“My child might be a little different from the other children around them.”
“I don’t know where to turn for advice about the challenges unique to raising a child with a disability.”
When raising a child with developmental concerns or a disability, you may face worries that you cannot discuss with friends and others around you.
A place that can provide advice about your child’s development and introduce you to related organizations, such as developmental support services is Kurashiki City Comprehensive Developmental Support and Consultation Center “Yumeparu.”
When and how can you use its services?
What kinds of activities does it usually offer?
We introduce Kurashiki City Comprehensive Developmental Support and Consultation Center “Yumeparu,” a place we hope not only families raising a child with a disability, but also people close to someone raising a child with developmental concerns and those planning to have and raise children will learn about.
The information provided was current when this article was published in March 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is Kurashiki City Comprehensive Developmental Support and Consultation Center “Yumeparu”?
Kurashiki City Comprehensive Developmental Support and Consultation Center “Yumeparu” (hereafter, “Yumeparu”) is a consultation service operated by the Kurashiki City Health and Welfare Bureau, located on the first floor of the Kurashiki Health and Welfare Plaza in Sasaoki, Kurashiki City.
It provides consultation for parents and guardians raising children from infancy to under 18 who have a disability or may have one. You do not need to have a disability certificate, developmental support certificate, or recipient certificate for “child development support” or “after-school day services” at your first consultation.
It is open Tuesday through Saturday, and consultations are by appointment, so make an appointment by phone or through the online application service before visiting.
Services available at Yumeparu
Yumeparu provides consultation for parents and guardians raising children with a disability or who may have one. Comprehensive developmental support and consultation centers specializing in parent support are extremely rare in Japan.
Here are the services offered by Yumeparu.
- Consistent support from consultation staff
At key points before a child turns 18, such as starting or advancing in school, Yumeparu coordinates support with relevant organizations, including boards of education, disability support centers, and employment and daily-life support centers. - Information about child development
Yumeparu provides information related to children’s growth, including developmental support services, consultation services, and welfare services. - Building connections among organizations involved with children
Yumeparu supports coordination among the various organizations in Kurashiki City that work with children.
A key feature is that Yumeparu can coordinate smoothly with both government and private organizations.
You can also apply for a recipient certificate to use welfare services at Yumeparu.
The process of parents understanding their child’s disability and accepting them as they are is not something resolved by obtaining a recipient certificate or disability certificates. As children grow, parents may compare them with other children, or feel discouraged again as they try to help others understand how their child relates to other children when starting or advancing in school. Various challenges arise in waves.
That is why consistent consultation and support, coordinated with developmental support organizations and others until a child turns 18, can be a great source of support for parents.
For people aged 18 and over with developmental disabilities, support is transferred to the Kurashiki Developmental Disabilities Support Center.
Parent support offered at Yumeparu
Consistent support from consultation staff includes individual parenting consultations, and Yumeparu also regularly holds events.
- Skip Time
A parenting group for parents and children who are anxious about raising a child, as well as those who need developmental support but are waiting to receive it - Parent study group on preparing children with disabilities for school
- World Autism Awareness Day Blue Light-Up (every April 2)
- Pal Cafe
A workshop where parents write about their child’s growth and learning in a “Kagayaki Notebook” - Karugamo Camp for parents and children with disabilities
A day camp for children with disabilities in grades 1–4 and their parents - Fagiano Okayama Near the Pitch
An event where participants can see the grass on the pitch - Yumeparu Newsletter
Email newsletter
Those who attend events hosted by Yumeparu are parents concerned about their child’s disability or development. The events provide information that is needed beyond what is usually required for parenting, such as preparing for school and making use of local welfare services. They also offer a place where parents of children with disabilities or developmental concerns can meet others in Kurashiki City.
Examples of consultations at Yumeparu
Even if you have concerns about your child’s development, you may worry, “Is it okay to ask for advice about something that seems so minor?”
Many consultations at Yumeparu are about developmental support, welfare services, and recipient certificates. This also includes consultations from families already receiving ongoing support, so that is only natural.
The next most common topics are school (or preschool) life, parenting anxiety, and family life. Examples include:
- “My spouse and I disagree about how to raise our child.”
- “I wonder what the future holds for my child.”
- “I feel like the stress of parenting is going to overwhelm me.”
At Yumeparu, staff with specialized knowledge, including psychologists and childcare workers, respond to consultations.
It is a place where you can talk freely, so rather than struggling alone with parenting, why not start by giving them a call?
We spoke with Akagi Kikuko, director of Yumeparu, about her thoughts on providing consultation and support there.
Kurashiki City Comprehensive Developmental Support and Consultation Center Yumeparu Information
| Name | Kurashiki City Comprehensive Developmental Support and Consultation Center Yumeparu |
|---|---|
| Address | Reception Desk 7, 1st Floor, Kurashiki Health and Welfare Plaza, 180 Sasaoki, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-434-9882 |
| Website | Kurashiki City Comprehensive Developmental Support and Consultation Center |
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