SURVEY & RESEARCH

Current Status and Issues of Healthcare Policies for Personswith Developmental Disorders in Southeast Asia— Overview and Progress Report —Satomi Suzuki Researcher at Nozominosono

Ryuhei Sano Professor at Hosei University, Visiting Researcher at Nozominosono (Research Project Leader)
Masafumi Hidzume Research Director at Nozominosono
This article introduces the research background and current progress of the project funded by the Economic ResearchInstitute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), titled "Current Status and Issues of Healthcare Policies for Persons withDevelopmental Disorders in Southeast Asia." which started in December 2021.
I.

BackgroundIn connection with these, this research will work on

This research was started after a member of theVietnam Autism Network expressed a desire to createa"DietMember

CaucusofSupport

forinitiatives that benefit children with developmental
disorders in Southeast Asia.
Specifically, this research will organize basic information

Developmental Disorders." in their own countryonduring the Japan Symposium for World Autism

developmental disorders in the 10 ASEAN member

Awareness Day in 2016. They shared, "We would becountries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,

happy if we could establish a law system in ourMyanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, andcountry involving bipartisan legislators just like inVietnam). We also consider implementing a guidebook forJapan. I want to learn from Japan's experience”.

families

healthcare-relatedofpersons

policies

withforpersons

developmental

withdisorders(deliverable by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’sII.

Overview of Policies for Persons withprogram on promoting comprehensive welfare for people

Developmental Disorders in Japanwith disabilities) in Southeast Asian region. Through these

In Japan, the Act on Support for Persons withDevelopment

Disabilities

wassubmitted

inabipartisan manner in 2004 and was enacted in theactivities, we propose practical action plans aimed atsupporting and strengthening future support measures forpeople with developmental disorders.

attention-The secretariat for this research will be Nozominosono

deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD), and learning

for Japan side and LSPR Communication & Businessdisorders (LD), which were previously overlooked inInstitute (LSPR) in Jakarta, Indonesia for Southeast Asia

disability-related policies, were officially defined asside.

sameyear.

Asaresult,

autism,"developmental disorders". Since then, it has been
included in various legal systems related to people
with disabilities, and societal awareness has graduallyincreased.

III.

Research Outline
In Southeast Asia, many efforts are being made to

improve the rights and well-being of people withdisabilities, aiming to help them participate in local
communities without facing discrimination.

IV.

Starting On-site Surveys

In this research, we emphasize both utilizing theinternet for gathering information and conducting
discussions, as well as directly visiting the Southeast
Asian region to engage in information exchange withgroups of persons with developmental disorders,researchers, and government agencies.
So far, members of the research team, Mr. Sano andMr. Hizume, have visited the Philippines (March 2022)
and Indonesia (April 2022), and achieve certain result.
After that, the visit to Vietnam (July 2022) has also
been planned.

16 NEWS LETTERIn the Philippines, we visited and received
cooperation for this research from the Director of
the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA),
Acting Chairpersons of the Committee on DisabledChildren of the Child Welfare Council, Honorary
Chairman and Secretary General of the Autism
SocietyPhilippines

Professor(ASP),specializedinandanSpecial

AssociateEducation,

Department of Education, the University of thePhilippines.
In May 2022, we conducted online interviews
with the NCDA and ASP regarding case studies
related to supports for persons with developmentaldisorders.

SURVEY & RESEARCHIn Indonesia, we visited important agencies such as theThey agreed to cooperate with this research. We

Disability Social Rehabilitation Division of the Ministry ofreceived

Social Affairs, Aide Assistant Presidential Special Staffs, thepolicymaking

Chairman of the National Disability Commission, Secretarylawmakers.

General and Chairman of the Autism Society, and researchers
from the University of Indonesia.

highlypositiveandresponses

improvingregardingrelations

amongThroughout this research, we hope to help advancing
support for persons with developmental disorders andtheir families by collaborating and working in solidarity
with stakeholders in the Southeast Asian region.

At the Philippine Government/National Council on Disability Affairs
With the Head of the Disability Affairs Division andstaffs of the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs

With key members of the Autism Society Philippines
Exchange of opinions with Indonesian Presidential Staffs andChairman of the National Disability Commission

Key members of Indonesian Autism Society with LSPR teamNEWS LETTER 17