Hello, elementary school students around the world! I teach barrier-free design classes to elementary and middle school students in Japan. I’m writing this article to share information about barrier-free design in Japan with you all. Let’s use this information about barrier-free design in Japan as a starting point to think about barrier-free design in your own country!
Quiz Time!
Here’s a quiz for you!
Q. The control panel in elevators designed for wheelchair users should be installed at approximately [??] cm (or [??] inches) from the floor.
How high do you think it should be? 50cm (19.7 inches)? 150cm (59.1 inches)?
The correct answer is… 100cm (39.4 inches)!
Why 100cm (39.4 inches)?
There’s a reason for this height. It’s because this is a height that people using wheelchairs can operate without difficulty.
Think about it. The eye level of a standing person and a person sitting in a wheelchair is quite different, right? If the elevator buttons are too high, it becomes difficult for people in wheelchairs to use. But if they’re too low, it becomes difficult for standing people to use.
So, a standard of about 100cm (39.4 inches) from the floor has been set as a height that everyone can use comfortably. This way, people in wheelchairs, short people, and tall people can all use it easily.
Barrier-Free Design Around the World
There are movements all over the world to create buildings and facilities that everyone can use easily. For example, the United Nations’ “Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” states that it’s important to ensure that people with and without disabilities can participate equally in society.
Many countries have laws and regulations to make public places, including elevators, barrier-free. However, the specific heights and other details might be slightly different depending on the country.
How About Your Country?
So, what about the elevators in your country? The next time you ride an elevator, check the height of the control panel. Observe whether it seems easy to use for people in wheelchairs or short people.
If you feel it might be difficult to use, try to think of ideas on how to make it more user-friendly. For example, how about having buttons at two different heights?
What We Can Do to Create a Barrier-Free Society
Creating a barrier-free society is not just a job for adults. There are many things you can do too:
- Observe your surroundings: Look for barrier-free facilities in your school and town.
- Be considerate: If you see someone having trouble, try offering help.
- Come up with ideas: Think about ways to make things more user-friendly.
- Discuss with family and teachers: Talk about barrier-free design with your family and teachers.
Barrier-Free Exploration Team
We learned about the height of elevator control panels today. How are the elevators in your town? The next time you ride an elevator, check the height of the control panel. If possible, it might be fun to bring a measuring tape and actually measure it. But be careful not to get in the way of other people.
Besides elevators, there are many other barrier-free facilities in town, such as ramps and tactile paving. Observe how they are designed and who they are for. You’re sure to make new discoveries that you haven’t noticed before!
Finally, I have an important request for all of you.
This article is written based on experiences and ideas from Japan. Barrier-free initiatives and concepts may differ depending on the country and culture. Please discuss with your family and teachers about how things are in your country. Let’s think about a world that’s easy for everyone to live in while respecting our differences. This is not meant to force Japanese ideas or my personal views on you. Also, please always prioritize safety and act with trusted adults. Please keep this in mind.
Also, as the main purpose of this article is to get you interested in barrier-free design rather than to provide precise information, the standards mentioned are approximate. For accurate information, please check the websites of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan or relevant agencies in your country.
For inquiries → https://lahainars.com/contact/
Note: As I’m not very proficient in English, please keep your inquiries simple and brief in English.
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