Hosting an Experiential Seminar in Oita City to Address Parental Anxieties About Child Development with Data

The Japan Deaf Beach Volleyball Association (Oita Prefecture) will hold an experiential seminar titled "Is It Just My Child? An Experiential Seminar Answering Your Anxieties" on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in the Audio-Visual Room of Compal Hall in Oita City. The event is aimed at parents who have concerns about their children's development. Professor Norikazu Hirose of the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Waseda University will be speaking, and participation is free of charge.

In Japan, it is estimated that about 5-6% of children have Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) (according to DSM-5 criteria). Often overlooked as merely "clumsy" or "restless," many cases reach school age without appropriate support, continually developing secondary issues such as learning difficulties, school refusal, and low self-esteem.

On the other hand, utilizing public developmental support services requires a medical doctor's opinion and a recipient certificate, presenting a high psychological and procedural hurdle for parents. In particular, the needs of parents with children in the "gray zone"—those whose condition is noticeable but not severe enough for a formal diagnosis—and those who want to understand their child's condition early before a health checkup, have not been adequately met by the conventional support system.

This experiential seminar was planned as a new approach for children and parents who fall into these "institutional gaps."

Seminar Overview

Date and Time Saturday, May 9, 2026, doors open at 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM (tentative)

Venue Compal Hall Audio-Visual Room (Funai-cho, Oita City)

Target Audience Parents of children aged 4 to 6

Participation Fee Free (pre-registration required)

Organizer General Incorporated Association Japan Deaf Beach Volleyball Association

Speaker Professor Norikazu Hirose (Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University)