معرفی
Kosuke Okabe is a Professor at Waseda University's Faculty of Letters, Arts and Sciences, School of Culture, Media and Society. With a Ph.D. from Tokyo Metropolitan University, he specializes in Welfare Sociology, Disability Studies, and Social Policy, focusing particularly on independent living for people with disabilities and personal assistance systems.
His educational background includes:
- 2003-2006: Graduate School, Division of Social Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University (Social Welfare)
- 2001-2003: Graduate School, Division of Social Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University (Social Welfare)
- Prior to 1979: Faculty of Literature, Tokyo University (Department of Sociology)
Professor Okabe's research centers on disability rights, welfare policy, and independent living for people with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. His work critically examines the Japanese welfare system through the lens of disability studies, advocating for person-centered approaches and self-determination. He has made significant contributions to understanding personal assistance systems, the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Japan, and alternatives to institutional care. His research often bridges academic theory with practical policy recommendations, drawing on comparative studies with systems in countries like the United States.
Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on citizenship rights for people with disabilities, the implementation of personal assistance systems in Japan, and critical examinations of welfare policy reforms. His work increasingly incorporates intersectional perspectives, connecting disability with other social categories and examining how multiple forms of marginalization interact.
Professor Okabe has served in numerous committee memberships related to disability policy, including as Deputy Chair of Tokyo's Committee for Building a New Transition Framework for Children with Disabilities, and as a Board Member of the Disability Society since 2008. His professional memberships include the Social Policy Society, Japanese Sociological Society, Japanese Society of Social Welfare, Disability Society, and Welfare Society.
Through his teaching in courses such as "Disability Studies" and "Welfare Society," he has contributed to educating future scholars and practitioners in the field. His research projects, including those funded by MEXT and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, have advanced understanding of quality assurance in social care and the development of inclusive welfare policies.
