SPEAKERS

Makiko SHIKANO

Community Social Worker, Activist for People with Disabilities

Born in Asahikawa City, Hokkaido in 1972, Ms. Shikano graduated from the Shool of Social Welfare at Doto University.
Born as a low-birth-weight baby, she had developed quadriplegic cerebral palsy and was raised in a prefectural children’s welfare facility’s dormitory until the age of 12. During that time, she attended regular school and enjoyed activities such as skiing and swimming alongside children with disabilities.
After joining the Hokkaido Social Welfare Council, she worked in formal welfare roles. Upon consultation with a doctor, she began volunteering to support children with disabilities (pediatric cancer) in sports.
Currently, she has established a committee for informal citizen activities fror the disabled individuals. They engage in leisure activities, sports, fashion, disaster prevention, and more for people with disabilities and others.
They are active in various roles, including being a disaster prevention officer, intermediate-level sports instructor for people with disabilities, Japan Institute of Physical Chemistry Kit Pass Instructor, welfare library staff member, and registered facilitator for disability equality training.