Living in Japan with a Physical Disability
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- Опубліковано 11 жов 2016
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This is part 2 of 2 of my series of videos documentaries about disability in Japan? You can watch part 1, Travelling with a Physical Disability in Japan, at • Travelling With a Phys... . In this we cover government assistance, helpers, shopping, living independently, barrier free homes, attitudes, improvements, and progress.
Special Thanks to:
● Yuriko Oda: Wheelchair Walker UA-cam Channel / kurumaisuwalker
● Josh Grisdale: Accessible Japan Website www.accessible-japan.com/
● Agatha: Assistant
Website Post: bit.ly/LWIFXEP16
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Music:
Epidemic Sound www.epidemicsound.com/
Dawn Of Destiny 3 - Per-Anders Nilsson
Quotes 1 (Sting Version) - Anders Bothén
The Infinite Dreamer 1 - Niklas Gustavsson
Sandbox 1 (Sting) - Björn Skogsberg
Soft Awakening 1 - Per-Anders Nilsson
I'm from France and to be honest I was very impressed by how Tokyo is adapted to people with disabilities. First, the fact that there is no sideways is a major game changer. Then elevators and ramps in every metro station. My company employed around 40 people with earing disabilities and some with blind disabilities and it was amazing.
Its so encouraging to see that you gave these people the opportunity to share their stories first person. So often disabled people are dehumanised and talked at and about, not to.
Ashley Hazlehurst
I'm for Pakistan and I also suffered in physical disability and I haven't receive any aid aur any special benfiits for government
@@badar624 how countries deal with the disabled can be really hit or miss. In the US it depends alot on which state your in, in some countries the disabled are treated like something strange and in others they're considered pariahs/freaks while in others nobody will do anything to accommodate you. I'm disabled and live in the US and even though i live in a fairly wealthy liberal area the government is a nightmare to deal with: recently they canceled my disability status and threatened to force me to repay them for any benefits i may have received in the past 10 years, made me spend months fighting them, made me spend thousands of dollars in doctors visits out of pocket so that i could get more medical evaluations proving im disabled, and turn over all my medical records to them. They did this after the just said, out of the blue, that i'm "no longer disabled" even though I'm partially paralyzed.
If that's how the supposed "leader of the free world" treats the disabled I can only imagine how difficult things must be in Pakistan.
@@arthas640 in Pakistan life of disabled persons is so difficult in any field manage ownself in every mattets
Yep i know the feeling ,I use my wheelchair when I'm out and about and people ask my husband questions about me and I'm right there ,so he turns to me and ask the question again even if he knows the answer.
Children are the best because they just come right out and ask me anything. once I explain to them they're happy .
nice woke phrase generator bot
So glad I found this, I very suddenly became disabled but I didn't want to give up on my dream of working in Japan. I was worried I might need assistance if I was still try. It's good to know it's based on living in the city and not being a citizen.
I think he said that you need to be working (or at least paying taxes) to qualify. I was wondering what kind of work Josh is doing.
Oh, I just want to give Yuriko a great big hug and tell her that she is not weak! That breaks my heart that she feels that way. Disabled people have so much strength and courage to soldier through life with such enormous burdens, I would have thought Japanese culture would value such bravery : (
It is amazing that he is receiving better care in Japan as a non-citizen then he would living in Canada, he would be in a residence for sure. It must be nice for him to have his independence over there.
This is an excellent, very informative documentary on the challenges of being physically disabled in Japan. Although I'm not physically disabled, I often think of their challenges especially when I travel. I recently visited a friend in Costa Rica whose wife was wheelchair bounded and she was a prisoner in her house since the sidewalks and roads were impassable in a wheelchair and she had no access to wheelchair accessible public transportation. Whenever I see someone in a wheelchair, I realize that I'm one accident away from also being in a wheelchair.
That is so sad. I'm sorry about your friends wife. One little tip is to use person first language when referring to someone in a wheelchair. Instead of saying wheelchair bound try saying she used a wheelchair or he is in a wheelchair.
