This is the catch phrase of our Prop Station, a social welfare
NPO. We have been supporting the Challenged (people with disabilities)
with a strong enthusiasm to developing their abilities to work
in the society with confidence and self respect, and become taxpayers
to support the country.
"Challenged" is used to call the people with disabilities
in place of "handicapped" considering them as the people
given a variety of challenges by God. That is to say, every person
is given an ability to solve his/her challenge. The more challenges
are given, the stronger they become. This sure is a positive
approach, isn't it?
I, Nami-ne, was given a seriously disabled daughter 30 years
ago. Since then, I have been facing both sides of Japan's welfare
administration. I'm disgusted with a flood of "welfare" terms
such as "poor" or "pity".
Every person is talented with various individual capabilities.
Now is the time to change our conventional welfare provisions
eliminating the challenged by counting their disadvantages to
a positive and prospective one so that they can carry out their
talents respectively to enjoy their independent life in the society.
The Prop Station has been giving IT based job trainings for
their employable skills in these ten years, and there are many
challenged graduates working as professionals in various fields
while they work at home receiving cares from their families,
or in a care house or a hospital.
Back to our motto "Make the challenged become taxpayers," this
was originally advocated by President John F. Kennedy. In a free
economy country like America, people's role in the society starts
with their voices as taxpayers. "That's it". Nami-ne
slapped her knee reading this gentle but encouraging article.
Some Japanese people like to imitate the Americans. However,
let's stop looking at their externals only, but let's model after
their true essence. For more than 10 years there has been an
excellent program established in the Pentagon (DOD) and provides
the latest possible technological facilities and assistive devices
to support the people with severe disabilities working for the
federal government Challenge of Prop Station to reforming Japan's
welfare provisions is now going on.
Nami Takenaka, Chair |