Hearing-impaired employee reaches settlement with Japanese financial services group ORIX over inadequate accommodation of her accessibility needs

TOKYO – A hearing-impaired woman who is an employee at the financial services group ORIX, who was ordered to work from home sued ORIX, claiming that her human rights were abused due to a lack of consideration for her disability needs. 

A settlement was reached on February 21. at the Tokyo District Court by arranging a sign language interpreter during a meeting between the deaf employee and her boss.

The plaintiff Akiko Wada (48) and others at a press conference in Tokyo spoke about the situation. Ms. Wada’s attorney said “it’s a revolutionary settlement.”

In addition to arranging sign language interpreters, the settlement included training for supervisors for mutual understanding with the hearing impaired and conducting sign language training for employees.