Basic Programme for Persons with Disabilities(Fourth)(March 2018)

This program is to be submitted to the Diet in accordance with Paragraph
7, Article 11 of the Basic Act for Persons with Disabilities (Act No. 84 of1970)

Table of Contents
Preamble
I. Basic Programme for Persons with Disabilities (Fourth)
1. Position
2. Period
3. Composition
4. Relationship with CRPD
(1) Outline of CRPD
1) Background2) Principal contents
3) Efforts taken by Japan to date(2) Basic concept of CRPD
1) Definition of "disability"
2) Equal, non-discriminatory and reasonable accommodation
3) Mechanism of implementation(3) Relationship with Basic Programme for Persons with Disabilities (Fourth)
5. Relationship with 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics
II. Basic Concept
1. Basic philosophy
2. Basic principles
3. Cross-sectional viewpoints common to all sectors(1) Respect for philosophy of CRPD and securement of consistency(2) Improvement of accessibility in all social scenes
1) Adoption of viewpoints for improvement of accessibility in all social scenes
2) Promotion of utilization of new technologies for improvement of accessibility(3) Comprehensive and cross-sectional support oriented toward persons concerned(4) Conscientious support paying heed to characteristic features of disabilities(5) Conscientious support paying heed to the difficulties that women, children andelderly persons with disabilities have in common(6) Promotion of effective measures through PDCA Cycle, etc.
1) Plan2) Doi3) Check4) Act
4. Smooth implementation of measures(1) Securement of coordination and cooperation(2) Promotion of activities related to facilitation of understanding and public
relations/awareness-raising
1) Issues requiring implementation of primary measures such as promotion ofUnderstanding
2) Issues requiring consideration in implementation of measures such as
promotion of understanding
III. Basic direction of measures for persons with disabilities in each sector
1. Development of safe and secure living environments[Related to Articles 20 and 21 of the Basic Act and Articles 9, 19, 20 and 28 of the
CRPD](1) Securement of houses(2) Development of mobility-supporting environments(3) Promotion of facilities, products, etc. paying heed to accessibility(4) Comprehensive urban development with care for persons with disabilities
2. Improvement of accessibility to information and upgrading of support forcommunication[Related to Article 22 of the Basic Act and Articles of 9, 21 and 24 of the CRPD](1) Improvement of accessibility to information in telecommunications(2) Upgrading supply of information(3) Upgrading of support for communication(4) Improvement of accessibility to government information
3. Promotion of disaster and crime prevention measures, etc.
[Related to Articles 22, 26 and 27 of the Basic Act and Articles 9 and 11 of the CRPD](1) Promotion of disaster prevention measures(2) Promotion of reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and otherdisasters(3) Promotion of crime prevention measures(4) Prevention of consumer trouble, and relief from damage
4. Elimination of discrimination, promotion of rights advocacy, and prevention of
abuse[Related to Article 23 of the Basic Act and Articles 10, 12, 14 and 16 of the CRPD]

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(1) Promotion of rights advocacy and prevention of abuse(2) Promotion of elimination of discrimination based on disabilities
5. Promotion of support for independent life and decision-making[Related to Articles 14, 17 and 23 of the Basic Act and Articles 12, 19, 20, 23, 26 and
28 of the CRPD](1) Promotion of support for decision-making(2) Establishment of counseling and support system(3) Enrichment of transition support to community life, home care services, etc.
(4) Enrichment of support for children with disabilities(5) Improvement of quality of welfare services for persons with disabilities(6) Promotion and research and development of assistive products contributing to
improvement of accessibility and fostering of assistance dogs for physically disabled
people(7) Fostering and securement of human resources who support welfare for persons withdisabilities
6. Promotion of health and medical care
[Related to Articles 14, 17, 23 and 31 of the Basic Act and Articles 12, 14, 19, 25 and
26 of the CRPD](1) Appropriate provision of mental health and medical care(2) Enrichment of health and medical care
(3) Promotion of research and development, etc. that contribute to improvement of healthand medical care(4) Fostering and securement of human resources who support health and medical care
(5) Promotion of health and medical care programs for intractable/rare diseases(6) Prevention and treatment of diseases, etc. that cause disabilities
7. Enrichment of consideration at government, etc.
[Related to Articles 28 and 29 of the Basic Act and Articles 13, 14 and 29 of the
CRPD](1) Consideration in judicial proceedings, etc.
(2) Consideration in elections, etc.
(3) Promotion of consideration and understanding of persons with disabilities atgovernment and other organs(4) Consideration in connection with national certification
8. Support for employment, work, and economic independence[Related to Articles 15, 18, 19, 23 and 24 of the Basic Act and Articles 19, 24, 26, 27
and 28 of the CRPD](1) Comprehensive support for workiii

(2) Support for economic independence(3) Promotion of employment of persons with disabilities(4) Support for work matching the characteristics of disabilities and securement ofvarious employment opportunities(5) Upgrading of welfare-oriented work
9. Promotion of education[Related to Articles of 16 and 17 of the Basic Act and Articles 24 and 30 of the CRPD](1) Promotion of an inclusive education system(2) Development of educational environments(3) Promotion of support for students with disabilities in higher education(4) Enrichment of various lifelong learning activities
10. Promotion of cultural and art activities, sports, etc.
[Related to Article 25 of the Basic Act and Article 30 of the CRPD](1) Development of social environments for enrichment of cultural and art activities aswell as leisure and recreational activities(2) Development of environments for familiarization with sports and promotion ofprograms related to competitive athletic events, including the Paralympics
11. Promotion of cooperation and coordination in the international community[Related to Article 30 of the Basic Act and Articles 31 and 32 of the CRPD](1) Promotion of information transmission to the international community(2) Promotion of coordination with international frameworks(3) Promotion of international cooperation via official development assistance(4) Promotion of international exchanges among persons with disabilities
Closure: Long-term challenges for the realization of the society envisioned by the Basic
Act and CRPD

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Preamble(Efforts taken by Japan to date)
The history of laws positioned as basic acts related to measures for persons withdisabilities traces back the Basic Act for Countermeasures Concerning Mentally andPhysically Disabled Persons (Act No. 84 of 1970) enacted in 1970. Aimed at promoting
comprehensive countermeasures for intellectually and physically handicapped persons, thatAct set basic issues and other matters for countermeasures concerning the welfare of persons
with intellectual or physical disabilities and positioned people whose day-to-day and social
lives are considerably restricted over a long period of time because of intellectual or physicaldisabilities as "persons with intellectual or physical disabilities."
The law was revised into the Basic Act for Persons with Disabilities (hereinafter referred
to as the "Basic Act") in 1993 to position people whose day-to-day and social lives are
considerably restricted over a long period of time because of mental disabilities as "persons
with disorders" in addition to the conventional category of persons with mental and physicaldisabilities. The purpose of the law was also changed to the promotion of the independenceof persons with disabilities and their participation in activities in all sectors.
The subsequent revision of the law in 2004 added a new basic philosophy banning
discrimination against persons with disabilities and so forth, and established the Central
Council to Promote Measures for Persons with Disabilities. The 2011 revision of the law,made through studies involving participation by a larger number of persons with disabilities,
newly introduced the concepts of the "social model" and "reasonable accommodation"
adopted by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) as part of thedevelopment of domestic legal systems to ratify the CRPD signed by Japan, and newly
established the Commission on Policy for Persons with Disabilities as an organ to monitor
the implementation of the Basic Programme for Persons with Disabilities and makerecommendations.
Based on the Basic Act, the "Basic Programme for Persons with Disabilities (Third)"(hereinafter referred to "the old basic program") was adopted at a Cabinet meeting in
September 2013 as predecessor to the "Basic Programme for Persons with Disabilities(Fourth)"(hereinafter referred to as "the basic program"). The old basic program adopted"respect for decisions made by persons with disabilities themselves and support for theirdecision-making," "comprehensive support oriented toward persons concerned," "support
taking the characteristics of disabilities into consideration," "improvement of accessibility"and "promotion of comprehensive and systematic programs" as cross-sectional viewpoints
common to all sectors. It also set forth basic concepts and specific measures for each of 10
sectors, enabling the steady implementation of the measures in each sector in the lead up to
the basic program under monitoring by the Commission on Policy for Persons with
Disabilities.

