Narrative of a person with developmental disabilities presiding over several types of self-help groups : An attempt to do what many self-help groups “don't do”

スウシュルイ　ノ　ジジョ　グループ　ヲ　シュサイ　スル　ハッタツ　ショウガイシャ　ノ　カタリ　オオク　ノ　ジジョ　グループ　デ　ヤッテイナイ　コト　ヲ　ココロミル

Japanese Society for Clinical Phenomenology

自助グループ

現象学的方法

理解者

developmental disabilities

self-help group

phenomenological method

people who understand

Presiding over a self-help group can be an empowering experience for both the presiding individual and the participants, but previous studies have not described the case of a single individual presiding over several types of self-help groups. In this study, I used phenomenological methods to clarify the significance of the experiences of a research collaborator with developmental disabilities and other challenges running several types of self-help groups. As this method describes and analyzes “lived experiences” without abstraction, it was employed to clarify the meaning of the phenomenon in one case. The research collaborator emphasized addressing the environment when people face difficulties. A key experience shaping this perspective was his encounter with “allies” in the “LGBTQ+ group,” and his simultaneous realization that the “Religion II group” lacked such individuals. Consequently, the research collaborator attempted to change the environment for people with difficulties by encouraging the participation of family members, friends, and supporters in the self-help groups he presides over, and by increasing the number of “people who understand and want to support them,” a practice not commonly observed in many self-help groups. The significance of the research collaborator’s experiences lies in the freedom to explore practices “not done” in “many self-help groups.” This freedom allowed him to adopt methods deemed useful across different groups. I believe this represents an important step toward creating a more inclusive society for people with difficulties.