TOMODACHI Disability Leadership Program in America
This intensive four-month disability leadership and advocacy training is taking place in Boston, Massachusetts. The goal of the program is to train three young Japanese people with disabilities to become stronger and more confident leaders of the next generation.
The program engages trainees in a spectrum of activities:
1. An intensive orientation to the program and life in Boston. They will also participate in cultural and educational activities.
2. An internship where they will be matched with a local training site based on your individual interests and training needs. Examples of training sites are government agencies, non-governmental organizations, schools, research institutes, and businesses.
3. English language training where they will improve conversational and written skills. Deaf trainees may participate in American Sign Language training.
4. Weekly group seminars where they will discuss their internship placement, explore experiences, and link those with the concepts of disability leadership and inclusion.
After graduating from the program, trainees may contribute to their communities in Japan in disability leadership roles. They may also become mentors to future program participants.
- For more information, click here
The program is sponsored by the TOMODACHI Initiative, a public-private partnership between the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, and Northrop Grumman, and implemented by the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at UMass Boston, through partnership with TOMODACHI. Since the 1960s, the ICI has been a leader in disability inclusion and advocacy.
- To read the 2016 press release, click here
TOMODACHI Disability Leadership Program in America 2019
- To see 2019 participants, click here
2019 TOMODACHI Disability Leadership Program Graduates Share Their Training Experiences in Boston
From August 2 to December 2, 2019, Kaito Toyoda, Kasumi Kamizuka, and Tomoya Nakanishi participated in the 2019 TOMODACHI Disability Leadership Program, taking part in disability leadership and advocacy trainings in Boston, Massachusetts. Over the course of four months, the trainees engaged in a spectrum of activities, including an intensive orientation to the program, individualized internships with disability-focused government or community organizations, weekly leadership seminars, and English language training. Read More>>
TOMODACHI Disability Leadership Program in America 2018
- To see 2018 participants, click here
Participants of the 2018 TOMODACHI Disability Leadership Program Complete Their Training in Boston
From August 3 to December 4, 2018, Kana Takahashi, Keiji Oka, and Tomoshige Kabetani participated in the TOMODACHI Disability Leadership Program in America.
Over the course of four months, the trainees engaged in a spectrum of activities, including an intensive orientation to the program and life in Boston, an individualized internship with a disability-focused government or community organization, weekly leadership seminars, and English language training. At the November 28, 2018 program award ceremony, the trainees presented the independent projects they completed during their internships, in which they investigated disability-related issues. Read More>>
TOMODACHI Disability Leadership Program in America 2017
- To see 2017 participants, click here
Participants of the 2017 TOMODACHI Disability Leadership Program Complete Their Training in Boston
On December 20, 2017, Mio Deguchi and Haruna Sakai, participants of the TOMODACHI Disability Leadership Program in America returned from Massachusetts Boston, after completing the program that began in July, 2017.
This five-month-long program engaged the traine
es in a spectrum of activities, including an intensive orientation to the program and life in Boston, an individualized internship with a disability-focused government or community organization, weekly leadership seminars, and English language training. Inspired by a disability-related issue, each trainee presented their independent project that they investigated in their internships at a special award ceremony on December 14. Read More>>
TOMODACHI Disability Leadership Program in America 2016
- To see 2016 participants, click here
TOMODACHI Disability Leadership Trainees Celebrate Disability Rights in Washington, D.C.
From October 19 to 20, 2016, three Japanese trainees of the TOMODACHI Disability Leadership Program in America visited Washington, D.C., meeting leaders of Northrop Grumman Corporation as well as local community leaders. Read More>>
Participants of the TOMODACHI Disability Leadership Program Complete Their Training in Boston
From July 29 to December 20, 2016, Yui Awai, Toshiko Kudo, and Tomoki Takara — three stellar young Japanese woman with disabilities — participated in the TOMODACHI Disability Leadership Program in America. The program is generously supported by Northrop Grumman and implemented by the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at UMass Boston. Read More>>