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(Studies by Commission on Policy for Persons with Disabilities)
The Commission on Policy for Persons with Disabilities conducted proactive research anddeliberations, starting in October 2016, to work out the basic program as the period of theold basic program was due to end in fiscal 2017.
In the sector of measures for persons with disabilities, there were major developments
before the start of research and deliberations for the basic program, such the selection ofTokyo to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics (hereinafter referred to as the "2020Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics"), the ratification of the CRPD, and the enforcement of
the Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Act No.65 of 2013)(hereinafter referred to as the "Discrimination Elimination Act"). While taking suchdevelopments into account in conducting research and deliberations, the Commission on
Policy for Persons with Disabilities discussed the major direction of measures for persons
with disabilities and policy challenges to be addressed from comprehensive and panoramic
perspectives in a bid to make the basic program more quantitatively extensive than the oldbasic program.
As a result, opinions of the Commission on Policy for Persons with Disabilities for the
Basic Programme for Persons with Disability (Fourth) were compiled through 11 meetings.
(Preparation of the basic program)
The government drafted the basic program, based on opinions of the Commission on
Policy for Persons with Disabilities, and adopted it at a Cabinet meeting in March 2018
following public opinions.
(The kind of society that should be sought through the basic program)
Article 1 of the Basic Act states that the law is aimed to promote, in a comprehensive andsystematic manner, measures to support the independence and social participation of persons
with disabilities in order to ensure that no citizens are segregated according to whether or
not they have a disability as well as the realization of a society of coexistence with mutual
respect for personality and individuality.
The basic program is expected to contribute not only to the realization of the purpose of
the act but also to the achievement of the society mentioned below.
- A society of coexistence in which all citizens share an obvious sense of value that theweight of each person’s life by no means changes depending on whether or not he or she
has a disability.
- A society in which women, men, elderly people, youths, people who have experienced
failure, persons with disabilities or intractable/rare diseases, and all other people canflourish at home, the workplace, and in all places, which will enable Japan as a maturesociety to demonstrate advanced programs to the world at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics andParalympics and serve as a model for the world.
- A society where measures for persons with disabilities lead to the safety of citizens and2advancement of the national economy.
In preparing measures based on the basic program and implementing them, it is importantto always keep in mind such features of a society and constantly strive to realize them.

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I. Basic Programme for Persons with Disabilities (Fourth)
1. Position
The basic program has been formulated based on the provisions of Paragraph 1, Article
11 of the Basic Act in order to promote comprehensive and systematic measures to support
the independence and social participation of persons with disabilities. It is positioned as themost basic program of the government’s measures for persons with disabilities.
2. Period
The basic program covers five years from fiscal 2018.
3. Composition
The basic program consists of "I Basic Programme for Persons with Disabilities (Fourth),""II Basic Concept" and "III Basic direction of measures for persons with disabilities in eachsector.""II Basic concept" shows the basic philosophy and basic principle of the basic program aswell as cross-sectional viewpoints common to all sectors and the approach for smoothpromotion of measures.
"III Basic direction of measures for persons with disabilities in each sector" categorizes
measures to support the independence and social participation of persons with disabilities
into 11 sectors and shows the basic direction of measures to be implemented by thegovernment during the period of the basic program.
4. Relationship with CRPD
(1) Outline of CRPD
1) Background
Prior to the adoption of the CRPD in June 2006, various efforts were made at thegeneral assembly of the United Nations (UN) to promote and protect the human rightsof persons with disabilities, such as the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities.
Despite such efforts, however, the problem of persons with disabilities facing theabuse of human rights continued to be pointed out. To address the problem, theinternational community became strongly aware of the need for working out a new,legally binding document.
The U.N. therefore established a committee at its 56th general assembly in
December 2001 to study and draft a comprehensive and integrated international
convention to promote and promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
The CRPD was adopted at the UN general assembly in December 2006 following
eight meetings of the draft committee which started in 2002. With requirements for the4effectuation filled, the CRPD came into effect in May 2008.
2) Principal contents
Designed to ensure human rights and basic freedoms for persons with disabilities
and promote the respect for their inherent dignity, the CRPD sets measures to realize
their rights. It serves as the first international convention concerning persons withdisabilities. Principal contents of the CRPD follow:- General principles (Dignity, respect for self-reliance and independence,
nondiscrimination, full and effective social participation and engagement, etc. forpersons with disabilities)- General obligations (Ensure and promote the complete realization of human rights
and basic freedoms for all persons with disabilities free from any discrimination
based on disability, including negligence in implementing reasonableaccommodation)- Measures to realize the rights of persons with disabilities (Stipulate measures to betaken by signatory countries for liberty rights for freedom, such as physical freedom,ban on torture, and freedom of expression, as well as education, labor and othersocial rights)- Mechanism of implementing the CRPD (Establishment of domestic mechanism toimplement the CRPD and monitor the implementation and examination of reports
from signatory countries at the Committee on the Rights of Person with Disabilities)
3) Efforts taken by Japan to dateJapan signed the CRPD in September 2007, the year after it was adopted at the U.N.
general assembly. Persons with disabilities and other people in Japan, meanwhile,
voiced opinions calling for the development of laws before ratifying the CRPD.
Based on those opinions, Japan has made necessary domestic legal improvements.
such as revising the Basic Act in August 2011, revising the Services and Supports for
Persons with Disabilities Act (Act. No. 123 of 2005) in June 2012 and renaming it the
Act on Comprehensive Support for Daily and Social Lives of Persons with Disabilities(hereinafter referred to as the "Act on Comprehensive Support for Persons with
Disabilities), enacting the Discrimination Elimination Act in June 2013 and revising
the Act for Employment Promotion etc. of Persons with disabilities (Act No. 123 of
1960; hereinafter referred to as the "Employment Promotion Act") in June 2013.
Through these domestic legal developments, the conclusion of the CRPD was
unanimously endorsed by the House of Representatives and by the House ofCouncillors in November and December 2013, respectively. The CRPD came into
force for Japan in February 2014.
The CRPD requires each signatory country to submit "a comprehensive report on
measures taken to give effect to its obligations under the present Convention on the5progress made in that regard" on a regular basis. Japan submitted a report covering theperiod from the entry into force till February 2016 to the Committee on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities through the UN Secretary General in June 2016.
The government report reflected comments by the Commission on Policy for
Persons with Disabilities in charge of the "mechanism to monitor the implementationof the present Convention" as prescribed in Article 33 of the CRPD. In addition, publiccomments on the drafted report were collected. Furthermore, a document ("Summaryof Arguments") compiling results from the monitoring of the implementation of theold basic program, conducted by the Commission on Policy for Persons with
Disabilities with an eye toward the submission of the government report was submitted
as an annex.
(2) Basic concept of CRPD
1) Definition of "disability"
The conventional definition of "disability" reflects what is called the "medical
model," and stems from only mental or physical disorders. In contrast, the CRPD
adopts the concept of what is called the "social model," namely the restrictions that
persons with disabilities encounter in day-to-day life or social life, which do not stemfrom mental or physical disorders alone but arise because persons with disabilities facevarious barriers in society.
2) Equal, non-discriminatory and reasonable accommodation
Article 1 of the CRPD stipulates that its purpose is "to promote, protect and ensure
the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all
persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity."
Article 2 defines "reasonable accommodation" as "necessary and appropriate
modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden" toensure human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities. In addition,
Article 5 requires signatory countries to "prohibit all discrimination the basis of
disability" and "take all appropriate steps to ensure that reasonable accommodation isprovided."
And Article 4 requires signatory countries to "closely consult with and actively
involve persons with disabilities" in "decision-making processes concerning issues
relating to persons with disabilities."
3) Mechanism of implementation
Article 33 of the CRPD stipulates that signatory countries "shall, in accordance with
their legal and administrative systems" establish within themselves "a framework …
to monitor implementation of the present Convention." Japan has established theCommission on Policy for Persons with Disabilities, which consists of people engaged
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in programs related to the independence and social participation of persons withdisabilities, and monitors the implementation of the CRPD through monitoring of theimplementation of the Basic Programme for Persons with Disabilities. The"mechanism to monitor the implementation of the Convention" is a new prescription
unknown to human rights conventions heretofore.
Article 35 states that each signatory country "shall submit to the Committee (on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities), through the Secretary-General of the United
Nations, a comprehensive report on measures taken to give effect to its obligations
under the present Convention and on the progress made in that regard." When
preparing such reports, signatory countries are "invited to consider doing so in an open
and transparent process" and "to give due consideration" to involvement by persons
with disabilities, according to the Article.
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities consists of 18 experts
chosen from signatory countries, examines reports from signatory countries, andmakes proposals and recommendations. This mechanism subjects the implementationof the CRPD to international review.
(3) Relationship with Basic Programme for Persons with Disabilities (Fourth)
As the basic program is the first basic program for persons with disabilities after
Japan’s ratification of the CRPD, the securement of its consistency with the CRPD isstrongly required. The basic program therefore reflects the philosophy of the CRPD
throughout itself and specifies corresponding relations between each sector referred to in"III Basic direction of measures for persons with disabilities in each sector" and eachclause of the CRPD. Expectations, therefore, are that the implementation of efforts underthe basic program is effectively and appropriately carried out by matching theimplementation status of the basic program and that of the CRPD in Japan while themonitoring of the implementation of the CRPD by the Commission on Policy for Persons
with Disabilities through the monitoring of the basic program will be facilitated.
Appropriate collaborative efforts related to the basic program and the CRPD, such as
handling recommendations, opinions, etc. by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities in the PDCA cycle, 1 a measure mentioned in the basic program.
5. Relationship with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics
The 2020 Olympics and Paralympics will be held in Tokyo during the period of the basic
program. In particular, the Paralympic Games, 2 for which people, whether they have

