【Creating a Society That Leverages Strengths and Passions: How TUCURU's Career Support Project by Representative Ishii Aims to Solve Employment Challenges for People with Disabilities】

There are individuals who address employment challenges for people with disabilities starting from education.

This time, we interviewed Kohei Ishii, the representative of the Career Development Support Project TUCURU.

Mr. Ishii is also a current special needs school teacher. He became a teacher to solve employment issues he noticed while working as a manager at a special subsidiary company established to promote employment for people with disabilities.

Additionally, he founded TUCURU to serve as a bridge between employment support offices, companies that employ people with disabilities, and educational institutions.

We delved into the future that Mr. Ishii is creating through TUCURU and education.

1. What is the Career Development Support Project TUCURU?

At TUCURU, they operate "TsunagiBA," a place where members can utilize their interests, centered in Okayama Prefecture, and "OmoiBA Media," which provides information to educational and welfare fields and introduces employment transition support offices.

Mr. Ishii felt the need for closer collaboration between educational institutions, employment support offices, and hiring companies while working in disability employment, leading to the establishment of TUCURU as an environment connecting these three entities.

He named it TUCURU with the vision of creating a "society where people with diverse backgrounds can thrive."

Reference: TsunagiBA ~OmoiBA Media~ | Career Development Support PJ TUCURU

1-1. A Society Where People with Diverse Backgrounds Can Thrive

[Interviewer (Writer): Akaishi / Interviewee: Mr. Ishii]

Akaishi: What exactly is a society where people with diverse backgrounds can thrive?

Mr. Ishii: My activities are not limited to people with disabilities.

I hope for a society where people, regardless of their disabilities, can find their sense of purpose through their passions and strengths, regardless of their backgrounds.

I believe there needs to be a place where people can utilize their passions and strengths, aiming for a society where many can choose such low-stress environments.

Akaishi: What does a place of belonging mean to you?

Mr. Ishii: I think a place where you can consult and feel safe is one of the roles of a place of belonging.

Additionally, I aim to create a place where you can feel that your strengths are helping someone when you go there, and where everyone accepts you as a member of society.

1-2. What is "TsunagiBA," Where Individual Passions are Utilized?

Akaishi: What activities does "TsunagiBA" involve?

Mr. Ishii: I feel that people with disabilities, supporters, schools, and welfare offices are connected but often cannot express their true feelings due to conflicting interests.

TsunagiBA aims to create a space where these parties can come together by providing a third place with no conflicting interests.

As a place of belonging, we support individuals in initiating projects and fulfilling their desires.

Akaishi: How do projects come to life?

Mr. Ishii: There are various patterns, but the most common is casual conversation.

During the online chat sessions held every Friday, participants often express interests, and those who want to join in start projects together.

In fact, members from special needs schools, by leading projects, have faced many challenges initially but have experienced significant changes, such as acquiring IT skills and considering others' perspectives.

Akaishi: What do you prioritize when advancing a project?

Mr. Ishii: I always tell project members, "Don't push yourself too hard."

The main goal is to improve our quality of life. I want them to progress with a sense of excitement that makes them want to move naturally, rather than out of a sense of duty.

2. Who is Kohei Ishii?

Mr. Ishii was an active soccer enthusiast in his youth.

He was inspired by the Southern All Stars during his junior high years and has been passionate about drumming ever since. After graduating from university, he struggled between becoming a teacher or a musician, ultimately choosing to pursue a career as a drummer until the age of 28 to avoid future regrets.

Let's delve into the roots of Mr. Ishii.

2-1. Transitioning from Musician to Special Subsidiary Company

Akaishi: Why did you quit being a musician?

Mr. Ishii: The reason I played drums was to inspire dreams in those I interacted with, especially children.

However, while performing, I didn't feel like I was truly making anyone happy. I wanted to be in a position where I could contribute to society, rather than just chasing ideals.

Having obtained a special needs school teaching license in university, I decided to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities and joined a special subsidiary company promoting disability employment.

Akaishi: What sparked your interest in disabilities?

Mr. Ishii: During my teaching practicum at a support school, I first interacted with children with disabilities.

There was a child with a bleeding head due to self-harm, using it as a way to communicate.

This encounter was quite shocking for me, and I kept wondering, "What will happen to these children in the future?"

Even during my drumming career, I visited special needs schools, and my curiosity grew. Upon researching, I discovered societal issues like the lack of job opportunities and extremely low wages.

I wondered if there was something I could do, which led me to my first job search at a special subsidiary company specializing in disability employment.

2-2. Insights from the Frontlines of Disability Employment

Akaishi: What types of disabilities were most common at the special subsidiary company?

Mr. Ishii: Most were individuals with severe physical disabilities, working from home.

Working with people with disabilities for the first time, I noticed that many had low self-esteem.

But I realized this wasn't limited to disabilities. While disabilities might limit certain abilities, many employees struggled to focus on what they could do and view their capabilities positively.

Akaishi: Why did you transition to being a special needs school teacher?

Mr. Ishii: Questioning the low self-esteem among employees, I found that a significant factor was not being allowed to challenge themselves during their school years.

Teachers often judged based on their own perspectives, telling students, "You don't have to push yourself because you have a disability."

Conversely, those who lived proactively during their student years were bright and approached work positively.

I realized that there were educational challenges in expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities. I believed that bringing my experience from the special subsidiary company to schools could better connect people with disabilities to society, leading me to become a teacher.

2-3. Important Values as a Special Needs School Teacher

Akaishi: What do you focus on when interacting with students daily as a teacher?

Mr. Ishii: I particularly focus on helping students realize things themselves rather than providing answers. Instead of giving instructions, I encourage students to think for themselves during lessons.

Additionally, like TsunagiBA, I aim to create an environment that naturally sparks students' curiosity and nurtures their interests.

Akaishi: How do you practically implement an environment that encourages students to want to learn during lessons?

Mr. Ishii: I teach students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Every day, students engage in activities they love. For example, one student loves elevators and frequently watches videos of elevator doors closing on YouTube.

For this student, I incorporate elevator illustrations into the teaching materials, constantly leveraging students' interests and incorporating them into lessons.

3. A Future Where Passions and Strengths Can Be Realized with Peers

Akaishi: Can you tell us about the society you want to create in the future?

Mr. Ishii: As TsunagiBA, I want to increase places where people can connect with peers through their passions and interests.

Specifically, I aim to establish bases nationwide by 2025. Ultimately, I hope to collaborate with local governments for operations.

Maximizing online resources, it would be fantastic to initiate projects with friends in Hokkaido or Tokyo while being in Okayama.

Akaishi: Lastly, do you have a message for those hesitant to take on challenges?

Mr. Ishii: If you're hesitant to take a step forward, it's okay not to push yourself.

There will come a time when you'll naturally feel like taking action. When that time comes, I hope you'll explore online, join communities, and proceed at your own pace.

Don't rush; cherish your own feelings.

4. Conclusion

Mr. Ishii always values the sense of excitement.

It's okay not to force yourself to tackle things you're not good at. By valuing your strengths and passions, and positively embracing what you can do, you can grow and support each other with peers. That's what "TsunagiBA" is about.

If you or your family are interested in employment support, please contact us through our website. You'll surely find a place where you can utilize your passions and strengths.

Official Website: https://sites.google.com/view/tunagiba/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CareerTucuru

This time, we introduced Mr. Ishii, who runs a community for people with disabilities. Ayumi also introduces communities for families with children requiring medical care. If you're interested, please check it out.