Japan/Hawaii Exchange Program for the Mentally Challenged
Summary of Activities
PurposeWe intend to establish a high level of care for the mentally challenged throughinternational exchange programs, in which opportunities for active sharing of information
among the Japanese families, American families, faculty members at schools for mentallychallenged youth, and associates at nursing facilities, are provided. Furthermore, weshall widely contribute to the good of the society by cultivating the global awareness ofboth the Japanese and the American participants and by expanding the employment
opportunities for the mentally disabled on the Big Island.
Significance
We shall learn the reality of facility operations in the State of Hawaii where the high per
capita income is achieved. We shall also learn:
1. Hawaii's education system which focuses on the improvement of individualabilities,
2. hours of work at schools and facilities, and3. the system of maximizing the vacation time via one-on-one guidance which suites
each individual's particular characteristics.
We shall strive to adopt and apply such knowledge in Japan. Needless to say, throughinternational exchange programs, we shall cultivate the global awareness among thementally challenged, and it is extremely significant in the true sense of the word that we
make the contrition in elevating the level of care for the mentally disabled by providing
opportunities for friendship among American families with disabled child (children),faculty members at schools for the challenged, and the associates at the nursing facilities.
Contents of the Program
Through schools and facilities for the mentally challenged, organizations such as All
Japan Schools for the Mentally Challenged PTA United Association (membership:260,000), All Japan Society for the development of Mentally Challenged (membership:200,000), Japan Mentally Challenged Welfare Association (non-profit - membership:150,000), will receive brochure/application to participate in International Exchange
programs below. Especially, such programs as International Exchange for the schools
for mentally challenged and International Exchange for the facilities for mentallychallenged will be deemed special for having the financial support from non-profit
organizations and corporate sponsorship. In addition, exchange program for individuals
will be made available in the aforementioned brochure by introducing the web site
address for non-profit organization's international exchange programs for the mentallychallenged.

With regard to this individual exchange, the organization's international exchange
program web site will indicate names of: 1) participating firms (airlines and travelagencies), 2) local/Hawaii program directors, 3) local/Hawaii lodging facilities. Thoseinterested individuals will apply to participate in the program through appropriate firms.
1) Adolescents Exchange Program (all costs are to be paid for by each participant),Three programs per year; total 30 participants.
i) events held in: July-August; December; March. A 10-day eventii) content: Attend special classes; experience actual work study programs;
sporting events.
iii) place: Helemano Plantation; Pahoa Junior and Senior High Schools; ARC,Puna Kamali'i Flowers, Inc.
iv) Participants: students at schools for mentally challenged; challenged youth
who attend facilities; adult companions to mentally challenged; challenged
youth who reside at care facilities.
v) One overnight home visit with individuals who share similar interests.
2) Faculty Exchange Program (all costs are to be paid for by each participant), Three
programs per year, total 30 participants.
i) events held in: July-August; December; March. A 10-day eventii) content: Attend special classes; participate in workshops for the faculty;iii) Attend lectures held at Hawaii Community collegeiv) place: Helemano Plantation; Hilo Junior and Senior High Schools; Pahoa
Junior and Senior High Schools; Hawaii Community Collegev) participants: faculty members at schools for mentally disabled; special
education teachers.
vi) One overnight home visit with individuals who share similar interests.
3) Day Faculity for the mentally challenged participants Exchange Program, (all costs
are to be paid for by each participant), Three programs per year; total 30 participants.
i) events held in July-August; December; March; A 10-day event.
ii) content: Experience the Day Facilityiii) place: Helemano Plantation, ARC, Puna Kamali'i Flowers, Hawaii
Community Collegeiv) participant: Day Program participants and the residents at care facilitiesv) One overnight home visit with individuals who share similar interests.
4) School for the Mentally Challenged International Exchange Program, (Participants
will pay only for the costs of domestic travels and meals.), One program per year;
total 10 participants.
i) event held in: March, 2006; A 7-day event.
ii) content: Attend special classes; participate in special workshop for faculty.
iii) place: Pahoa Junior and Senior High Schools; Hilo Junior and Senior HighSchools; ARC, Puna Kamali'l, Hawaii Community College.