1
2

PDCA is an acronym for Plan, Do, Check and Act.
The Paralympics is the top sports event for athletes with disabilities, held immediately after the Olympics
in the same venue. Other sports events for athletes with disabilities include the Deaflympics (See Note46) and the Special Olympics (See Note 47)

7

disabilities or not, gather from all over the world to watch overwhelming performances
shown by athletes with disabilities, is a golden opportunity to change the society toward asociety of coexistence.
The word "Paralympics" was first used at the 1964 Olympics and Paralympics held inTokyo. The Paralympic Games then was the first event attended by athletes with disabilities
in addition to those using wheelchairs. A total of 378 Paralympians gathered for the eventfrom 21 countries. As 53 athletes with disabilities also participated from Japan, 3 the event
also drew strong domestic attention. With the passage of roughly half a century, Tokyo will
accept Paralympians from all over the world again as the world’s first city to host theParalympics twice.
As two main pillars to create a society of coexistence as a step toward the 2020 Tokyo
Olympics and Paralympics, the government compiled the Universal Design 2020 Action Plan
(adopted at the meeting of the Ministerial Council on Universal Design 2020 on February 20,2017), a set of measures that should be implemented in the fields of barrier-free mind andtown development. While various efforts, such as the promotion of measures that reflect
persons with disabilities’ viewpoints, are underway, their direction by no means differs fromthe basic program aimed to set a basic direction of measures for persons with disabilities thegovernment should take for the sake of achieving a society of coexistence.
As the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will accept a large number of people, withand without disabilities, from all over the world, the basic program adopts the "improvementof accessibility in all social scenes," which is mentioned later, as a cross-sectional viewpoint
and refers to the inclusion of viewpoints for improving accessibility in all social scenes inorder to further promote measures to eliminate social barriers. Reflecting such a view on
specific measures, furthermore, the program is set to extensively promote measures,
including those to develop readily transferrable environments, such as barrier-free public
transportation systems and town-building friendly to persons with disabilities.
The basic program has upgraded the "promotion of cultural and artistic activities, sports
and others" from a sub-entry in the old basic program into a sector of measures and enrichedmeasures with an eye on the Paralympics, such as training athletes in highly competitive
sports for persons with disabilities. In addition, the basic program calls for the promotion of
measures on a broad front to expand the base of sports for persons with disabilities, such as
the development of environments enabling persons with disabilities to enjoy sports locally,
and the fostering and utilization of athletes with disabilities.
As "issues requiring implementation of primary measures such as promotion ofunderstanding," furthermore, the basic program sets forth the extensive dissemination of
information on efforts to create a society of coexistence through the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
and Paralympics to brew national momentum and the society-wide promotion of the efforts

3

The Japanese delegation had 84 members (53 athletes and 31 officials).

8

by deepening the understanding of a "barrier-free mind."
Along with such viewpoints and various measures taken up by the basic program, it ishighly necessary for Japan to show the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics to the world
as an advanced event in a mature society and use it to mark a great step forward towardrealizing a society of coexistence. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics should not betaken as a goal but it is important to build up more efforts after they end to realize a societyof coexistence, utilizing the fruits gained from the events.

