Diagnosis and Challenges of Community-Based Care Services for the People with Disabilities in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Focusing on Exploring the Possibility of Regional Leadership

Abstract

The pandemic COVID-19, ever continuing to this day, has caused changes that have not been experienced before. Due to COVID-19, our society has rapidly transformed into a non-face-to-face community, and the damage to the ecosystem will continue to grow even if the current pandemic ends. As the possibility of a pandemic may be greater than before, it is necessary to respond, in the post-COVID-19 era, to the new social risks caused by the already changed ecosystem. Thus, this study explores the locality where the people with disabilities reside under the constraints of the centralized, standardized approaches to service provisions by the government, and how to expand the subjective role of the individuals with disabilities, and also to enhance community networks and collaboration. The purpose of this study is to diagnose the emergence of regional leadership during the pandemic and formulate policy recommendations to reinforce it. As a result of the study, in order to strengthen the community-led care system for the people, (1) local government-led responses are needed and (2) community-based approaches within the community need to be strengthened. First, to strengthen the local government-led responses, local governments need a) to change and transform their responses to care for the disabled, b) to expand local leadership with comprehensive assistance methods, c) to enhance local government organizations and personnel in charge of the disabled people, and d) to strengthen the local governments’ autonomy. Second, in order to strengthen the community-led approaches within the locality, efforts should be made a) to promote community participation and cooperation, b) to attract private organizations centered in the local governments and the residents, and c) to improve the target and the delivery method of care for the disabled people. In addition, this study suggests a regional approach to reinforce the local leadership in care for the people with disabilities to reflect regional characteristics.