moyashi
後輩
- 15 Apr 2002
- 1,571
- 18
- 48
sorry if the subject line is wrong ... just don't know which is proper anymore.
Tosh started an idea over here in the J-Faq thread but thought maybe it was better just to split it to here.
@physically challenged
Japan has been making strides, bounds, and back steps on this subject.
Last year, a very able young girl entered the high school I work at.
Most schools in town turned her away since they don't have the facilities and built in easy access that would accomadate a wheelchair and her needs. The public school I work for just mentioned that she would be welcome as long as she passed the entrance test. She obviously passed.
I don't teach her class but looking at pictures of her and her class on outings I'd say that most likely things are going pretty well. She seems to be well liked with very little "Over Attention" to her condition.
Her main custodial teacher has been more than acceptive and has gone many times out of his way to help her.
Mr. Miyazawa and I have talked many times about her and her problems at school. She must miss many classes for operations and hospital stays. I complained that she might not have progressed to her second year since she missed so many classes. She had kept up with her course work but still the school district and educational ministry frowns on lack of attendance. We both felt so strongly about this that Mr. Miyazawa went over the principal and raised hell (well in a Japanese fashion) and our complaints actually were heard and she's now in her second year.
Still, even with an elavator, rearranging the classroom groupings, the school doesn't have automatic doors. I realized this one morning while I was still sleepy headed and needed to pull open the door. Why I asked? Mr. Miyazawa also brought up this issue with the school but ... alas automatic doors are a no go. Funny that a bell chirps to help blind people find the door, that there are special tiles that help the blind, but ... doors still remain difficult to open.
Of course, many cities have started making easy access the norm, but much of this is probably due to the increasing age of the population than for helping the handicapped.
Also, I heard that there is only 1 elevator on the Yamanote Loop Line in Tokyo. lol ... can get on the train but can't get off at any station without the assistance of the understaffed stations.
Sapporo is much more friendly and I believe that all subways have elevators to the platforms.
Now, if the streets were only a bit wider and proper walk-ways existed.
I hope that this helps
Tosh started an idea over here in the J-Faq thread but thought maybe it was better just to split it to here.
@physically challenged
Japan has been making strides, bounds, and back steps on this subject.
Last year, a very able young girl entered the high school I work at.
Most schools in town turned her away since they don't have the facilities and built in easy access that would accomadate a wheelchair and her needs. The public school I work for just mentioned that she would be welcome as long as she passed the entrance test. She obviously passed.
I don't teach her class but looking at pictures of her and her class on outings I'd say that most likely things are going pretty well. She seems to be well liked with very little "Over Attention" to her condition.
Her main custodial teacher has been more than acceptive and has gone many times out of his way to help her.
Mr. Miyazawa and I have talked many times about her and her problems at school. She must miss many classes for operations and hospital stays. I complained that she might not have progressed to her second year since she missed so many classes. She had kept up with her course work but still the school district and educational ministry frowns on lack of attendance. We both felt so strongly about this that Mr. Miyazawa went over the principal and raised hell (well in a Japanese fashion) and our complaints actually were heard and she's now in her second year.
Still, even with an elavator, rearranging the classroom groupings, the school doesn't have automatic doors. I realized this one morning while I was still sleepy headed and needed to pull open the door. Why I asked? Mr. Miyazawa also brought up this issue with the school but ... alas automatic doors are a no go. Funny that a bell chirps to help blind people find the door, that there are special tiles that help the blind, but ... doors still remain difficult to open.
Of course, many cities have started making easy access the norm, but much of this is probably due to the increasing age of the population than for helping the handicapped.
Also, I heard that there is only 1 elevator on the Yamanote Loop Line in Tokyo. lol ... can get on the train but can't get off at any station without the assistance of the understaffed stations.
Sapporo is much more friendly and I believe that all subways have elevators to the platforms.
Now, if the streets were only a bit wider and proper walk-ways existed.
I hope that this helps