9II. Basic concept
1. Basic philosophy
The CRPD is aimed at ensuring the human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons
with disabilities and promoting respect for the inherent dignity of persons with disabilities.
It sets measures to realize the rights of persons with disabilities.
As mentioned in Article 1 of the Basic Act, revised in line with the philosophy of the
CRPD, measures for persons with disabilities need to be implemented to realize a society ofcoexistence in which no citizens are segregated according to whether or not they have adisability, and in which all citizens mutually respect their personalities and individuality on
the basis of the philosophy that all citizens, regardless of whether or not they have a disability,
should be respected as irreplaceable individuals equally enjoying fundamental human rights.
The basic program, which recognizes persons with disabilities as subjects who, while
receiving necessary support, participate in all social activities based on their own decisions,helps persons with disabilities achieve self-fulfillment by exercising their ability to the best
possible extent and sets the basic direction of measures the government should take for
person with disabilities in order to remove social barriers restricting activities by persons
with disabilities and limiting their social participation.
2. Basic principles
While recognizing persons with disabilities as subjects who, while receiving necessary
support, participate in all social activities based on their own decisions, the government
comprehensively and systematically implements measures to support the independence,social participation, etc. of persons with disabilities in order to realize the philosophy of the
CRPD on the basis of the following principles of the Basic Act revised in line with thatphilosophy.
(Coexistence in the Local Community)
For realizing a society of coexistence, Article 3 of the Basic Act assumes that all
persons with disabilities should be entitled to dignity as individuals enjoying fundamental
human rights equal to persons without disabilities and possess the right to be guaranteed
a life befitting of such dignity. In addition, the CRPD stipulates that its purpose is topromote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights andfundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities. The basic program therefore needs
to implement measures for persons with disabilities to appropriately ensure and expand
the following opportunities, assuming that all persons with disabilities should be entitledto dignity as individuals enjoying fundamental human rights equal to persons without
disabilities and possess the right to be guaranteed a life befitting of such dignity.
- All persons with disabilities are guaranteed the opportunity to participate in activities insociety, economy, culture, and all other fields as constituent members of society.
10- No person with disabilities is precluded from co-existing with other people in the local
community while guaranteed the opportunity to choose where and with whom they live.
- All persons with disabilities are guaranteed the opportunity to choose their language(including sign language; the same applies hereinafter) and other means ofcommunication for mutual understanding.
- Opportunities for them to choose the means of acquisition and use of information will
be expanded.
(Prohibition of discrimination)
Article 4 of the Basic Act stipulates that no person may commit an act of discriminationor any other act which violates interests or rights against a person with a disability on thebasis of the disability. It also requires the provision of reasonable accommodation.
Article 5 of the CRPD also prohibits all discrimination on the basis of disability and calls
for adoption of appropriate steps to ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided.
In addition, the Discrimination Elimination Act gives shape to such a purport. Under thecircumstances, it is necessary to prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities
and acts which violate their interests and rights, and provide reasonable accommodation
to eliminate social barriers against them.
Although Japan has already made legal preparations, such as the enactment andenforcement of the Discrimination Elimination Act, the implementation of the Act will
be examined and reviewed, when deemed necessary, in accordance with its findings toensure the effectiveness of the Act.
(International Cooperation)
Article 5 of the Basic Act stipulates that a society of coexistence must be realized under
the framework of international cooperation. Article 32 of the CRPD also states theimportance of international cooperation and its promotion. Given the fact, furthermore,that measures to support the independence of persons with disabilities and their social
participation, etc. are closely related to efforts in the international community, therealization of a society of coexistence needs to be pursued under the framework ofinternational cooperation.
While Japan has kept deepening its cooperation with the international framework
through such means as the ratification of the CRPD and submission of government reports
to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it needs to further promote
its tie-up of such a kind in order to embody the philosophy of international cooperation.
3. Cross-sectional viewpoints common to all sectors(1) Respect for the Philosophy of CRPD and securement of consistency
To work out and implement measures, systems, projects, etc. for persons with11

disabilities, it is important to respect the philosophy of the CRPD and ensure theirconsistency with the CRPD.
To promote "inclusion" 4 under the principle of deciding "nothing about us without us,"
it is necessary to recognize persons with disabilities as subjects, rather than objects, who,
while receiving necessary support, participate in society based on their own decisions. In
studying and assessing measures for persons with disabilities, participation by persons
with disabilities in the decision-making process is necessary so as to reflect their
viewpoints on the measures. In such a case, it should be noted that social participation by
persons with disabilities leads to their independence.
From the viewpoint of promoting participation by persons with disabilities in thedecision-making process, due heed should be paid to the selection of persons withdisabilities in choosing members of committees and other organs in the Diet. 5 In addition,
efforts are made to increase women’s participation in accordance with the Fourth Basic
Plan for Gender Equality (adopted by the Cabinet on December 25, 2015). For committee
members with disabilities, an appropriate guarantee of information and other reasonableaccommodations will be provided in a manner matching the characteristics of theirdisabilities. 6
From the viewpoint of respecting the decisions that persons with disabilities makethemselves, the provision of opportunities for persons with disabilities to choose theirlanguage and other means of communication will be promoted together with support for
decision-making through advice and other means to ensure that persons with disabilities
can make appropriate decisions themselves and express their intentions.
(2) Improvement of accessibility in all social scenes
1) Adoption of viewpoints for improvement of accessibility in all social scenes
Article 2 of the Basic Act, revised in line with what is called the "social model" andadopted by the CRPD, defines persons with disabilities as persons with disabilities"who are in a state of facing substantial limitations in their continuous day-to-day life
or social life because of a disability or a social barrier." The Article thus notes thatdifficulties and limitations encountered by persons with disabilities result from boththeir own disabilities and social factors.
In light of these viewpoints, it is necessary to substantiate social participation by
persons with disabilities, improve their abilities, regardless of their disabilities, andenable them to live at ease while exercising their abilities to the maximum extent
possible by eliminating things, systems, customary practices, and concepts limiting

4

The Japanese translation for Article 3 (c) of the CRPD means "encompassing."
Including temporary, special, and expert members
6
Providing information via alternative means for persons having difficulty in obtaining information
because of their disabilities
512

activities by persons with disabilities and restricting their social participation. To thisend, it is important to establish environments for improving the accessibility of persons
with disabilities. 7 To promote various efforts for elimination of social barriers more
forcibly, viewpoints for improving accessibility in all social scenes will beincorporated.
As discrimination on the basis of disability exerts grave adverse effects on
independence and social participation by persons with disabilities, efforts to eliminate
it in all social scenes are necessary. Therefore, based on the Discrimination Elimination
Act and the Employment Promotion Act, efforts to eliminate discrimination against
persons with disabilities will be promoted under broad understanding by business
operators, business owners and the general public while facilitating cooperation withefforts by various entities, such as local governments and organizations of persons withdisabilities.
From the viewpoint of improving accessibility in all social scenes and promoting abarrier-free mind, public relations and awareness-raising activities will be actively
promoted while supporting efforts by companies, civic groups, and other entities.
On the occasion of disclosing information on measures for persons with disabilities,
including the time of convening council and other meetings, and soliciting publiccomments on orders, plans and other matters related to measures for persons withdisabilities, efforts will be made to improve accessibility, such as guaranteeing
appropriate information giving heed to the characteristics of disabilities.
2) Promotion of utilization of new technologies for improvement of accessibility
Telecommunications technology (ICT) is finding its way into all scenes in society.
While equipment and services using such new technology may become new social
barriers, the use of ITC and other new technologies, with accessibility in mind, will be
studied in various cases, such as support for the transport of persons with disabilities
and provision of information to them, from the viewpoint of eliminating social barriers
because of their feature of high affinity with accessibility. The introduction of ITC andother new technologies will be actively promoted if they are found usable.
As the creation of markets for advanced technologies—including those that help
improve accessibility, developed by small and midsize enterprises as well as venturebusinesses—is a major challenge, the government needs to upgrade measures from thestandpoint of users to generate initial demand as a pump-priming step. Therefore, incompliance with the "Science and Technology Basic Plan" adopted by the Cabinet on
January 22, 2016, the government will implement necessary measures, such as further
promoting the use of technology-focused bidding systems like general evaluation

