Hello, students from all around the world! I teach barrier-free classes to elementary and middle school students in Japan. I’m writing this article to share information about barrier-free situations in Japan with you overseas. I hope this Japanese barrier-free information will inspire you to think about barrier-free aspects in your own country!
Today, let’s learn about barrier-free (accessible) products in a fun way. Barrier-free (accessible) means making adjustments to help elderly people and those with disabilities live more easily in society. Many everyday tools actually have hidden barrier-free features. Let’s explore these secrets through a quiz!
- Barrier-Free Quiz
- Answer: Handle
- Explanation
- Importance of Barrier-Free Products
- Global Situation of Barrier-Free (Accessible) Products
- Think About Barrier-Free (Accessible) Products in Your Country
- What You Can Do to Realize a Barrier-Free (Accessible) Society
- Barrier-Free (Accessible) Exploration Team
- Important Request to Everyone
Barrier-Free Quiz
Here’s the quiz!
Ladders that can be safely used by elderly people and those with physical disabilities have an important part that helps maintain balance. What is this part?
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Have you got your answer? Let’s see the correct answer.
Answer: Handle
Quoted from HASEGAWA Official Online Shop website (https://hasegawa-online.jp/products/ss-3)
Explanation
This ladder has “handles” attached. The handles make it easier to maintain balance when climbing up and down. This allows everyone, including elderly people and those with physical disabilities, to use it safely.
This design is a good example of incorporating barrier-free (accessible) thinking. It has a simple, easy-to-use design, and when folded for storage, it’s only 8cm (about 3.1 inches) thick, so it can be used in various places. Also, it has wide steps, which increases stability and allows for safer use.
Importance of Barrier-Free Products
Barrier-free (accessible) products like this are based on the concept of universal design. This means they are designed to be easily used by as many people as possible, regardless of age or physical ability.
Barrier-free (accessible) products are not just convenient; they play an important role in improving people’s quality of life. For example, this ladder with handles reduces the risk of falling when reaching for high places, supporting independent living.
Global Situation of Barrier-Free (Accessible) Products
The development of barrier-free (accessible) products is progressing worldwide. For example, in the United States and Europe, various innovative products are being developed, such as cooking utensils that are easy for wheelchair users to use, and home appliances with voice guides for visually impaired people.
Internationally, the United Nations’ “Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” stipulates the protection of the rights of people with disabilities and the promotion of their social participation. Based on this, many countries are promoting the development and spread of barrier-free (accessible) products.
Think About Barrier-Free (Accessible) Products in Your Country
What kind of barrier-free (accessible) products are there in your country? For example:
- Special equipment in schools and public facilities
- Daily necessities that are easy for elderly people and those with disabilities to use
- Toys and playground equipment that everyone can enjoy
Try discussing these with your family or teachers. Also, if you have any ideas for new barrier-free (accessible) products, it might be fun to draw them!
What You Can Do to Realize a Barrier-Free (Accessible) Society
To realize a barrier-free (accessible) society, understanding and action from each of you is important. Let’s start with things like:
- Be considerate of others: If you see someone in trouble, try talking to them.
- Use barrier-free (accessible) facilities with care: Be mindful to let those who need elevators or multipurpose toilets use them first.
- Learn about barrier-free (accessible) design and discuss it with others: Try talking about barrier-free (accessible) design with your family and friends.
Barrier-Free (Accessible) Exploration Team
There might be barrier-free (accessible) products like this around you too. For example, have you ever seen ladders with handles in your school, library, or supermarket? If you find one, take a close look at what kind of features it has. It’s also interesting to look for other barrier-free (accessible) products.
Besides ladders, there are various barrier-free (accessible) facilities such as handrails, ramps, and tactile paving blocks. Think about how these support people’s lives.
Your “awareness” is the first step in creating a better barrier-free (accessible) society. Let’s create a barrier-free (accessible) world together!
Important Request to Everyone
This article is written based on Japanese experiences and ideas. Barrier-free (accessible) efforts and concepts may differ depending on the country and culture. Please discuss with your family and teachers about how things are in your country. And while respecting each other’s differences, let’s think about a world where everyone can live comfortably. This is not meant to force Japanese or my way of thinking. Also, always prioritize safety and act with trusted adults. Please keep this in mind.
Also, this article simplifies explanations with the main purpose of getting you interested in barrier-free (accessible) design rather than being strictly accurate. For accurate information, please check the websites of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (Japan) or relevant agencies in other countries.
For inquiries → https://lahainars.com/contact/
Please note that I’m not very good at English, so please inquire in simple and short English.
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