Stepping up accessibility for Paralympics [Video in English]
With less than eight months to go until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, groups and individuals are trying to step up accessibility in the capital.
Category: Barrier Free
“I want to live in the community”: A play about life of severely disabled woman in Japan to be performed in Tokyo
“A drama that looks back on the lives of women with severe disabilities, who have been working to help people with disabilities to live in the community, will held at the Kunitachi Arts Center in Kunitachi City, on December 11th. The drama is about a disabled woman and the many barriers that she has overcome and the actions she has taken to the government.”
Japan’s Transport Minister calls current bullet train booking system for wheelchair users “outrageous”, to set up study group to improve accessibility
“According to the rail companies, space for one or two wheelchairs is available on each bullet train. Users are requested to reserve them by telephone or at JR counters at least two days before boarding, in principle. At the committee meeting, Akaba called the system “outrageous.”“
Lawmaker Group Agrees 900 Million Yen Renovation Plan to make Japan’s Diet’s Upper House Barrier Free
“Some 900 million yen is expected to be necessary to carry out all items in the renovation plan. The Upper House barrier-free promotion project team hopes to include related costs in an upcoming draft supplementary budget for fiscal 2019.”
Iranian wheelchair-using resident of Japan sends second-hand devices to help disabled people in Tehran
“Mohammad Pashai, an Iranian resident of Japan who became paralyzed from the waist down after an accident at work, is expanding the horizons of his disabled compatriots back home by sending them secondhand wheelchairs and other assistive devices.”
25 people from disability groups check that JR Saitama Shintoshin is Barrier Free
“On November 14th, a group of disabled organizations in Saitama city confirmed the status of barrier-free maintenance in the city, on and around JR Saitama Shintoshin Station.”
Japan attempts to swap paper for cards and smartphone apps to improve access for the disabled
“Certification for people with disabilities in Japan has long been cumbersome and impractical, but with the rollout of new cards and smartphone apps life is becoming much simpler.”
Japanese Government produces multilingual guide to accessible restroom manners
“Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has produced a multilingual poster on manners when using accessible toilets in Japan.”
Disability action group asks why Japan aims for Universal Design Taxis but wheelchair users are often refused service
“There are universal design (UD) taxis in Japan which wheelchair users can use but often the driver refuses disabled people. The organization “DPI Japan” will conduct a survey to investigate such refusals in different areas of Japan. The DPI aims to improve the situation before many wheelchair users from overseas visit Japan for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.”
Japan’s campaign to change escalator behavior
“The images are of posters near train stations in Osaka.”
Barrier Free Japan 