The welfare truly needed by people with disabilities: The power of employment

  When we think of welfare for people with disabilities, financial support often comes to mind first. While a basic safety net for daily living is necessary, it alone does not fully enrich life. Above all, what gives people with disabilities lasting strength is employment. Work is not merely a means to earn income; it is a way to live within society and an opportunity to affirm one’s identity.

Employment enabling economic self-reliance

  Employment provides the foundation to plan a stable life and take responsibility for oneself. It enhances one’s agency in life by allowing them to prepare for the future and broaden their choices using their own income. Crucially, employment grants access to social security benefits like national pension, health insurance, and severance pay, which grow increasingly significant over time.

  Economic independence is not merely about sustaining basic needs; it becomes the bedrock supporting a person’s entire life. When individuals with disabilities can build their own economic foundation in their own way, life becomes more stable.

A space for creating social relationships and roles

The workplace holds meaning beyond economic value. Social relationships expand through collaborating with colleagues and communicating with customers or users. This confirms one’s sense of being a necessary part of society.

  Working means taking on a role as a member of society. The experience of contributing to others and sharing responsibility is a crucial factor in enhancing self-esteem and identity. Employment is the most reliable way for people with disabilities to participate naturally as members of society.

Work as an Opportunity for Growth and Learning

  Work is also a process for discovering and developing one’s potential. Job experience leads to training and learning; as career experience accumulates, capabilities gradually expand. This journey extends beyond mere professional achievement to a path of confirming one’s own possibilities.

  Moreover, work takes on different meanings throughout one’s life. In youth, it serves as a stepping stone into society; in middle age, it becomes a process of continuing one’s career; and in old age, it acts as a means to maintain connection with society. Thus, employment accompanies life in different forms according to age and circumstances.

The Core of Welfare for the Future

  When discussing welfare for persons with disabilities, the focus should not be solely on basic living support but must be centered on employment. Work enables individuals to achieve independence, connects them to society, and expands the meaning of life. Furthermore, employment also serves as a pathway to broaden diversity and inclusivity across society as a whole.

  Employment opportunities for persons with disabilities can expand beyond corporations and public institutions to include community-based jobs, cooperatives, social ventures, remote work, and various other forms. This trend builds a broader social foundation open to everyone, not just persons with disabilities.

In Closing

  The welfare truly needed by people with disabilities goes beyond a simple safety net to sustain daily life. The foundation that empowers them to lead their lives proactively is employment.

  Economic independence, social participation, and personal growth all stem from work. Only when people with disabilities can work and live together within society does welfare attain its full meaning.