A Screening and Supporting System for Children with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families : Some Examples from Miyagi, Japan

Many children with developmental disabilities are discovered through HEI (Health Examination for Infants) before school age. During preschool age, PHN (Public Health Nurse) from local government office becomes a key person who closely supports and guides the children and their families through the support system. There are several services they are able to use, for example, specialized preschools run by welfare services and parent and child programs provided by local governments. Some children are discovered with their disabilities at nursery school, kindergarten or primary school if their symptoms are too mild to be detected at HEI. During school age, there are two sides of support system prepared for their better development. One is Special Education system and another is the welfare service system established by the law. It seems that the screening system is functioning at some levels, considering because the number of children diagnosed with developmental disorders has been increasing for a last decade. It is important for us to improve the quality of education and welfare services for enhancing those children’s better development.