Job Discussion Forums

[Canuk girl]

Does anyone have any experience, perhaps with families with family members with disabilities (handicapped)? I'm just wondering how people with disabilities are treated in Japan. I ran across a sort of workshop place near my house for people, and I am really interested in doing some volunteering, or starting up some type of organization (no, I dont speak Japanese).
I used to do this at home as a career, and miss the people I worked with, they were so much fun. Just thought I'd toss this out there to see if I can get some information/feedback.

Thanks.

[Brooks]

in Machida (Tokyo) I think there is a center for people with disabilities. It may be for job training.

Where I live in Sagamihara (on the Odakyu line) there used to be a place like that, but it closed, perhaps due to a lack of money.

JR has jingles that play before the train leaves and when you cross the street you hear a jingle to know that you can cross. Both I guess are for blind people.

[canuck]

I think people with disabilities get the royal treatment in some areas. For example, at a train station, they get help from everyone. I think the elderly and others are treated well, in all aspects of Japan. It should be like that all over the world, but I think it's much better here.

[bshabu]

The fact that they need help is because most stations are inadequate in their "barrier-free" designs. Most barrier-free designs are to allow people with disabilities to not need help what so ever. I lived near a station that did not have a elevator. I saw on more than one occasion a person in a wheelchair being carried up and down the stairs. I do agree with canuck, but most assistance would not necessary if those facilities are up to code. Altogether, Japan has implemented many things to assist the elderly and people with disabilities.

I have helped in proof-reading a textbook to assist foreigners in the service industry in Japan. The book is on how to assist the elderly and people with disabilities. Also when not to assist. Although trains stations have elevators, Braille at ticket machines, voice announcements on platforms, and studded pavement block etc, there are too many other things that are overlooked. Some examples are gaps or differences in height between platform and train.

It goes on to say that although most places have studded pavement blocks, but the pavement(sidewalk), are often congested with bikes and displays in front of shops that make it difficult for people with disabilities to negotiate. Plus if the go the places such as department stores, other shops, etc, the elderly and people with disabilities find the aisle to narrow or crowded with displays, signs confusing, no Braille for the sight disabled, and so on. This was done be survey.

To canuck girl. If you want information on this organization. I will contact the person that I was proof-reading for and see when they plan to start classes. Keep in mind this is only a class in teach how to deal and help the elderly and people with disabilities. But I will be happy to ask for other information.

bshabu

[Celeste]

I have a coworker who is in a wheelchair. He belongs to a wheelchair basketball team. He has a very outgoing personality, and a rather thick skin. I often find times when we are out at a public funtion where other coworkers have had to assist him in entering buildings that are not wheelchair accessible. I have also seen people assist him in situations where it was fairly clear to me that no assistance was necessary, but fortunately because he is very patient with people, he saves them from embarrassment and still makes his abilities known.

I am rather shocked that NONE of the dozens of elemetary schools that I work at are wheelchair accessible. Where do the kidas in wheelchairs go to school? Do these kids get ALT visists? I have visited a special education school before, and some of the kids had physical challenges in addition to mental. I have a few deaf children in my classes, and I have had a couple of children with no hands, but I am really wondering about the kids in wheelchairs. Where are they?

[april]

I really wish I could remember more details...I had a conversation about 2 years ago with one of my students who worked for the government designing buildings and other types of infrastructure with wheelchair access; he mentioned width of sidewalks (or lack of them!), hallways, doorways, ramps, elevators (including size of elevators - as you all know some of them are tiny!), train station platforms, and so on. What I do remember clearly of the conversation was his disgust of big corporation in Japan failing to provide for handicapped people. Apparently there was a law passed a few years earlier (he mentioned how annoyed he was it took that long) stating that all buildings must provide wheelchair access, but most companies ignored this and the government had not enforced it.

When I return to teaching I am going to take in a notebook and take notes so that I can remember stuff like this! Some of my students were very interesting people.

[lajzar]

I work at two elementary schools, and we have a statistically above average number of special needs students. Maybe its the inaka...

I have one class every two weeks where I go to teach them specifically. In addition, they join the regular English class. I'm not sure if this is an attitude of give them extra help of that English is seen as unimportant but fun, so put them where they can have fun without disrupting any real learning.

But anyway. My main class takes place in the old building, unless I choose otherwise, usually if I do a class that needs to use the desks. The other week, I discovered for teh first time, having been here almost a year, that one of the kids is wheelchair bound. Since the old building is wheelchair-unfriendly, I had literally never seen him until then.

Make of this what you will.

[Gordon]

I've noticed that few train stations where I live have elevators to get across the tracks. The main ferry in the city also does not provide ramps or elevators of any kind. If someone in a wheelchair wanted to go on the ferry, they'd need to be carried up 3 flights of stairs twice, no small feat. What's wrong with people?

[Brooks]

one thing that bugs me is that at the school I have worked for, we have had a few students who are retarded who do not get special education. So I remember when I taught at the chugaku of giving all the students a speaking test. But the retarded boy couldn`t do it. He said nothing so I had to fail him. It is a shame. He comes from a rich family. His parents should send him to a school where he can be helped.
It is this great myth that all Japanese are the same and that they can be taught the same way, regardless of their academic ability.

Anyway this boy is now at the high school and I wonder how he is doing. I wonder how he can handle physics, let alone English.
I told my boss about him but nothing will be done, unless he flunks out.

[guest of Japan]

They go to my high school. Although there isn't anyone in a wheel chair, I have numerous students with club foot. A lot of my students are learning disabled or have emotional problems. The school pretends like it is just like any other school. The class sizes are large and we do lots of testing. But in reality students have very very low level classes. Failing students is frowned upon because it will decrease revenue.

Here's a breakdown of the student scores for a very very easy kimatsu test I have just given.

Score % of students
80 - 100 25%
60 - 80 25%
40 - 60 5%
20 - 40 20%
0 - 20 25%

These scores represent only the students who have taken the test. At least 25% of my students have not taken the test after 2 possible weeks to do so because they haven't come to school.

Basic educational theory tells you to teach to the middle of a bell curve. As you can see I have an inverse bell curve and there is no middle. How do you think the classes go? Are these student needs being met?