Websites in Japan becoming more friendly to people with disabilities 

From Jiji via The Japan Times

March 7 2024

TOKYO – Private business operators in Japan are gearing up to comply with upcoming legal requirements mandating “reasonable consideration” for people with disabilities.

Against this backdrop, an increasing number of organizations, both in the private and public sectors, are embracing solutions provided by a French startup. The solutions allow for adjustments to website design settings in line with users’ visual, motor and cognitive capabilities, facilitating a more comfortable browsing experience for people with disabilities.

Japan’s revised law on eliminating discrimination against people with disabilities is scheduled to take effect in April. Enacted in 2021, the law mandates that both the central and local governments, along with business operators, provide reasonable consideration to people with disabilities. Previously, business operators were required to make such efforts.

The Cabinet Office cites providing assistance with ramps at locations featuring steps and utilizing tablet terminals for communication as specific instances of reasonable consideration by business operators offering services and products.

The French company, Facil’iti, is promoting solutions that integrate customization functions that accommodate people with disabilities directly into websites, eliminating the necessity for extensive site renovations.

The service facilitates the adjustment of color combinations, aiding those with color vision deficiency in using websites with greater ease. It also allows for the expansion of clicking ranges, benefiting individuals with shaky hands due to conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, the platform supports setting changes tailored to people with dyslexia and poor eyesight.

Yves Cornu, director of Facil’iti, said proudly that this initiative is not just aimed at assisting people with disabilities but also at enhancing overall societal convenience.

Citing data from the World Health Organization, Cornu said that approximately 25% of the global population faces challenges in using websites due to reasons such as visual impairment. He said that adopting Facil’iti’s service not only improves the reputation of the companies embracing it but also has the potential to attract new customers, underlining the financial benefits of integrating such a service.

Founded in 2018, Facil’iti has received a Tech for Good award at Viva Technology, a major French trade fair for cutting-edge technologies. In Japan, the adoption of Facil’iti’s service extends beyond central and local government offices to include private-sector businesses, including pharmaceutical companies.

Furthermore, in the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries, there has been a gradual increase in the number of businesses providing similar services to enhance website accessibility and inclusivity.

Hiroyuki Takao, a doctor at Jikei University Hospital in Tokyo, has experienced the sudden onset of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological disorder resulting in the paralysis of his limbs. Takao appreciates services like those provided by Facil’iti as “the first step toward improving accessibility.”

However, with respect to the implementation of the revised law on the elimination of discrimination against people with disabilities, he offered a broader perspective, cautioning against the notion that focusing solely on web accessibility is sufficient.

In his daily life, Takao frequently encounters inconveniences, such as difficulties controlling his electric wheelchair on uneven tiles designed for the visually impaired.

He noted that although the world is becoming more accepting of diversity, “the issue (in Japan) lies in the slow progress in understanding” disabled individuals’ needs and challenges.

“People often don’t know how to assist (people with disabilities), even if they have the intention to help,” Takao said. “As a starter, it’s important for a broader population to embrace the concept of improving accessibility beyond just the web.”