D Lee you are so right m,y friend was paralysed from the neck down in a car accident I was to be in that car that night,but for the first time said NO everyone was upset with me for not going with them that night. They even called me back begging for me to go & asking me what is wrong with me for not wanting to go . I do not know what it was,but I knew I did not want to go . They hit a mountain that night at 100 miles an hour head on.he did years later . He was only in his twenties when it happened he died at 36. He begged people to take him out in the woods & shoot him he did not want to live any more. he died of pneumionia . I have been haunted for years wondering what made me not go that night. Take care
( Judy )
@@jexikavindictive you're just changing words around and it doesn't make ANY difference whatsoever, it just makes lazy people feel better while accomplishing NOTHING in terms of materially improving the lives of the disabled, eg, doing the painstaking work required to get cities to *materially* support them in their day to day lives. Since that would take actual work, maybe getting off your arse (something that people don't want to do), they prefer to say shallow, empty, virtue signaling garbage online that means NOTHING and accomplishes NOTHING but makes them feel better, like what you're doing here.
@@ShaferHart lol okay dude. I am disabled and was just making a suggestion. Mind you it was 2 years ago that I posted that and I really don't care that much. But you completely over reacted to my comment.
You are creating some really great and interesting documentaries here, mate. Really appreciate the time and effort you are putting into this channel! I've just reently decided on studying journalism and documentaries myself, and watchingyou create such solid content on here is making me feel confident about my decision somehow. Thanks!
Thanks! If it helps any, I've never studied journalism nor film before (besides one class in shooting video after which I thought, hey, I already know how to do this). I actually studied business in university. But anyways, there's so much you can learn by just doing, and then after each project, try to learn something and do it better the next time. There's lots of great resources online. It's also great to shoot with others and learn how they do things.
💯👍🏼 Mate 👍
Awesome documentary on local services! So glad people opened up to explain it to the world and thanks for bringing this episode to us.
I really appreciate how you let the protagonist in your documentaries be their own voice. You give and introductory comment but at the end, it's them doing the talk.
I've been looking for a video like this for the past 7 years. I was paralyzed from the chest down in a car accident when I was 16. For the past 7 years however, it has been my dream to live and work in Japan. I always thought this was impossible since I depend on other people to support me like Josh does. I am amazed to see that he is living the life that he wants to live in Japan with an adaptive apartment and home help. I would really love to talk to him so that I could do that also.
The helper is really thoughtful. For example when he was talking about how each person has a set of their idea of what's normal and I really appreciate his attitude and care because it's rare to have people with that perspective most will do a specific function without a second thought for how someone else might feel. That's very warm and loving approach, in that aspect, the person really is being adopted. But its true there is a clear divide between having a spouse or a caregiver the two are separate and should be carefully handled with personal boundaries in mind. Bless you all and your loved ones. I am handicapped too so I understand there are so many layers to this issue as there are so many individuals with special needs that ths next person might not need as much and more for others. Blessings to you may you live a long life with loved ones and best carers.💚💚💚💚💚💚😷🙋♀️
Josh is so charming! He seems like such a nice person. They all do actually! Really interesting topic and one that isn't talked about enough! Great job!
Why thank you!
Becky Bryan he's a cutie too! Kim
AccessibleJapan gettin hit on internet. You hunk you.
My oh my glad I was in the video!
+AccessibleJapan Hi Josh, thanks for sharing your experience in the video. This was really eye opening. One question, does your home door also close with a push of a button? Thanks!
このビデオを見つけて良かったです！
私も日本で生活している障がい者なんですが、今のところで遊びの時に杖を使ったり、職場とかでできるだけ障がいがあることをばれないように生活しています。なぜかというと、日本では障がい者として自立するのが無理だと思っていました。また車椅子を使わないといけないようになりましたら、絶対にアメリカに帰ることになると思っていましたが、感動しました。日本に住むことが大好きですので、無理ではないと初めて知ってて新しい希望をくれました。
ありがとうございました！
🙂
As someone who is disabled I really appreciate documentaries like this and think our government here in the UK could learn a thing or two from Japan and how they handle these kind of welfare issues. Thank you for taking the time to cover this topic ❤
Wow!!! This documentary was so good! The narration, the cuts, the progression, the change of scenes, the camera work, simply perfect, I honestly didn't saw any flaw
Thank you for all that hard work, I enjoyed everything, learned a lot and didn't even once touched my phone for disstraction haha
Thanks!
