IngentaConnect Instruments, employees, companions, social assets: understanding ...

Authors: Yamaki C.¹; Yamazaki Y.¹

Source: Disability & Society, Volume 19, Number 1, January 2004 , pp. 31-46(16)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Abstract:

In Japan, as in other advanced industrial societies, user-helper relationships shaped by the Independent Living Movement have gradually been taking root. In this study, we interviewed 31 Center for Independent Living (CIL) consumers in Japan in order to explore the nature of the relationship between persons with disabilities influenced by IL ideals and their assistants. Interviews revealed three significant dimensions to the relationship--one functional, one interpersonal and one collective. The functional dimension of the relationship was expressed in a characterization of assistants as 'instruments', the interpersonal dimension in their characterization as 'employees' (a task-orientated aspect) and 'companions' (a socio-emotional aspect), and the collective dimension in the characterization of assistants as 'social assets'--individuals without disabilities who understand the ideals and demands of independent living. Participant responses also form the basis of our discussion of theoretical and practical implications for the building of user-helper relationships based within a user-centred agency in the context of Japanese medical and social services.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/0968759032000155613

Affiliations: 1: Department of Health Sociology, Graduate School of Medicine University of Tokyo Japan

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'Instruments', 'employees', 'companions', 'social assets': understanding relationships between persons with disabilities and their assistants in japan