Greetings

Welfare for persons with disabilities is being promoted in the world in order to realize “Full Participation and Equality” by disseminating the principles of normalization and developing techniques of rehabilitation.

Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD) was established in 1964 with an aim to promote projects on rehabilitation of persons with disabilities through international cooperation based on investigation and research.

Acting as a contact point for Rehabilitation International (RI) in Japan, JSRPD has been working to promote rehabilitation and social inclusion of persons with disabilities, with the widespread participation of specialists on rehabilitation and persons with disabilities themselves.

In Japan, disability policies are implemented in compliance with the related laws in various areas including the Basic Law for Persons with Disabilities and the “Basic Programme for Persons with Disabilities.” In order to further promote the welfare for persons with disabilities, however, the proper understanding by the public and active participation by persons with disabilities and the related organizations should be encouraged.

Internationally, the second 5-year of the Second “Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons” has started and “the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” adopted in December 2006 has come into force in May 2008.

In response to such internal and external movements, Japan Disability Forum (JDF) was formed by major disabilities-related organizations in the country in October 2004. The member organizations of JDF are strengthening mutual cooperation and jointly working on domestic and international issues.

As a member of JDF, JSRPD will expand its range of activities and continue its effort to further encourage independence and social inclusion of persons with disabilities by promoting their rehabilitation.

Your support and cooperation would be highly appreciated.

Shigeru SUMITANI
President
Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities

“FULL PARTICIPATION AND EQUALITY”
Symbol mark and theme of International Year of Disabled Persons