Persons with intellectual disabilities and mental illnesses have been historically outcasted from the regular recruitment pool as they were seen as less competent than non-disabled persons due to their physical, cognitive, and communicative impairments. Globally, social farms have been gaining attention to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities across countries. Yet, there is a lack of empirical evidence on to what extent and how social farms manage the workplace to activate the strengths of persons with disabilities in their agricultural production. Thus, this study aims to identify job crafting practices in two labor-oriented social farms in Japan working with persons with intellectual disabilities and mental illnesses. A set of 14 in-depth interviews with social farm staff working with persons with disabilities were conducted. The findings indicate that labor-oriented social farms in Japan are managed based on two distinct forms: 1) a strengths-based model and 2) a barrier-removal farm. The staff’s description of their involvement suggested that the indiscriminating attitudes shared among the staff and effective workplace configurations involving farmlands, workshops, and residences were drivers for job crafting practices for persons with disabilities. The study concludes by calling for the development of practical tools and policy frameworks in promoting work inclusion of disadvantaged groups through job crafting in the current urban planning dialogue related to inclusive cities and just urban food systems.

Authors:
Akane Bessho, The University of Tokyo, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Akane Bessho is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at The University of Tokyo in Japan

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

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