7

Making access to facilities and equipment, services, information, systems, etc. easy

13

awarding, in procuring technology-based products in the public sector, including newtechnologies that contribute to the improvement of accessibility, on the assumption of
securing transparency and fairness, in order to increase bidding opportunities for small
and midsize enterprises and venture businesses.
To further promote the government procurement of accessibility-oriented
equipment and services, technological specifications will be set for procurement 8
subject to the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement and other agreements, 9
in compliance with those agreements, and, when appropriate, in compliance with any
international standards concerning accessibility. 10
In addition, it will be noted that cases requiring decisions as society with regard to
ethical and legal agendas on the social application of science and technology, as seen
in cases like gene therapy and regenerative medicine are increasing.
(3) Comprehensive and cross-sectional support oriented toward persons concerned
Based on the CRPD’s philosophy of pursuing the dignity, autonomy, and independenceof persons with disabilities, measures will be comprehensively and continuously
implemented under organized cooperation in education, culture and art, sports, welfare,medical care, employment and other fields, to enable persons with disabilities to receive
appropriate support at each life stage.
Based on the definition of persons with disabilities in Article 2 of the Basic Act,measures for persons with disabilities should be implemented with an eye towarddifficulties that persons with disabilities face in day-to-day life and social life. Support
for persons with disabilities should be provided not only for addressing difficulties theyencounter from time to time but also from the viewpoint of their independence and social
participation. The importance of support for people concerned, including families of
persons with disabilities, is also taken into consideration.
Concerning problems straddling multiple sectors, it is necessary for organs, institutions
and other entities concerned to respond comprehensively and cross-sectionally throughcooperation without being bound by the framework of each sector.
(4) Conscientious support paying heed to the characteristic features of disabilities
In compliance with the philosophy of the CRPD respecting the dignity of each person

8

Procurement and government procurement subjected by the Protocol on Government Procurement(hereinafter referred to as the "Protocol") and the Protocol on Amending the Agreement on Government
Procurement (hereinafter referred to as the "Amended Protocol") and by the Guidelines on Government
Procurement Procedures (agreed upon by government ministries and agencies concerned on March 31,
2014, and hereinafter referred to as the "Guidelines")
9
Meaning the Protocol, the Amended Protocol and the Guidelines
10
Including domestic guidelines matching international standards including the JISZ8071 "Guide foraddressing accessibility in standards"

14

with disabilities, measures for them will be worked out and implemented with an eye on
the need for individualistic support for them based on the characteristic features of theirdisabilities, conditions of their disabilities, their living conditions, etc. In this approach,features inherent to disabilities and barely outwardly visible should be taken into
consideration. It should be noted that disabilities, whose conditions change, tend to show
diverse symptoms, often making it difficult to accurately understand the degree of
disability.
For developmental disabilities, intractable/rare diseases, higher brain dysfunction, 11
visual and hearing disabilities, severe motor and intellectual disabilities, and othermultiple disabilities, measures need to be upgraded along with information andawareness-raising activities to further deepen the society-wide understanding of them.
In particular, it is important to comprehensively promote measures for developmental
disabilities in such areas as society-wide understanding, family support, welfare and labor,
education and medical care.
(5) Conscientious support paying heed to the difficulties that women, children andelderly persons with disabilities have in common
Based on Article 6 and Article 7 of the CRPD, measures for persons with disabilities
need to be worked out and implemented, recognizing that attentive consideration for
persons with multiple difficulties, including women with disabilities, is required.
Women with disabilities need various support in accordance with the types of
disabilities. There also are cases that place them in multiple difficulties because of theirgender. It is important to work out and implement measures for person with disabilities
by taking such issues into account.
It also should be noted that children with disabilities need support different fromsupport for adults with disabilities.
Measures for elderly persons with disabilities need to be worked out and implemented
in consistency with measures according to age while recognizing the philosophy of the
CRPD.
(6) Promotion of effective measures through the PDCA Cycle, etc.
To realize "evidence-based policy making" in compliance with Article 31 and Article
33 of the CRPD, the following measures will be taken to collect necessary data andupgrade statistics along with the establishment and steady implementation of the PDCA
cycle of measures for persons with disabilities. In addition, measures will be continuously
reviewed through the cycle.

11

A condition in which cognitive functions, such memory, attention, performance, and social activities, aredisabled due to aftereffects of brain damage caused by a traffic accident or disease151) Plan
To appropriately recognize the reality of persons with disabilities and the social
environment surrounding them from the viewpoint of realizing "evidence-based policy
making," it is important to collect necessary data and upgrade statistics while paying
heed to the gender, age, types of disabilities, etc. of persons with disabilities.
Government ministries which are primarily responsible for measures for persons
with disabilities in each field study ways to appropriately collect and assess
information and data concerning the situation of disabilities and measures for persons
with disabilities and strive to plan more effective measures by setting specific targets
for achievement.
Targets for achievement set to steadily promote the basis program in each sector
represent levels of achievement pursued by the government as a whole bycomprehensively implementing specific measures in each sector along with measuresin other sectors. Achievement targets, when local governments as well as civicorganizations and other non-governmental entities are directly involved in undertaking
efforts related to achievement targets, are positioned as targeted levels of achievement
when the government seek action from such institutions and groups.
2) Do
Government ministries will try to systematically carry out efforts based on the basic
program while listening to people concerned such as persons with disabilities and theirfamilies. To appropriately implement measures for persons with disabilities, theycollect information and data concerning the conditions of persons with disabilities
through surveys of the reality of persons with disabilities, etc. and analyze and upgrade
the information while paying heed to the gender, age, types of disability and so forth.
From the viewpoint of effectively and efficiently promoting measures, acomprehensive implementation in consistency with measures for the aged, measures
for medical care, measures for children and child-rearing, measures for gender equality
and other measures, plans and other matters related to measures for persons withdisabilities will be pursued.
3) Check
The assessment of measures for persons with disabilities needs to reflect the
viewpoints of persons with disabilities on measures through their participation thedecision-making process. It is also important to continuously monitor the
implementation of efforts related to the promotion of measures for persons withdisabilities.
Under these frames of mind, government ministries will check and assess theimplementation of efforts and their effects based on numerical figures and otherinformation.
16

