Visually Impaired in Japan struggling to book vaccinations
Visually impaired people in Japan are struggling to book COVID-19 vaccinations, as they are often unable to recognize promptly the arrival of a vaccination voucher.
Category: Braille
Vaccination Voucher for blind man sent without Braille, unable to reserve appointment for two weeks: “If you call me…”
While the vaccination program for elderly people aged 65 and over has started in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, a blind man living alone in the city received an envelope containing a vaccination ticket without Braille markings, and it was revealed that he was unable to check the contents for two weeks.
Safety guidance for visually impaired people using QR to be introduced at Tokyo Metro 5 stations
Tokyo Metro announced on the 18th that it has developed a system that guides the visually impaired people safely in a station by reading a QR code on the Braille block with the camera of the smartphone and guiding the direction and distance by voice. It will be introduced at 5 stations in Tokyo from the 27th.
Keisei Electric Railway alters Braille block after ‘white cane’ using woman fell to her death
“A railway company renovated a Braille block, in response to an accident in which a visually impaired woman fell and died at a station…The Keisei Electric Railway said, “We will continue to work on safety measures in response to this painful accident.” ”
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.”
First library for the blind to hold opening rites [Japan Times in 1943]
” “The library work cannot be done by the blind people alone, as the braille books must be produce for us by people who can see and, therefore I would earnestly ask for the cooperation and assistance of all,” Homma said.”
Barrier Free Japan 