Chris Blablabla hey Buddy you need to watch: Tokyo by Train... if this is Great for you. Tokyo by Train will take your breath away!!! I personally think was the BEST documentary made by a UA-cam channel in 2016. It was Beyond AMAZING!!!
You're videos are informative and excellent sources to Japan. I am now in a wheelchair...my daughter is my caretaker. I want to visit Japan...I lived there when my dad was in Air Force. Happiest time of my childhood.
I'd be very interested to see an episode focused on those with invisible disabilities who don't use mobility aids 24/7 if at all. It would also be interesting to hear about service dogs.
Also, what help does the government provide to those whose disabilities do not allow them to work at all?
I'll probably cover the social safety net at some point.
Samantha Venero also those with intellectual disabilities and severe mental illness, both seem to bear the brunt of horrific abuse in facilities.
I'd like see this too, I have muscular dystrophy but I'm not wheelchair bound and i use a cane, but I can't walk long distances (I even have trouble walking around in Wal-Mart depending on how long I'm on my feet), however I've always wanted to travel especially to Japan
Never want to take for granted the fact that I can walk. Thank you for sharing their story with us. ❤️
When I walk around, feeling the sun and maybe even sweating I always take the time to be thankful for the fact that I can indeed walk. It's so unfortunate some people get deprived of basic "abilities" through no fault of their own 😔
The bunny is so cute! And the lady (I forget her name) is lucky to have a husband to help take care of her.
Would have been cool to get his perspective as well. Maybe I'll check out her channel to see if he's in any of her videos.
Her name is Yuriko Oda.
I’m sure he’s lucky to have her too :)
The bunny is so badly kept. :( The plastic floor, no soft hay or straw. Much much too small. And no companion.
Thank you very much for your documentaries on wheelchair life in Japan! Here in the U.S. (Texas) the possibility of getting help is almost non-existent. Even getting a ride to the store is a major undertaking, or even getting a lightbulb changed requires having the money to pay someone. Japan, on the other hand, is amazing in its efforts! The transportation available alone is worthy of some serious kudos! The concept of getting a helper is something that is not feasible, financially, for most people in wheelchairs here.
This is exactly why I want to move out of rural Texas into a mid-sized city, because I lived in a college town before and there was bus lines that at least covered the majority of business districts, and if I was going to a friend's house I could leave the bus at the nearest station & I can walk up to a mile away from a station to my destination.
I live in Canada 🇨🇦 this is an excellent documentary! I use an electric scooter. All tourist type shows only show healthy people walking. It's good to hear care is given and given well there.
As a disabled caregiver in America, this is fascinating! I work for a private family caring for their 2 disabled children, but I've also worked in care homes for adults. The single government system is soooo much simpler than the multiple agencies and private worker system that I currently work in. Also, America doesn't pay for caretakers for the disabled for the most part.... They give you a lump sum of benefits per month which arnt even enough for rent in most places...
Hi, I'm wondering if things have gotten better under your current administration. Please share if you have a moment.
@I Am The One Who Knocks 0_0??!! Don't mind me, I'm just struggling to pick my jaw off the ground and teach myself to blink again after reading what you wrote.
That was depressing to read.
Be well.
9:40 "This is real" I love the slightly random cut to the fish head on display!
The documentary was incredible! I learned so much. I'm physically disabled and use a wheelchair and just by watching this I can calculate just how much help I'd get if I moved to Japan. I was already considering moving there, but now I might just start my research haha.