In addition, the Commission on Policy for Persons with Disabilities will assess andmonitor the implementation of the basic program for the viewpoint of the entire
government based on the Basic Act.
4) ActGovernment ministries will uninterruptedly review efforts based on the promotionof measures for persons with disabilities and the assessment and results of their effects.
When deemed necessary, they will conduct studies including related legal preparations.
The Commission on Policy for Persons with disabilities will assess and monitor the
implementation of the basic program from the viewpoint of the entire government on
the basis of the Basic Act and, when necessary, make recommendations to the Prime
Minister on the implementation of the basic program and other ministers concerned
through the Prime Minister. From its status as "a mechanism to monitor the
implementation of the basic program," the commission will monitor the
implementation of the CRPD through the monitoring of the basic program. It will alsoseek to upgrade the functions of its secretariat for the smooth management of theCommission on Policy for Persons with Disabilities.
When amendments to the basic program become necessary for changes in the social
situation and other reasons or when amendments to the basic program become
necessary due to the promotion and assessment of the basic program, the government
will flexibly change the basis program even during its period.
Regarding an achievement target which reaches its deadline during the period of the
program, necessary countermeasures will be taken, including the establishment of a
new achievement target while paying heed to the securement of continuity in light ofa society that should be realized through the basic program and based on the attainmentof the target in question.
Knowledge gained through surveys, etc. of the reality of persons with disabilities,
will be utilized for assessing progress in the basic program and a review of efforts
based on the assessment.
4. Smooth implementation of measures(1) Securement of coordination and cooperation
Government ministries will seek close coordination and cooperation with each other topromote government measures for persons with disabilities in an integrated manner andsecure comprehensive plans and cross-sectional adjustments.
While the basic program sets the basic direction of government measures for persons
with disabilities, the further reinforcement of coordination and cooperation with local
governments is indispensable for the effective implementation of efforts, such as
promoting the transfer of persons with disabilities from one region to another and17enabling them to receive appropriate support matching regional realities when and where
they need. To this end, the further reinforcement of coordination and cooperation withlocal governments under an appropriate division of roles will be pursued and knowledgeof local governments, which have introduced superior and advanced efforts and models,
will be utilized and promoted.
To promote society-wide efforts for independence and social participation by persons
with disabilities, the government will seek cooperation from groups of persons withdisabilities, professional organizations of experts, companies, business organizations, andothers in its various activities.
While efforts will also be made for cooperation with international organs and foreign
governments, the comprehensive and efficient implementation of sustainable
development goals (hereinafter referred to as "SDGs") will be promoted with enoughheed paid to the implementation of the CRPD in Japan under close and mutual
collaboration between related administrative organs.
The Commission on Policy for Persons with Disabilities will study sharing of
information with other councils, etc. when deemed necessary.
(2) Promotion of activities related to facilitation of understanding and public
relations/awareness-raising
1) Issues requiring implementation of primary measures such as promotion ofunderstanding
To promote popular understanding that an obvious sense of value that the "weightof each person’s life by no means changes whether or not he or she has a disability" isshared by all citizens in society and that it will become a regular life in which people
with and without disabilities mutually support and live in society without being boundby whether or not they have disabilities. To promote publicity and awareness raising
for the philosophy of a "coexistent society" pursued to be established through theimplementation of the basic program and the idea of the "social model."To extensively disseminate information on the feature of a "coexistent society"pursued to be established through the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in orderto brew national momentum for the Paralympics Games and further promote theunderstanding of meaning of measures for persons with disabilities.
To deepen, furthermore, the national understanding of the importance of ensuringthat persons with disabilities have an independent day-to-day life and social life, andto promote society-wide efforts for a "barrier-free mind" under which people with avariety of physical and mental characteristics communicatee with each other to deepen
mutual understanding and support each other.
For intellectual disabilities, mental disabilities, developmental disabilities,
intractable/rare diseases, higher brain dysfunctions, visual and hearing disabilities,
severe motor and intellectual disabilities and other multiple disabilities, as well as18

disabilities requiring more national understanding and disabilities barely outwardly
visible, efforts will be made to facilitate understanding concerning consideration, etc.
needed for the characteristics of the disabilities.
Efforts will be made to deepen public understanding of braille, sign language, tactile
walking surface indicators for visually impaired people, assistance dogs for physicallydisabled persons, 12 and parking spaces for persons with disabilities, and to publicize
consideration and other needs for smooth utilization of those things, and to provide
information on marks and other signs prepared by organizations of persons withdisabilities and other concerns for awareness raising and publicity in cooperation withcompanies concerned and promote the popularization and understanding of them.
Efforts will be made to deepen understanding of voluntary activities by children,
students, local volunteers etc., support the activities and promote understanding of andcooperation in social contribution activities by companies and others.
2) Issues requiring consideration in implementation of measures such as
promotion of understanding
As it is important to go ahead with measures for persons with disabilities whilewinning widespread national understanding, extensive publicity and awareness-raising
activities will be systematically and effectively conducted in cooperation with not only
the government but also companies, civilian organizations, the media, and so forth.
In such activities, the importance of appealing to not only persons with disabilities but
also others will be taken into account along with efforts to effectively provide
information and reflect national opinions.
To promote understanding of persons with disabilities in the local community,
constant exchanges between welfare facilities, educational organs, etc. and local
residents and others will be expanded. In addition, environments for activities topromote measures for persons with disabilities by nonprofit organizations, volunteer
groups, and other entities including persons with disabilities will be improved.
Surveys and studies of programs both at home and abroad, and the introduction ofadvanced cases, etc. will be promoted, noting that the unification of translated words
improves understandability and comparison.
Awareness-raising activities will be promoted especially through participation by
general citizens, volunteer groups, organizations of persons with disabilities and manyothers in events during the Week of Persons with Disabilities set in the Basic Act. 13
Activities to deepen mutual understanding between infants and elementary andother school children with disabilities and those without will be further promoted alongwith education to deepen understanding and knowledge of disabilities, such as special

12
13

Seeing-eye dogs, service dogs, and hearing-ear dogs
One week from December 3 to 9 every year

19

activities at elementary and junior high schools, etc.

20

III. Basic direction of measures for persons with disabilities in each sector
1. Development of safe and secure living environments[Basic Concept]
To achieve living environments enabling persons with disabilities to live a safe andsecure life in the local community, social barriers against persons with disabilities inliving environments will be removed and accessibility will be improved through thepromotion of comprehensive measures, such as the development of dwelling
environments enabling persons with disabilities to live a safe and secure life,
development of environments for easy mobility by persons with disabilities, andpromotion and spread of facilities, etc. paying heed to accessibility and town-making
friendly to persons with disabilities.
(1) Securement of houses○ The supply of public rental housing for persons with disabilities will be promoted bymaking new public housing barrier-free in principle and promoting the barrier-free
refurbishment of existing public housing. Local governments will be notified and given
information so that welfare and housing bureaus will jointly promote thoughtful
measures, such as preferential treatment of persons with disabilities in occupancy,
permission for unaccompanied occupancy, and exemption from the requirement to haveguarantors. [1-(1)-1]○ Due to establishing the New Housing Safety Net Policy which contains registration
systems for rental housing that is intended for the promotion of smooth move-in for such
persons requiring housing support, such as disabilities, by using vacant rooms of private
rental housing and vacant houses, the smooth move-in for those to private rental housing
will be promoted by providing supports related to housing renovation, reduction of
burden on residents, and the housing support activities of the Housing Support Council.
[1-(1)-2]○ Along with promoting barrier-free refurbishments, etc. by persons with disabilities andtenants of private rental dwelling units, tools used in day-to-day life will be supplied andlent, and support for home refurbishments to install them will be provided in order tomake day-to-day life convenient to persons with disabilities. [1-(1)-3]○ The establishment of group homes for persons with disabilities which serve as dwelling
units in the local community where tenants live together while receiving nursing care,advice, support, etc. will be promoted and institutional improvements for persons withsevere disabilities will be achieved. In addition, the establishment of local life support
21

