Study on Development and Sales of Type B Continuous Vocational Aid Centers Products

Abstract

: In 2006 the Services and Supports for Persons with Disabilities Act came into effect, and Type B Continuous Vocational Aid Centers (VACs) were required to support persons with disabilities, design and develop merchandising products to be sold, and improve user wages. This study clarifies the issues regarding development and sales of vocational aid products and necessary support based on (1) questionnaires with 580 local governments and intermediate support organizations throughout the country and (2) visit surveys of local governments and welfare shops actively conducting development and sales support activities for vocational aid products. As a result, in order to solve issues, it is suggested that support for 1: improvement in product value added, 2: enhancement of marketing functions in product planning and sales, 3: efforts to strengthen collaborative activities among VACs