You're awesome. I knew about your channel because I was on subway, and one man was watching one of your videos in his smartphone and I did not have anything else to do hahaha. I loved it, it was the story about ramen restaurant. I remember some of the name of the channel so I search it and this is my second video. I love that human approach. I have a website about public transport and I try to do some similar, so it's really wonderful to know about other people who thinks alike. Congratulations from Chile, it's awesome to have Spanish subtitle too!!!
Haha, thanks! Yes, there's a viewer who does a lot of the Spanish subtitles!
Thanks for read and answer, have a nice weekend and keep your trail!!! :)
Japan looks like an amazing country. I don’t see the road blocks for disability we have here in the USA and this country looks amazingly clean and it’s people beautiful and so kind and respectful. I wonder how they feel about us.
Being disabled in America is horrible and filled with discrimination. I speak that myself being disabled in America and their mistreatment towards the disabled worker's and veterans
This kind of documentaries are really interesting and mind changing. Im amazed to know that Japan has all these facilities offered by the gov/city authorities.
I think it's crazy how well Japan has done with wheel chair users and how it makes life much simpler for them and how someone like Yuriko can do so much and they are still happy it's amazing and good job on the video
Here in Australia I am a DSW - or disability support worker. I have the same role as the 'helpers' do in this video, except most of my clients have 24/7 care. It's extremely interesting for me to watch videos like this and see what caring for clients is like in other countries - especially since, like in this video, i am also paid by government funding. Thank you for making such a detailed video! 😲
A beautiful documentary. This presentation stimulates the intellect, the emotions, and the imagination. It provides a lot of insight into a point of view that is sometimes hidden away or ignored.
I smiled at the ways people are being humane to their fellow human beings. I cried a bit at the idea of disabled kids being segregated from others in some schools. And I thought about things I've never considered. This was brilliant and comparable to NHK/CBC/PBS/BBC/ABC coverage ... from a UA-cam channel!
Thanks for the nice message and thanks for watching!
Yuriko Oda, i wish the people i help with English had as much confidence as you do. I did not even need subs when you were talking.
I've learnt so much! It's just 30 minutes, but this has changed my view of specially-abled people. Thank You for always putting out quality content. This has definately opened my eyes
Hafsa Yousuf that’s good!! Just letting you know that disabled isnt a bad word and the vast majority of disabled people, including myself, prefer to be referred to as such
I really enjoy the documentaries. I'm glad you took suggestions and are using them.
This was a really interesting and informative video! Thank you!
Wonderful video, and a real eye opener. Keep up the great work Greg.
I've been subscribed to your other channel for some time now, and only now realized you have this second, marvelous channel. The quality of this documentary is astoundingly professional, and it is also very moving and interesting.
What a wonderful documentary. Very informative!
This was amazingly done and I’m incredibly thankful for this video
This is fantastic! I've actually always been curious about how Japan deals with disabilities, because all I've seen in videos of Japan is all the narrow, hilly street scapes, stairs and alleyways and stuff, and thought 'how does anybody with limited mobility get around?'. It's cool to see that it's possible, and that it's being improved. The Olympics will definitely have an impact on accessibility too, for sure.
Very interesting and informative! Thank you for making this video!
Amazing work! Such a wonderful documentary. I personally have a mild case of Cerebral Palsy, and I was lucky to have some of the best physical therapists in the world, and my body reacted well to the therapy during puberty, so I have regained use of most all of my muscles. But the problem is when I need assistance to hold some trays or something... people in Japan look at me like I am lazy and don't want to hold my own tray...
Looks can be deceiving. So I think people in general should just be courteous and forgiving to people who ask for assistance.
What an absolutely wonderful video! This is definitely my favourite video of yours so far.
This is amazing content!!! Keep up the good work on the documentary series. I enjoy them very much. :)
Thank you to all participants for making this insightful video.
What an excellent documentary. Thanks to all of the participants for sharing so much of their lives to answer questions that most might be too shy to ask.
Thank you for making this, it is absolutely amazing. A fascinating insight into the lives of people with a physical disability. You covered this topic with sensitivity and thoughtfulness. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing this video. It gives a lot of awareness for the disabled people that normally go unnoticed. They should be better taken care of in other countries as well as they are Japan, by making so many things wheelchair accessible for example.