centers and places as support bases for persons with disabilities living in the local
community will be promoted. Combined with such measures, the development of local
infrastructures, including councils of people involved in health, medical and welfare
services and support for securement of dwelling units, will be promoted to create acomprehensive local care system applicable to mental disabilities as well 14 so that
persons with mental disabilities and their families can live in their own way as membersof the local community and with a sense of security. [1-(1)-4]○ To enable persons with disabilities to easily use welfare services for persons withdisabilities, the establishment of cooperation between them and local fire companies andresidents in times of natural disasters will be promoted. In addition, the fire protection
and security system will be reinforced by partially subsidizing refurbishments andinstallations of fire-extinguishing equipment in compliance with standards set under the
Building Standards Act (Act No. 201 of 1950) and the Fire Service Act (Act No. 186 of
1948). [1-(1)-5](2) Development of mobility-supporting environments○ Barrier-free public transport facilities will be promoted by upgrading human efforts inaddition to the further promotion of such measures as elimination of differences in levels
at train stations and other passenger facilities, installation of platform gates and others
for fall prevention and development of train cars friendly to passengers with disabilities.
[1-(2)-1]○ Upgrade ways of displaying information will be promoted, paying heed to thecharacteristics of disabilities at passenger facilities and inside vehicles of public
transportation systems. [1-(2)-2]○ Education, training and other programs will be promoted to have public transportation
operators and others adopt appropriate measures for persons with disabilities. [1-(2)-3]○ Special transport services, utilizing welfare taxies and other services will be promoted,
by utilizing support systems, etc. to individually provide means of transportation topersons with disabilities. [1-(2)-4]○ Recognizing that providing means of transportation and addressing the shortage ofdrivers in depopulated rural areas are urgent tasks, we are committed to conducting
research and development programs and providing services in connection with Traffic

14

Dwelling units including environmental improvements for reception of medical care (the same as in 5(3)-8)22

Signal Prediction Systems (TSPS), Driving Safety Support Systems (DSSS), ETC 2.0,
and other Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) that are designed to provide safe andcomfortable transportation for the aged persons, persons with disabilities, and others,
while developing advanced self-driving systems to provide unmanned autonomous
driving services for such people in rural areas. [1-(2)-5](3) Promotion of facilities, products, etc. paying heed to accessibility○ The Act on Promotion of Smooth Transportation, etc. of Elderly Persons, Disabled
Persons (Act No. 91 of 2006; hereinafter referred to as the "Barrier-Free Act") makes it
obligatory to apply the barrier-free standard to certain structures used by many andunspecified people, especially aged people and persons with disabilities, at the time of
new construction ,etc. in order to promote barrier-free efforts. In addition, local
governments facilitate efforts in line with actual local conditions, such as adding
structures subject to the obligation and tightening the floor area requirements, inaccordance with regulations based on the law. [1-(3)-1]○ Construction of government buildings with counter services will be promoted adopting
the Preferred Barrier-free Standard for Facilities and Public Transportation, based on the
Barrier-Free Act. [1-(3)-2]○ Improvement of urban parks will be promoted for safe and secure use by such means aseliminating differences in levels at gates and on paths inside and installing bathrooms
usable by the aged and persons with disabilities in line with standards based on the
Barrier-Free Act and through the use of support systems. [1-(3)-3]○ To let everyone enjoy the attractive features of rivers and familiar natural spaces,
riverside improvements will be promoted in an integrated manner with town-building.
[1-(3)-4]○ In designing products, etc. for use in day-to-day life based on the concept of Universal
Design, 15 the standardization of designs, etc. in consideration of use by elderly andpeople with disabilities will be promoted if there are needs for the spread of products,
facilities, etc., paying heed to use by people with disabilities. [1-(3)-5](4) Comprehensive urban development with care for persons with disabilities○ Necessary amendments will be made to the Barrier-Free Act and related measures,
paying heed to three viewpoints: the promotion of social participation by the aged,

15

Concept of designing facilities, products, etc. that can be readily used by all people.

23

persons with disabilities, and others; reinforcement of collaboration between regions forthe creation of barrier-free town planning; and efforts combining structural and nonstructural measures. [1-(4)-1]○ Paying heed to the barrier-free concept, urban development that will enable persons withdisabilities to live at ease and comfortably will be promoted through such means as
promotion of appropriate and systematic construction of welfare and medical facilities
in urban zones, promotion of development in combination with parks and other facilities,
and consolidation of living bases, etc. [1-(4)-2]○ We will improve major essential roads for everyday life that connect main transportation
facilities in the priority development districts designated by municipalities based on the
Basic Act for Persons with Disabilities (also known as Barrier-Free Act)*, develop wider
sidewalks, improve sidewalks that have level differences, excessive slopes and gradients,
remove utility poles, and install warning tile blocks for the visually impaired while
making sure that these activities are in line with public transportation improvement
programs aiming for barrier-free systems. [1-(4)-3]○ To make main facilities in national parks and quasi-national parks, such as visitor centers,
roads and public restrooms, barrier-free. [1-(4)-4]○ For roads that comprise major community-related pathways within importantdevelopment districts designated by municipal governments based on the Barrier-Free
Act, the improvement of traffic facilities, such as traffic signals equipped with audible
annunciators which tell the status of traffic lights by sound, pedestrian-vehicle separated
traffic signals that separate the time during which pedestrians pass from the time thatvehicles pass, barrier-free traffic signals such as PICS (Pedestrian Information andCommunication Systems) where the time for green lights for pedestrians is extended,
and road markers that are easy to see and understand will be promoted. [1-(4)-5]○ LED (light emitting diodes) development of signal lights and high-intensity/large roadmarkers will be encouraged so that persons with disabilities can drive automobiles safely
and with ease of mind. [1-(4)-6]○ In order to ensure safe passage by pedestrians on community roads in urban areas, etc.,
speed control and control/elimination of through traffic will be encouraged by settingzones where measures, such as regulation of zones with a maximum speed of 30km/h,
installation and expansion of side strips, and installation of physical devices are
effectively combined.[1-(4)-7]24

○ The parking permit system, introduced by many local governments to ensure theappropriate use of parking lots for persons with disabilities, etc., will be improved
through sharing of information on good examples. Local governments, which have yet
to introduce the system, will be encouraged to adopt it through the provision of
information on its merits in order to realize its widespread use. [1-(4)-8]○ The establishment of environments in which private businesses and others can offer
various services, will be promoted through the development and utilization of space
information infrastructures such as seamless electronic maps both inside and outside andindoor positioning environments, etc. and open datarization of data, etc. 16 to contributeto mobilization in order to promote the use of ICT-based support for pedestrians’
movement for the sake of creating a universal society where all people, including theaged and persons with disabilities, can freely engage in activities without feeling stressedboth at home and outside. [1-(4)-9]○ In addition to the above, implement specific measures positioned Universal Design 2020
Action Plan. [1-(4)-10]

16

Format of data suitable for machine reading and disclosed data under rules enabling secondary use madepossible without involving much manpower.

