Event held focusing on people with severe intellectual disabilities; examines importance of ‘human inability’

This exchange meeting was part of the year-round initiative "Under-Expression Project: Creating New Value - Philosophy, Learning, Art, and Place-making" by certified NPO Creative Support LET’S, which operates the center(selected as part of the Agency for Cultural Affairs' "Project for Promoting Cultural and Artistic Activities by People with Disabilities").

Midori Kubota, the chairperson of LET’S, who has a son named Takeshi with severe intellectual disabilities(The person on the left in the photo), has been operating the organization since its establishment in 2000 with the belief that "even if it's considered problematic behavior by a person with disabilities, respecting and accepting what that person is passionate about can become an opportunity to change fixed ideas and values." The facility name " Takeshi Cultural Center" is derived from Takeshi, and true to having "Cultural" in its name, staff members well-versed in cultural arts play a central role in facility operations. A distinctive feature is that they provide free time and space while respecting the autonomy of facility users, allowing them to spend their time as they wish.

Chairperson Kubota and Professor Deguchi have known each other for some time, and this was not Professor Deguchi's first visit to the facility. The opinion exchange meeting on this day was attended by Professor Deguchi's students from Kyoto University, as well as staff members from our Institute and representatives from local businesses in Hamamatsu City.

In his lecture, Professor Deguchi emphasized the importance of the "WE-turn" perspective, which attempts to break away from the traditional individualistic thinking framework. "When I first came here, I thought this was one example of WE. People with disabilities who cannot do anything alone are supported not just by staff and helpers, but by the entire community and building," he stated, and further emphasized:

"Today's society tries to hide the 'WE' that we should see. This place is different. They established the facility in the center of the large city of Hamamatsu, with glass-fronted buildings that make 'WE' visible."

Before the lecture, participants in the exchange meeting spent time leisurely with facility users from morning until evening. They went shopping together at Hamamatsu Station, had lunch at the same table, and enjoyed rock music by freely playing electric guitars and drums.

President Okamoto, who participated from Nara, began a conversation while sitting next to facility user Ryoga Tsutsumi. Although Mr. Okamoto initially had difficulty understanding Mr. Tsutsumi's words, once he realized that Mr. Tsutsumi was requesting him to draw the number "23" and animal illustrations on pieces of paper, he produced dozens of drawings as requested. It was impressive to see Mr. Tsutsumi contentedly sticking Mr. Okamoto's drawings to the wall.

Mr. Okamoto reflected, "It was a day that I became a member of 'Self-as-WE,' starting from '`Inability.' My 'normal' was greatly shaken, and through this raw experience of having meanings like 'X is Y' stripped away, I was prompted to reconsider the diversity of values."