On the View of Human Beings in Modern Society from the Standpoint of the Severely Disabled Services and the Problems of Human Rights: Through the Change of the Disabled Welfare Legislations

This paper suggests how our view of severe disabilities and of disabled people should be, by reflecting on the progress of the legislation of physical disabled persons since 1949 in Japan. I analyze how this legislation includes the understanding and recognition toward the severe disabilities, and what support it has provided for. The legislation of physical disabled person, which extends 50 years, had two major turning points. The first was made in the late 1960s when Japan experienced a phase of high economic growth. It was caused by widespread recognition that the strategy which supports physical disabled persons with less opportunities to be engaged and those considered difficult to work in the development of capital society of Japan was needed, and the strategy of persons with disabilities who need help was needed as a social issue. The second turning point was made in a phase that the understanding and support for the severe disabilities were largely converted in the process of making and carrying out the program of Japan according to the United Nations' "Resolution on the Rights of Disabled Person" in 1975, and as a result, decided '81 as "International Year of Disabled Person", and a decade from '83 as "A Decade of Disabled Person". These two turning points, and the strategies to understand and reduce social difficulties of severe disabilities, and the strategies to live toward social independence, however, still is a great problem itself because of its feature to be promoted moderately behind the system and finance of Japan. This paper concluded that to cope with this problem we should listen to the opinions of disabled persons more carefully, have interest in them, satisfy the social needs on the responsibilities of society, and guarantee and construct a progressive humanity and society