Really interesting, thank you for sharing this!
I am so impressed by this content. Thank you so much for sharing topics that are not often discussed. I enjoyed hearing the personal perceptions and challenges of the interviewed as well as the personal care attended.
What an amazing documentary! Great job. I learned so much.
Love the documentaries, subscribed!
I've watched the whole documentary without even skipping a second of it :)
Thank you for caring about a topic like this ... Can't wait to see more !!
This was a really great video. I knew about some of the issues and successes, but it was great to learn more about the subject.
This was a truly magnificent documentary. I really enjoyed learning about these individuals lives.
Good documentary, whenever I have seen your documentary, I feel cozy
Thanks for this documentary. Well done.
Greg, thanks for sharing this video. I found it to be both informative and interesting.
Thank you so much for this informative and interesting video!
What a very nice channel! Thanks for those amazing videos!
Interesting documentary, nice work Greg!.
Really informative documentary. Very insightful. Well done
Thank you so much, what a great documentary, so well edited, flowed nicely and held my interest plus being very informative. Congratulations to Yuriko Oda for her recognition. Her app will be an immense help in general but particularity when the Paralympics arrive in 2020. Great job. You chose really nice folks to interview. Peace
Thank you, Greg, for sharing this information.
loving the docs man, keep it up!! :D
That was a really good report. Did not know so much about it before. I have visited Japan like 10 years ago and was fascinated from their culture and attitude.
The way how it is always done from Graig is very nice and respectful. Greetings from Germany.
This was a very interesting documentary. Great Job!
I would like to thank the heroes in this field. Thank you very much.
Thank you so much for this video ! I have learnt so much, and I feel like this subject is not discussed often enough. It was very interesting learning how disabled people live in Japan and how the laws are here.
Awesome video. Thank you for taking time to make this informative piece. Happy belated Thanksgiving from Canada
Thank you for sharing. This was great information.
Wonderfull dokumentary! Keep it up!
Love your channel, keep up the great work
Thank you so much for making these videos, people with disabilities are so often over looked! I would love to see more in this series, about what its like living in Japan with varying disabilities. I'm hoping to live there one day, so it would be helpful to know what I'm in for!
I'm glad to see things are changing for the disabled in Japan. As a disabled person in New Zealand I'm treated like anyone else, with the exception of plenty of offers of help if I look like I'm struggling to do something. People are willing to adapt the rules, adapt processes to ensure I can do the same things as everyone else, even the buses kneel and a ramp comes out so I can get on and off easily. I want to visit Japan but did wonder how people would react to both a foreigner and a disabled person all in one. Now I don't think that will be an issue. Thanks for making this video.
Thank you for making this! I am a disabled young woman in America and I am always curious what it is like for disabled people in other countries.
Thank you so much for these videos. Incredible. Seriously, thank you.
Great video! Thanks for sharing your expertise of Living in Japan with a physical disability!
This is so wonderful and informative!
wow this video was an eye opener! love this video
You do such wonderful vlog. I really appreciate it.
Thank you for the video. I have Merosin Muscular Dystrophy and I'm starting my junior year of Esl education. I have several friends that have taught overseas and I lived in Europe for most of my adult life. Anyway this video has answered many of the questions I had about possibly working in Japan when I graduate. I'll definitely be checking out Yuriko and Josh's websites as well.
Great, glad it could help.
thank you! for this great documentrie
This is really good insight on these individuals lives. Awesome job on this video 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Wonderful documentary! I thought the bit at the end with Yuriko's application was super interesting. Technology really has been improving at such a remarkable pace and I'm really glad that it has helped both with communication and physical accessibility. Hopefully the future will bring more advancements that will allow people to conduct their lives more independently.
Yeah, the app's a great idea!
