#Japan #Mitaka #Disability Employment #Start Line #Cocreation

Cocreation Terrace: Redefining Opportunities for People with Disabilities

The Cocreation Terrace, initiated by Start Line Co., Ltd., is a groundbreaking platform aimed at redefining employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Headquartered in Mitaka City, Tokyo, and led by CEO Kenji Nishimura, Start Line is devoted to creating a society where everyone can live authentically.

With the employment landscape for persons with disabilities undergoing significant changes, the Cocreation Terrace endeavors to gather various stakeholders involved in disability employment to share experiences, successes, and setbacks. This initiative aims to co-create new practices by engaging in discussions that emphasize mutual understanding and collaboration.

Beginning in 2024, Start Line plans to host three Cocreation Terrace events, welcoming approximately 100 attendees from around 75 companies. Notably, starting in 2025, participation guidelines will be relaxed to include any interested parties, regardless of prior business dealings with Start Line, thereby significantly expanding the initiative's reach.

The Background of Cocreation Terrace

Recent legislative updates are set to enhance the legal employment rate for persons with disabilities in private enterprises from 2.5% to 2.7% by July 2026. This transition translates to a requirement for approximately 100,000 new hires. As businesses face pressure to meet these new standards, many are grappling with challenges such as insufficient job availability and uncertainty about how to engage with employees effectively. Alarmingly, nearly half of enterprises currently fall short of the existing employment rate, leading to instances where companies hire just to meet quotas—often resulting in unhappiness for both employees and employers.

In response to this pressing situation, Cocreation Terrace was established as a platform for sharing best practices related to disability employment. By fostering deeper insights and shared learning, the initiative seeks to illuminate new forms of employment that benefit all parties involved.

Objectives of Cocreation Terrace

The Cocreation Terrace operates under a set of guiding principles aimed at reshaping the future of disability employment:

• - Sharing Experiences: Engage in discussions that showcase various case studies concerning disability employment.
• - Fostering Connections: Encourage networking and knowledge transfer among participants.
• - Co-creating Futures: Collaboratively brainstorm innovative solutions to reshape employment practices for persons with disabilities.

Voices from Participants in 2024

Feedback from participating companies and support organizations highlights the impact of Cocreation Terrace:

• - From Companies: "Discussing challenging topics and finding common ground boosted our motivation at work."
• - "Exchanging ideas with companies from diverse backgrounds proved to be a valuable learning experience."
• - "This event sparked thoughts on how to foster collaboration between stakeholders, including participants, supporters, and companies."

• - From Support Organizations: "Gaining insight into the challenges companies face will help us refine our support strategies."
• - "This was a rare opportunity to understand companies' perspectives better and apply this knowledge in our programs."

Future Events Scheduled for 2025

Looking ahead, the first two Cocreation Terrace events in July 2025 will be held in Tokyo and Osaka, with 39 companies and 52 participants confirmed, along with 23 support organization representatives. Future events scheduled between September and December 2025 and in February 2026 will aim to include a more diverse range of stakeholders, striving to establish standard methodologies and resources for disability employment.

Who Should Attend?

• - Corporate Representatives: Those grappling with challenges related to disability employment—especially HR, general affairs, or operational managers—who want to explore effective practices.
• - Support Professionals: Individuals engaged in disability support who are reevaluating collaboration methods with businesses and seeking to understand the realities companies face.
• - Institutional Stakeholders: Educators, healthcare professionals, and policymakers focused on enhancing career pathways for individuals with disabilities.

Getting Involved

If you're interested in participating in the next Cocreation Terrace events, please reach out to Start Line for further information:

• - Contact: Eiji Yoshida, Marketing Unit, Start Line Co., Ltd.
• - Email: [email protected]
• - Phone: 050-5893-8926
• - Fax: 0422-38-5680

Start Line Co., Ltd. is committed to building an inclusive future for individuals with disabilities through a unique range of services, including effective support grounded in contexts of behavioral science and cognitive behavioral therapy. Founded in 2009, Start Line's mission is to create more choices and expand the possibilities for diverse individuals, fostering a society where everyone can live authentically.