iv) participant: principal (1); faculty (1); students (4); parent/guardian (4). total
10.
v) One overnight home visit with individuals who share similar interests.
5) Facility for the Mentally Challenged International Exchange Program, (Participants
will pay only for the costs of domestic travels and meals.), One program per year,total 10 participants.
i) event held in February, 2006; A 7-day eventii) content: Participate in actual work programs; Experience the Day Facility.
iii) place: ARC, Puna Kamali'l, Hawaii Community College.
iv) participant: facility executive director (1), facility associate (1), mentallychallengedv) persons who either attend the Day Facility or reside at the nursing facility (4);vi) parent/guardian (4); total 10.
vii) One overnight home visit with individuals who share similar interests.
6) Human Services College Students Exchange Program, (all costs are to be paid for byeach participant), Three programs per year; total 30 participants; A 10-day eventi) event held in July-August; December; February-March.
ii) content: Attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Kapiolani Community
College'siii) special lectures; Observe the day facility; Observe the special education
classes.
iv) place: Hawaii Community College; Hilo High School; ARC; Puna Kamali'i;
Helemano Plantation; University of Hawaii at Manoa; Kapiolani CommunityCollege.
v) participant: college students majoring in Human Services (10)vi) One overnight home visit with individuals who share similar interests.
7) Exchange Program for families with mentally challenged child/children, (all costs areto be paid for by each participant), Events held throughout the year.
i) event held at any time of the yearii) content: visit day facilities; participate in fellowship activities with families;
attend lectures on culture at Hawaii Community College.
iii) ARC; Puna Kamali'l; Hawaii Community Collegeiv) participant: one family with mentally challenged child/childrenv) One overnight home visit with individuals who share similar interests.
Organizations
The Organization for the Promotion of Intercultural Exchange for the Mentally
Challenged (OPIEMC), a Japan non-profit organization.

Purpose:This non-profit organization's purpose is to contribute to the expansion of contacts
between Japan's mentally challenged people and those of overseas (particularly the Stateof Hawaii in the United States) by creating programs which foster exchanges among
Japan's mentally challenged youth (and their families), faculty and staff (at schools andnursing facilities), and mentally challenged people of overseas, especially ones in Hawaii.
Enterprises that pertain to the specific non-profit activities:
1) Providing opportunities for exchanges and fellowship among Japan and overseas(especially Hawaii's) mentally challenged people and their families, schools andfacilities' faculty and staff. This enhances mutual understanding.
2) Providing opportunities for active sharing of ideas and information among Japan andoverseas (especially Hawaii's) mentally challenged people and their families, schools
and facilities' faculty and staff. This is done through exchanges between the people.
Knowledge gained through such exchanges will assist us in achieving the goal ofelevating the level of care for the mentally challenged.
3) Cultivating the global awareness for the mentally challenged youth who participate in
the exchange program with oversea's (especially Hawaii's) youth.
4) Providing the place and opportunity for the true rest and relaxation for families whoparticipate in international exchange program with their mentally challenged child(children) and for faculty and staff at schools and facilities for mentally challenged.
5) Making contribution to the expansion of employment opportunities for the mentallychallenged through the international exchange programs for Japan and overseas(especially Hawaii's) youth.
Management staff and full-time associates for this organization:
Management Staff:
Chairperson of the board:
Nobuko Sekino
PTA member for All Japan Schools for the Mentally Challenged
Board member:
Keiko Yamamoto
Board President for the Tokyo Municipal Society for the development of Mentally
Challenged
Board member:
Shoko YoshidaOffice Manager for the United PTA - All Japan Schools for the Mentally Challenged
Auditor:
Sueo Yasue
Executive Director for the Tokyo Municipal Sports Association for the Disabled
Associates:
Koji Sakaguchi
Mayor, Nishi Tokyo City
Masa'aki Kurano
Councilman, Nishi Tokyo City
Ruth Matsu'ura
Spouse of the former US Senator, MD
Kei'kichi Kishimoto
President of the Association of the Principals at All Japan Schools for the Mentally
Challenged
Kei'ichi Koyama
Tax Accountant at Kamiyama Tax OfficeFusao Adachi
Adviser for the International Disabled Person's Nice Heart Foundation
Ivan nakano
Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii, 1st Vice President
Vicki Nelson
Vice President, Puna Kamali'i Flowers, Inc.
Carolyne Morikawa
PTA member for All Japan Schools for the Mentally Challenged
Miyoko Matsumoto
Committee member for the International Division of the Japan Association for theWelfare of Mentally Challenged
Kazuhiko Sekino
PTA member for All Japan Schools for the Mentally Challenged