Very interesting Greg! Thank you for these videos 🙏🏼 very interesting how it seems like, not sure tho, Josh isnt a citizen of Japan but he has access to those benefits because of the city he’s in. Really loved the inside look at these peoples lives, gives a good perspective of the what its like to do things with a disability. Really loved this. Thank you!
amazing Video! very eye opening!
Excellent video thanks.
thank you so much, it means alot that u did this
i like your documentary style posts. very enjoyable to watch. this one was especially interesting since i live in South Korea and they have a don't ask don't see attitude about disabilities like Japan used to. As a Canadian working in the education industry it is frustrating to see children who can easily be helped but are not because of the societal world view.
That's very sad to hear. I hope things change soon.
it would be great to see similar videos in the future on how accessible and barrier free japan is...this will also encourage travels for the physically challenged individuals to visit and truly enjoy Japan. Vir here from the Philippines.
Thank you for eye opener videos
this was really nicely made and very respectful of the people who have disabilities. id really like to see a documentary or video about people with mental disabilities or illness' in japan too in the future maybe (like people who have anxiety, autism, ocd etc). i havent seen anyone talk about it before (besides depression) and i think it would be really helpful. i plan on living in japan when im older and i have anxiety and autism myself (high functioning), but im not sure how japanese society views those things or how they make things accessible for them. good work as always ⭐️
And the guy in the video really brought me some positives vibes.. He is very vibrant!
Thank you. I learned much from this film.
Great Work!!
Ok so this is great material you have created. I enjoy watching all your vids. I found this by accident while searching for a game I play on a Japanese server. I started to watch and have become engrossed in your vids. Thank you for sharing this with the world. Great job.
Thank you, for this education.
Hi Greg, just followed and binged both of your channels about a year ago. I love your narrations and videos, and all of the hard work especially on these mini docs. I have a hearing loss and just only recently exploring Deaf world; and just found out that in Japan there are only a few inclusive schools that accepting disabled children (esp. Deaf children). Can you consider making videos about this topic? Thank you Greg! Stay healthy!
keep making such great videos !
I love the part when Yuriko-san talks about Japan being a former samurai culture and not knowing how to handle "weak" people! It is so thoughtful, but yet sad, since it should be something everyone should be able to do.
This made me wonder how accessable and barrierfree living in Germany is.. Even though you see people using wheel chairs much more often than in Japan (where I now only once saw someone in a wheel chair) there also have to be problems!
Thanks for the documentary! It was nice to learn what problems people with disabilities living in Japan have to face, but also how they are able to live a relatively normal and independent life!
Even in the US (midwest at least), there's a lot of room for improvement. A lot of older buildings "grandfathered" in to pre-disabilities-act building codes, lots of no-assist doors, rampless thresholds, etc. Sure plenty of people are willing to step in to help, but they have their work cut out for them because of the built environment.
And there's still the social stigma, to a degree, but mostly from older folks. Kids will run up to other kids in wheelchairs without thinking twice (good), but their parents will often step in and pull them away, like they might "catch the disability" (bad).
