Disability Handbooks and Recipient Certificates
Japan has two types of certificates that families need to know about.
The first type is the disability handbook (techou / 手帳, also called a disability certificate). There are three of these, one for each category of disability, and their purpose is to officially recognize your child’s disability. Having a disability handbook makes it easier to access services, qualifies your family for tax benefits and discounts, and serves as official proof of disability whenever you need it.
The second type is the recipient certificate (jukyuusha shou / 受給者証). There are several of these, each covering a different set of services, and their purpose is to authorize your child or family member to actually use those services. A disability handbook proves the disability. A recipient certificate is what lets you walk through the door and start receiving support.
You do not always need a disability handbook to get a recipient certificate. If a doctor or specialist says your child needs support, that can be enough to apply for services. And you apply for all of these at the same place: the disability welfare desk (shougai fukushi tantou madoguchi / 障害福祉担当窓口) at your city or ward office.
DISABILITY HANDBOOKS (Shougaisha Techou / 障害者手帳)
Disability Welfare Services in Japan: A Useful Guide
If you are trying to figure out what support is actually available for your child in Japan and how to get it, this article is a good place to start. It covers the major disability welfare services in Japan, organized by life stage from birth through adulthood, and for each service it explains which recipient certificate you need to access it.
