Legacy of pioneering doctor lives on in communities for disabled english.kyodonews.net

Set up in 1965, just a year after the 1964 Tokyo Paralympics, Japan Sun Industries has been building communities where the disabled can live independent lives based on the mission of the late Yutaka Nakamura, its founder, to provide opportunities rather than charity.
Without those companies, we are not much different from any other social welfare organization," Yamashita said, stressing the importance of people with disabilities earning an income.
Yamashita traces this vision of independent living for the disabled to the work Nakamura, an orthopedic surgeon, did with introducing sports therapies for the disabled in Japan in the years leading up to the 1964 Tokyo Paralympics.
[Photo courtesy of JSI]In following the vision of founder Nakamura, Yamashita ultimately envisions a true barrier-free society where organizations such as JSI will no longer be necessary.
"After all, Dr. Nakamura hoped that people could integrate into their communities to work and live their lives not only at facilities like these but anywhere," Yamashita said.