4) Advocacy, awareness-raising and dissemination
#Barrier-free Institutions #Policy Advocacy #Video Production #Lectures #Corporate Seminars
Policy Advocacy
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
On June 16, 2022, we had a meeting with Mr. Tetsuo Saito, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, where we submitted a written request. This meeting was made possible through the efforts of Mr. Mitsunari Okamoto, Vice Minister of Finance of the New Komeito Party, who attended the meeting along with Ms. Sakura Kato, representative of mogmog engine, a general incorporated association, and Ms. Kyoko Ishikawa, representative of Laugh and Raise Your Child Lollipop, a voluntary organization.
Request:
- Strengthening of architectural design standards for public facilities.
- Creation of a mechanism for post-evaluation of barrier-free accessibility measures involving relevant stakeholders.
- Improvement of barrier-free information (open data) collected by the government.
The Minister carefully discussed each point of our request and expressed his commitment to further efforts in the future. Representatives from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s Housing Bureau, Barrier-Free Policy Division, and General Affairs Division of the General Policy Bureau, who are responsible for barrier-free accessibility, also attended the meeting and explained the measures that will be implemented in the future.
Promotion of Barrier-Free Transportation Support for IC tickets and expressway discounts for people with disabilities
Additional barrier-free measures have been implemented for “IC tickets for people with reduced mobility” and “discounts for people with reduced mobility on expressways,” which were previously proposed to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in 2019 and 2020. The Project Team for Promotion of Barrier-Free Measures (PT) of the Komeito party, chaired by Mr. Hirotaka Ishikawa, a member of the House of Councillors, organized a briefing session on transportation barrier-free measures at the House of Councillors building. During the session, we received a detailed explanation from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism regarding their response.
We will continue our efforts to establish barrier-free systems that make life easier for people with disabilities, including wheelchair users.
Japan Tourism Agency Barrier-free Mindsets Certification System
Production of Educational Videos
We were commissioned by the Japan Tourism Agency to create and oversee the production of videos and public relations activities related to the “Barrier-free Mindsets Certification System for Tourist Facilities” We produced a total of five videos, including one featuring Hikomaro, a renowned gourmet reporter, experiencing simulated “hearing impairment” while dining out, one highlighting the efforts of businesses, and another showcasing disabled individuals experiencing various facilities.
Lectures and speaking engagements
Companies:
- JAL & WheeLog! Special Lecture in Okinawa
Municipalities:
- TOKYO Disability Matching Support Festa, Sponsored by Tokyo Metropolitan Government
- Next Fashion Designer of Tokyo, Sponsored by Tokyo Metropolitan Government
- Niiza City Council Member Workshop
Academic Societies:
- The 33rd Japan Down Syndrome Rehabilitation Study Group
Organizations:
- The Duskin Study Abroad Leaders Program for the Disabled
Exchange meeting for program participants - MDRT Japan Chapter
Chiba-Ibaraki Block Summer Workshop - Event sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- Lecture hosted by Beyou Kokoro Terrace
- Part 3: Let’s Hear Moms’ Voices -Travel Edition
Online Dialogues:
- Dr. Gihei Takahashi, Professor Emeritus, Toyo University
- Dr. Fumito Ito, Assistant Professor, Shimane University
New Partner Organizations in Fiscal Year 2022
Sustainable Connected Society
Signed an international exchange agreement (MOU: Memorandum of Understanding) with Sustainable Connected Society, Korean incorporated association.
Sumida Ward, Tokyo
We signed a partnership agreement and research collaboration to address welfare and healthcare issues using digital technology.
Speech Requests
We have received requests from various companies, municipalities, and organizations to give lectures and speech at their events. If you are interested in having us give presentations, please contact us through our website.
LOVE & SDGs: Creating a World Where Wheelchair Users Never Give Up
This is the third book authored by Yuriko Oda, CEO of WheeLog. In this book, Oda shares her reflections on past activities and presents her thoughts on future prospects, focusing on the key themes of “LOVE” and “SDGs.”