A Study on Disaster Support Needs of Autistic Children - From a Survey of Parents and Children after the Fukushima Nuclear Accident.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K14045
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 09060:Special needs education-related
• Research Institution: Fukushima College (2021); Fukushima University (2020)
• Principal Investigator: kawashima keiko 福島学院大学, 公私立大学の部局等, 客員助教 (10773939)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 発達障害 / 災害支援 / 自閉症スペクトラム / 保護者支援

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study consisted of an interview and questionnaire survey. The interviewees were 15 parents of children with developmental delay or disabilities who had experienced evacuation due to the Great East Japan Earthquake and they were asked about evacuation support for children with disabilities. Based on the results, support needs at evacuation centers were classified into two categories: "support based on the characteristics of his/her disabilities" and "support for the whole including children without disabilities". As to the questionnaire survey, 70 parents of children who use rehabilitation institutions responded. The results showed that it was useful to identify people in need of support and to fill the needs for general evacuees, which we should consider those including children/persons with disabilities, at evacuation centers.

Free Research Field

発達障害支援

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまでの災害関連の研究における自閉症を中心とする発達障害を対象とした報告は、緊急支援と併せて行われる事例報告が主であり、体系的な研究や、実証的な根拠を十分に示すことに困難さがある。そのため、調査時期は発災時に集中し、その後の避難生活や帰還・生活再建について行われた研究は少ない。今回は、被災経験のある保護者を対象に障害特性を踏まえ避難のための支援ニーズを検討する点で、今後の大規模災害時の現場の支援に役立つことが期待される。