Affiliations: Department of Welfare System and Health Science, Faculty of Health and Welfare Science, Okayama Prefectural University, Okayama, 111 Kuboki, Soja 719–11, Japan
Abstract: This article introduces Japanese vocational rehabilitation programs, and discusses the problem about the current service delivery system by the two ministries, the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. It generally describes the Employment Promotion Law for the Disabled, vocational rehabilitation services by the Ministry of Labor, roles of the Vocational Counselors for the Disabled and that of the social workers across various employment settings. A case illustration and the recent activities in the field are presented. Specifically, the ‘Third Sector Project’ for the employment of persons with severe disability, and the collaboration effort by the ‘Community Workshops’ and the Vocational Centers for the Disabled, are introduced with examples. Lastly, the article discusses the current issues and suggests some future implications for vocational rehabilitation in Japan.
Keywords: Japan, Vocational rehabilitation, Labor, Health and welfare, Rehabilitation services