I live in Germany, where WWII left the country with no children or adults with physical and mental disabilities. Until around 2000 Germany still had the boarding school style, which although helpful for families with children who need round the clock care, was disastrous for children who were blind or deaf, as they had difficulty fitting into the family after completing school--some kids were only allowed to go home at Christmas and summer holidays. Just dreadful! Likewise for children who are physically or mentally challenge, there has been the problem of one school for these children despite having a normal IQ. The United Nations fined Germany because of its lack of integration of disabled children and for limiting disabled and abled children from integrating. Currently, special education facilities have been closed with children who are capable of attending normal school integrated into those schools. This has caused a huge problem as German educators are not used to teaching such pupils so that the plan has failed, meaning special education faculties for the mentally and physically challenged are still segregated. Meanwhile children with ADHD, dyslexia or descalculy suffer as they have no place at German schools and there are not enough educators. They are put in Hauptschule, where they are not helped much with their disability. Parents often have to pay for private schools--something only well healed parents can do. Germany's school system has grade school (1-4 grades), Hauptschule (basic education grades 5-10), Realschule ( O-level grades 5-10) and Gymnasium (A-level grades 5-13). Children with reading and attention deficits go to Hauptschule as do the physically and mentally challenged and any child's whose teacher believes he is not up to the challenge of higher education. That is, teachers decide on the fate of children. It is well documentation that this systems favors Germans while disfavors immigrants as educational achievement is based not on intelligence rather parents' social background. Those at Haupschule receive an inferior education and are limited to low income jobs while their more intelligent peers get a ticket to a bright and shine future. It was estimated that the current education system in Germany is not producing an educated citizenry with about 30% of pupils having such low education skills as to make there education obsolete and not fit for the job market! To its credit, Germany is trying to improve these issues, but the society has still not recovered from its WWII mentality: people with disabilities should be kept out of site. People with disabilities like Josh are often seen in the streets with their families and helpers. However, children with severe CP, MD, MS and developmental delays are kept in institutions. Children with down syndrome are also becoming rarer with about 50% being aborted before they are born. Germany's failure to provide integrated education with equal access to education for all children is the reason why the UN was not happy the country. In short Germany has developed an elitist educational system with low tolerance for anyone who is different. Unfortunately, these issues were being addressed until the influx of refugees. Now the educational issues will not receive proper funding and the prejudice against people with physical and mental disabilities will continue despite cradle to grave care.
When I went to elementary school (in Germany) in 1998, we had one class where about 5 children with disabilities were integrated with "normal" children, so both groups could learn from each other.. but I feel like that was a very rare case.
WolkeYume
That is a very rare case. Right now, Germany is really struggling, but trying to improve its school situation. I feel that the German society could be so much richer. Because Germany has a difficult time integrating people with difficulties, it also has difficulties with its immigrant population and children. Of all the European countries, Germany is the least child friendly and immigrants, like the disabled, are viewed as a drain on societies resources. It's just very sad all around. Despite German government showing compassion by accepting over one million refugees, the society is not yet mentally ready to deal with such problems. A compassionate society is not just giving materially, but showing love and understanding. Money can not replace emotional acceptance of a people whether foreign or native born, disabled or abled.
Watching this documentary it made me really think abou how similar Germany and Japan are sometimes, especially with regards to The Rules. The whole legal system in Germany is not exactly disability friendly. Regarding the school system - schools are becoming more inclusive, but the whole system is based on sorting people based on their skills. That makes inclusiveness often impossible or even unfair, when a mentally disabled child is allowed to be mainstreamed into Gymnasium but an able-minded child might not get the opportunity to go there (or is later downgraded for low marks). Also, people are very protective of the selectionist Gymnasium system: As traditionally only Abitur (obtained at Gymnasium) allowed for going to universities (it's slowly changing with the Bologna reform), the so-called intellectual elite does not want their children's success be tampered with by a teacher having to give some attention to struggling/disabled students.
This is probably also because traditionally, there is no differentation between the children within a class - the class procedes at about the same speed as the slowest child. This mentality makes it necessary to divide children into different school types. It even gets to the point that teachers for the "lesser" high schools get paid less than the ones of the "higher" high schools (reason being that the latter require more academic rigor and whatnot).
For mentally or emotionally disabled people there are (of course, one might say) special schools with better learning conditions (small groups, more teachers). However, more and more children get mainstreamed and the special ed. teachers support other teachers at mainstream schools. This leaves special ed schools with children not eligible for mainstream (which kinda means they are probably very disruptive or dangerous for other children) and less special ed. teachers.. (but at least special ed. teachers get paid as much as the "higher" high school teachers - reason being they need special psychological training).
Regarding the daiy lives of disabled people it's really nasty because they fall under Sozialhilfe and not under Health care. This means they are not allowed to own more than about 2500 € if they need fulltime care, making a good education essentially useless, since you will not be allowed to keep the money you earn (or have to pay all the care out of pocket). These 2500 € are not much as debt is frowned upon in German society and you will most likely not even get a loan if you only have 2500€ cash lying in the bank.
However, there was some petition to parliament some time ago, so hopefully the whole system will change in the future...