Barrier Free

Inclusive design laboratory

Namiki Laboratory

MaterialEnvironment and Energy
Information
Chemical Biomedicine

Japanese universities are now creating inclusive classroom environments, andvarious supports are available for students with disabilities (SwD). However, thenumber of SwD in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) isminimal due to the lack of accessibility.
We are now working on accessibility in science, mainly focused on researchingand developing an inclusive laboratory so that STEM students and researcherswith disabilities or chronic conditions can freely conduct experiments. All ourfacilities, including lab tables, lab sinks, reagent storage cabinets, emergency
showers, and eyewash basins, have been developed using inclusive designprinciples by researchers who use wheelchairs. In the future, accessible
laboratory equipment like those developed here should be standard at otheruniversities and educational institutions.
Despite the diverse needs of researchers with disabilities, the issue ofaccessible laboratories remains low on the priority list. While there are several
commendable efforts in Japan to promote diversity within academic societies,
more work is needed to improve accessibility in science. We believe that theaccessible lab we are building is not just a proof of concept, but a beacon ofhope that demonstrates the potential to foster equality and representation,
particularly in disability inclusion, within Japanese academia. The barrier-freelaboratory that we are now preparing will soon be open for business, providing aplatform for SwD to gain hands-on research experience. Through this initiative,
we are not just advocating for change, but actively working to inspire otherresearch and educational institutions in this country to embrace these inclusive
laboratory ideas.

Associate Professor

Shigehiro NAMIKI
Research AreaBiology

Research Assistant Professor

Satoshi KUDO
Research Area
Philosophy

Barrier FreeColumn
When I was a postdoctoral fellow, I lost the ability
to walk due to a severe neurological disease andSocial Science

once gave up on my research. However, throughvarious connections, I am now back at university
conducting research. The reason I decided togive research another try is that I learned there
are a significant number of researchers withLaboratory forInterdiciplinary Activities

disabilities and that some countries have culturesand systems that welcome researchers withdisabilities.
The main difficulty I face in my research is thebarriers in the laboratory environment. One

Cooperative Laboratories

reason is that laboratory design does not take
into account the needs of people with disabilities.
This issue is common to others, such as students
with disabilities, people with illnesses or acquireddisabilities, and the elderly. By collaborating withSocial Cooperation
Research Departments

people in various positions inside and outside theuniversity, I am working on making the laboratoryenvironment barrier-free through an "inclusivedesign" approach that considers designs usableby people with significant limitations, such as

Corporate SponsoredResearch Programs

disabilities.
We plan to use this space to provide scientific
1 Virtual reality of a laboratory for chemistry

2 Application for consideration of accommodationin the laboratory

research experiences to students withdisabilities. I hope to realize the global trend of
expanding participation in STEM fields by people

Research Organization

with disabilities here in Japan as well.

https://idl.tk.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp/
namiki@rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp
kudo@bfp.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp

3 Science course for students with disabilities

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