Although they often have difficulty communicating with others, people with developmental disabilities are playing a growing role in the field of information technology, as many are well-suited to highly specialized work.
In order for such staff to succeed, people around them need to demonstrate understanding and provide them with opportunities to develop their skills.
-- Protracted focus
"My current job is my calling. What I want to do matches what I actually can do, and receiving praise motivates me," said Ryo Oikawa, a 26-year-old who works at Digital Hearts Plus, a Sendai-based subsidiary of a major IT company that tests the quality of video games and software.
Oikawa has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, a developmental disorder caused by congenital brain dysfunction.
He finds it difficult to communicate with people, especially over the phone or by email, but he's able to work with confidence because his supervisors allow him to speak slowly and repeat things.
Oikawa is particularly good at working on things continuously. He and his work colleagues repeatedly test video games and other products, looking for defects. His ability to concentrate for long periods allows him to find many errors.
"I want to keep doing this job. I'm happy to have a workplace related to IT," Oikawa said.
Most of the about 30 people who work at Digital Hearts Plus have mental or developmental disabilities. The company utilizes the strengths of people with conditions characterized by extreme thoroughness and fixation.
However, people with these conditions are not good at managing work processes, and they tend to be diligent and overwork. Managers keep a close eye on these areas.
People's skill sets differ depending according to their particular disorder. For example, some people are good at conducting inspections by following checklists, while others need the freedom to conduct tests as they see fit. They may sometimes have to do things they are not good at, but efforts are made to assign tasks that are suited to each person's characteristics.
"Of course everyone is different. We want to create a workplace where everyone can play a role," said company President Kojiro Hatada.
-- HR development
There are organizations that specialize in training highly capable people with developmental disabilities to meet the shortage of IT workers.
Neuro Dive is a job transition support office specializing in IT that is operated by Persol Challenge Co. It provides training programs up to two years long that teach people with developmental disabilities advanced IT skills, such as machine learning and data analysis.
Participants are also taught to face their disabilities when learning work skills and knowledge and being trained. Before being hired, they spend about a month doing hands-on training at a company, which then decides whether to offer them a job based on their performance.
A 28-year-old man from Chiba Prefecture said he attended a national university, but found he couldn't debate with his classmates and was later diagnosed with ASD. He signed up with Neuro Dive out of a desire to acquire IT skills and work in a creative field, and he is currently undergoing training.
The man has strong language skills but loses track of the subject during discussions, which is a characteristic of his disability. He's best at reading programs written by other people and working intensively.
"I want to find a job where I can use the skills I've learned and that suits my nature," he said.
JGC Parallel Technologies Corp., which provides IT support for improving operations at major engineering company JGC Holdings Corp., has a track record of hiring IT staff with developmental disabilities.
"We've seen the possibilities of people who can make the most of their talents if they find the right jobs. We hope more companies will hire specialized workers for a variety of positions," said the president of JGC Parallel Technologies.
-- Hesitant to disclose diagnosis
About 230,000 people nationwide have developmental disabilities, according to an estimate based on Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry's 2017 survey. This is up about 20% from 2014, due to increasing awareness of developmental disorders.
People with such disorders can work comfortably once employers learn about the characteristics of their condition and provide support. But not everyone is willing to see a doctor about their conditions or reveal the diagnosis to others.
A survey by Nomura Research Institute Ltd. (NRI) found that 40% of people who have a development disorder and were hired through general employment did not tell anyone at work about their condition, and half had been reluctant to do so.
The ministry plans to assign counselors specializing in developmental disabilities at job placement offices and create a system to help such people find and keep jobs. This fiscal year, support became available for students who appear to have developmental disorders.
"The characteristics of developmental disorders can be an advantage in specialized work," NRI senior consultant Atsushi Takada said. "With the declining birthrate and graying population, managers need to be able to make the most out of people's potential."
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
