UMEDA AKEBONO GAKUEN
A ”Center” supporting
Young Children with Developmental Special Needs

Umeda Akebono Gakuen “Center” was established by German Jesuit minister PETRO HEIDRICH in 1970 to support young children who had developmental special needs. He wanted to provide a structured and safe environment where the child’s potential could be actualized through the support to the family.

There are maximally 300 children under care at the “Center” with ages ranging from new-born to 6 years old. These 300 children are separated by needs into different programs. The first program, the Parent and Child Support Department (Shiteibi-Tsuen-Bu), has 104 regularly attending children who come to the “Center” with their mothers. Also another 17 children who are multi handicapped belong to this department. 55 children come to the Early Childhood Educaion Department (Mainichi-Tsuen-Bu) which is like to a regular child care center where they play in a classroom with other children. Another 150children attend the “Center” for specialized counseling and therapy as part of the Akebono Club. In addition, evaluation and services are available to families who may need advice or counseling on a short-term basis. The “Center” provides a full-range of support to children and families with differing needs.

The children are referred to the “Center” by the community health centers, child guidance centers, medical institutions, child care centers and other institutions where habilitation activities occur. Families who receive services through Shiiteibi-Tusuen-Bu and Mainichi-Tsuen-Bu are funded by Japan and Tokyo metropolitan governments. Children involved in Akebono Club and who receive other service are funded by private fees.