In the space of two days, two blind people have died at Japan Railway Stations
“Since October began, two blind people have died at a railway stations in Japan.”
Category: Blind
Woman with white cane killed by train at Tokyo area station
“A woman apparently carrying a white cane was hit by a train and killed at Tateishi Station on the Keisei Oshiage Line on the morning of Oct. 1.”
Disability group claims Olympic and Paralympic ticket vendors inaccessible to the blind, violating Organizing Committee Guidelines
“The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee for 2010 did not create Braille materials explaining how to purchase tickets for the tournament or a CD that provides necessary information by voice. A disability organization argues that it is “in violation of the guidelines for ‘barrier-free’ set by the organizing committee.” ”
Training to open a “welfare shelter” for disabled and elderly in disasters held in western Japan
“Training to open a “welfare shelter” that accepts victims who need assistance such as disabled people when a disaster occurs was held in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture on the 17th March. Approximately 40 people, including nine visually impaired people and city and center staff, participated in the training conducted at the Shiga Prefectural Center for the Visually Impaired in Hikone City.”
Japanese Designer Develops “Visually Readable” Braille
“A young Japanese designer has developed a set of letter designs to be printed on corresponding braille patterns of raised dots, in a bid to help those who do not use braille to understand the language for the visually impaired.
“I hope to bridge the worlds of the visually impaired and other people by using the same tool,” said Kosuke Takahashi, the 25-year-old designer from Tokyo.”
40% of major publishers do not provide e-books, snubbing readers with visual impairments
“More than 40 percent of Japan’s major publishing companies do not provide the electronic data for their books and magazines, which would make it easier to convert into Braille or audio for readers with visual impairments, a Mainichi Shimbun survey has found.”
Lack of guide runners becomes hurdle for Tokyo Paralympians
“As the top visually impaired marathon runners prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, they are facing an unforeseen hurdle on the path to glory — a lack of qualified guide runners to help them navigate the course.”
Two months after Hokkaido earthquake, visually impaired people lack assistance
“Two months after an earthquake in Hokkaido, many visually impaired people continue to suffer. Even those who have not been destroyed at home, they can not clean up the interior where household goods have scattered.”
New smartphone guide for visually impaired trialed at Tokyo metro station
“A demonstration of a new system that guides visually impaired people using the sound of smartphones at the premises of a Tokyo metro station was conducted.”
Japan’s Environment Ministry to review color-coded ‘Heat index map, helping those with vision disorders
Japan Environment Ministry “… found that the indication of the “heat index” color-coded on the map was difficult to distinguish for people with color vision disorders.”
Barrier Free Japan 