New Stable Management of Self-help Groups for Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Articles

This study employs phenomenological methods to elucidate the structure of the practice of e-kai, which has been in existence for 15 years. The study examines dozens of self-help groups (SHGs) for people with developmental disabilities, which are diffi cult to sustain over the long term. As a result, the study identifi ed a new concept of stable management. It proposes the key mechanisms for supporting e-kai as follows: the individuality of each SHG and participant is respected, ensuring that no one is overly burdened; a continuous potential for the inception of new SHGs exists; the SHGs operate with a free spirit, implying that no assurance of perpetual existence is given; and, from a holistic perspective, the study infers that e-kai groups will not easily dissolve because numerous SHGs consisting of small numbers of people, are loosely interconnected through chains of mutual assistance. This stance defines stable management. The government cannot launch measures based on the opinions of SHGs, which could be easily withdrawn. However, if numerous SHGs exist as a unit over extended periods, which is the case with e-kai, then one may not assume that they will easily dissolve. Thus, the government could be expected to implement various measures based on these opinions. The abovementioned structure supports the connection and survival of SHGs of people with developmental disability in e-kai. In the future, the study intends to elucidate the function of SHGs for developmental disabilities in areas unaff ected by the e-kai. By comparing them with the e-kai, we propose that the structure of the organizational management of the e-kai will become increasingly clear.