失語症者の地域支援体制構築に向けて—失語症者向け意思疎通支援者養成事業

Supported communication for adults with aphasia

　失語症のある人は言語機能の障害だけでなく，復職の問題や社会的引きこもりなどさまざまな問題に直面し，厳しい状況にあるにもかかわらず，これまで失語症に焦点を当てた施策はほとんど行われてこなかった．障害者総合支援法の施行後3年を目途とした見直しが行われ，厚労省は意思疎通支援者養成に関する実態調査を行い，各地で統一して用いることのできる意思疎通支援者養成のカリキュラムを作成した．これに基づき，2016年度にはテキストを作成し，2017年度から日本言語聴覚士協会とともに支援者養成を行う指導者のための研修を開始している．2018年度から，都道府県は地域生活支援事業として，失語症者向け支援者養成を開始することになった．意思疎通支援の側面で当事者である失語症のある人の支援となるよい機会としていくことが重要である．

　Aphasia affects numerous aspects of individuals' lives. Living with aphasia causes long-term changes not only in language and communication style, but also in lifestyle, including one's job. Furthermore, in some cases, aphasia can lead to problems with social adaptation. Though the conditions of adults with aphasia are often severe, they are not fully supported under the law. In 2015, the government examined the Services and Support for Persons with Disabilities Act and made necessary revisions to the act based on the results of this examination. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has also conducted research on training and dispatching communication supporters. According to the results, in 2016, they devised training programs for communication supporters with the cooperation of the Japanese Association of Speech-Language-Hearing Therapists. In 2018, prefectures began to offer community life support services including training communication supporters for aphasic people. These might offer good opportunities to enhance support for adults with aphasia.