Disasters – Barrier Free Japan

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 14, 2022 0

Wide-area evacuation drills held in Tokyo for people with severe disabilities

An NPO that supports the independent living of people with disabilities in Tokyo’s Edogawa Ward is looking for evacuation measures for people with severe disabilities in preparation for large-scale floods. The welfare evacuation shelters designated by the ward are limited to one companion, making it difficult for people with disabilities who need multiple hands to assist. However, even if you try to evacuate outside the ward with a helper or family before a typhoon hits, there are problems associated with traveling long distances.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 7, 2022 0

Barrier Free Deaf Disability Disasters Discrimination Japan

New law expected to be passed in current session of the Diet to support disabled in Japan during disasters, especially the needs of the deaf

Legislation is expected to be passed in the current parliamentary session to support persons with disabilities to obtain the same information they need in their daily lives and during disasters as able-bodied persons, with the aim of eliminating disparities. Issues have been raised regarding the acquisition of information by persons with disabilities, such as the fact that subtitles and sign language interpreters are sometimes not provided for disaster news.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 14, 2022 0

Barrier Free Disability Disasters Japan

Non-partisan group in the Japanese Diet calls for Bill to improve access to information for the disabled during disasters

In order to make it easier for people with disabilities to obtain information, issues have been pointed out, such as the difficulty of people with visual or hearing impairments to quickly grasp the occurrence of disasters, and the difficulty of people with intellectual disabilities to understand information displays in public facilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 10, 2021 0

Disability Disasters Japan Welfare

Mudslides in Japan deprive disabled people of a place to work

The mudslide disaster in the Izusan area of Atami City has deprived disabled people of a place to live. The Shinzo Megumikai Community Workshop in Izusan survived the disaster, but its premises have been closed to the public.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 6, 2021 0

Deaf Disasters Hearing Impaired Japan

Japanese government promotes awareness of ‘Tsunami Flags’ to help the hearing impaired

The government has started to promote the use of “tsunami flags,” which are flags that visually notify people with hearing disabilities when tsunami warnings or advisories are issued at beaches.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 9, 2021 0

Disability Disasters Japan

Japanese government approves bill to help the vulnerable in disasters

The legislation will also expand measures to help the elderly and the disabled to evacuate. The government aims to have it take effect from this year’s rainy season in early summer.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 15, 2021 0

Disability Disasters Japan

Central Japan fire departments introduce emergency report system for disabled people

The NET119 Emergency Report System for people with hearing and speaking disabilities has been introduced in some fire departments in the central Japan prefecture of Niigata. It enables people to make emergency reports via the internet using smartphones or other devices and their location information is instantly sent to fire stations, leading to quick dispatches.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 2, 2020 0

Disability Disasters Earthquake Japan March 11

Survey shows People with Disabilities account for 25% of Japan’s 2011 quake-linked deaths

Disabled people accounted for 24.6 percent of total “disaster-related deaths” in the northeastern prefectures of Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi, far above their 7 percent representation among the population as a whole estimated by the health ministry.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 1, 2020 0

Disability Disasters Japan

Sixty percent of local governments do not have seventy-two hours of emergency power supplies

Around 60 percent of local government buildings across Japan were not equipped with emergency power supplies lasting 72 hours, a crucial time frame in saving human lives during times of disaster, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said Thursday.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 19, 2019 0

Disability Disasters Japan Typhoon Hagibis

Typhoon again highlights sad state of Japan’s evacuation shelters [Mainichi Shimbun Editorial]

“It is not unusual to find emergency shelters equipped only with traditional squat toilets, which can be difficult to impossible to use for disabled people and elderly evacuees with leg and hip problems.”