additional holidays
Usage Fee (including tax)	Rabbit Café: Cost of food and drink Individual consultations: Free
Payment Methods	Cash
Reservation Availability	Rabbit Café: Due to COVID-19, there are limits on the number of people, so please contact us in advance if possible. Individual consultations: Reservation required
Toilet	Western-style toilet
Childcare	Diaper changing space available
Website	Certified NPO Parent Support Step

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