25

2. Improvement of accessibility to information and upgrading of support forcommunication[Basic concept]
To enable persons with disabilities to gain access to necessary information, various
programs, such as the planning, development and supply of telecommunications
equipment and services, paying heed to persons with disabilities, and the spread ofbroadcasting and publications for easy use by persons with disabilities, will be
implemented to improve accessibility to information. In addition, support forcommunication by persons with disabilities will be upgraded through such means as
the development and securement of people who support their communication,
promotion of smooth use of services and development and supply of support
equipment, in order to enable them to smoothly express their intention andcommunicate.
(1) Improvement of accessibility to information in telecommunications○ Promote the planning, development, and supply of telecommunications equipment andservices, paying heed to persons with disabilities, in order to secure, improve and spread
accessibility to information in the use of telecommunications equipment and services,
etc. by persons with disabilities. [2-(1)-1]○ Appropriate standardization to secure and improve accessibility to information, 17
recognizing research and development, needs, advances in ICT, etc. will be advanced
and international standards proposed when necessary. The procurement oftelecommunications equipment, etc. by government ministries and agencies will be
implemented in compliance with laws based on or paying heed to international standards
and the Japanese Industrial Standards. 18 In particular, procurement, etc., subject to the
WTO Government Procurement Agreement, 19 will set technological specifications
stipulated by the WTO Government Procurement Agreement, 20 and based on any
international standards concerning accessibility when appropriate. 21 [2-(1)-2]○ The research and development of telecommunications equipment and systems will bepromoted, paying heed to persons with disabilities at national research institutes andother organizations. [2-(1)-3]

17

Assuming Japanese Industrial Standards, etc.
Telecommunications equipment including services and systems related to web contents (posted
information)
19
Regarding procurement, see Note 8
20
See Note 921Regarding international standards, see Note 10
18

26

○ Opportunities for the use and utilization of ICT by persons with disabilities will be
increased through such means as establishing IT support centers to give advice on IT,
etc. to persons with disabilities and promoting the fostering and dispatch of computervolunteers enabling persons with disabilities to use computers and other equipment. [2(1)-4]○ A telephone relay service system enabling persons with a hearing impairment to makecalls themselves will be established. [2-(1)-5](2) Upgrading supply of information○ The use of broadcasting services by persons with disabilities will be facilitated throughthe expansion of captioned broadcasting, 22 explanatory broadcasting, sign-language
broadcasting, etc., made possible by subsidies for broadcasters’ production cost basedon the Act Concerning Promotion of Project for Facilitation of Use of
Telecommunications by People with Disabilities Contributing to Improved Convenienceof People with Disabilities (Act No. 54 of 1993) and the implementation andreinforcement of efforts under the Guidelines for Accessibility to Information in the
Field of Broadcasting. [2-(2)-1]○ The development of information supply facilities for persons with a hearing impairment,
which engage in such services as producing libraries of videos with captions (or sign
language) and lending them, the fostering and dispatch of sign-language interpreters andprecise writers, and the offering of advice for the sake of persons with a hearing
impairment will be promoted, while recognizing changes in needs resulting fromadvances in ICT. [2-(2)-2]○ The supply of services and the research and development of technologies by private
businesses will be facilitated through subsidies, etc. provided under the Act Concerning
Promotion of Project for Facilitation of Use of Telecommunications by People with
Disabilities Contributing to Improved Convenience of People with Disabilities andimprove access to telecommunication and broadcasting services, such as televisions andtelephones, which cannot be readily used because of disabilities. [2-(2)-3]○ Electronic publishing is expected to increase the use of publications by people who facedifficulties in reading paper-based publications because of visual impairments, upper
limb disabilities, learning disabilities, etc. Efforts, therefore, will be promoted to realize

22

Including advertiser-funded programs27

the widespread availability of electronic publications paying heed to accessibility
through the promotion of new technological development and awareness activities
targeting electronic bookstores, electronic libraries, publishers and other businesses
concerned. While such efforts will be further promoted, the use of electronic publicationsin education will be increased. [2-(2)-4]○ Studies on low-postage approved periodicals (third class mail) for persons withdisabilities will continue from the viewpoint of social participation by persons withdisabilities while noting the reality of the service. [2-(2)-5](3) Upgrading of support for communication○ For people who have difficulties in communication due to hearing, language function,phonetic function, visual, aphasic, intellectual and development disabilities, or higher
brain dysfunctions, severe physical and other disabilities and intractable/rare diseases,
support will be provided through the dispatch, installation, etc. of sign-language
interpreters and precise writers, and of interpreters and assistants for persons with visualand hearing disabilities along with support in the form of translation into braille, writing
and reading on their behalf, transliteration, etc. In addition, support for communication
will be upgraded through the implementation of fostering, training, etc. of sign-language
interpreters and precise writers, and of interpreters and assistants for persons with visualand hearing disabilities in order to nurture and secure such human resources. [2-(3)-1]○ Devices for day-to-day life will be supplied or lent to persons with disabilities in needof support equipment for information and communication and hands will be joined withthem in developing support equipment based on their needs. [2-(3)-2]○ The popularization and understanding of pictorial symbols designed to help people with
communicative difficulties to be appropriately understood will be promoted. [2-(3)-3](4) Improvement of accessibility to government information○ Government ministries and agencies will take various characteristics of disabilities into
consideration when providing information on measures and facilities for persons withdisabilities and during an emergency in a manner readily understandable to persons withdisabilities, including those with intellectual and mental disabilities, such as appropriate
use of captioned and oral information. [2-(4)-1]○ Government ministries and agencies will strive to enrich and expand the electronic
supply of administrative information in a manner friendly to all users, including persons
with disabilities. In providing information via websites and other means, necessary

28

measures will be taken to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, 23 suchas the adoption of specifications that make all functionality available from a keyboard
and addition of captions or phonetic explanations to videos. In addition, efforts will bemade to improve web accessibility at local governments and other public entities [2-(4)2]○ For proving administrative information, government ministries and agencies will study
the use and utilization of ICT and other new technologies paying heed to accessibility
and will strive to provide information, taking accessibility into consideration, throughsuch means as active introduction of those available for use and utilization. [2-(4)-3]○ To appropriately transfer information to persons with disabilities when a disaster occurs
or is feared to occur, the establishment of information transmission systems paying heed
to the characteristics of disabilities will be promoted in cooperation with private business
operators, fire-fighting organs, prefectural police departments, etc. [2-(4)-4]○ Efforts will be made to upgrade the supply of information for elections, etc., in
accordance with the characteristics of disabilities, through such means as adoption ofsign-language interpreters and addition of captions in campaign broadcasting, use of
braille, sound, and enlarged text or the supply of information on candidates via theInternet, while taking advances in ICT, etc. into account. [2-(4)-5]

23

A procedure manual to support efforts by public entities to maintain and improve web content
accessibility (use of information and functionality, provided via websites, etc., by all people).

29

3. Promotion of disaster and crime prevention measures, etc.
[Basic Concept]
The construction of disaster-resistant areas will be promoted, based on the Sendai
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 adopted at the Third UN World
Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, 24 to enable persons with disabilities to live
safely and at ease in the local community. Programs for disaster prevention andreconstruction will also be promoted for assurance of appropriate information paying
heed to the characteristics of disabilities, support evacuation, secure shelters, including
welfare shelters (welfare evacuation space), 25 and emergency temporary houses,
continuation of welfare and medical services, etc. in times of disaster. To protect
persons with disabilities from crime and consumer fraud, programs will be promoted
to prevent crime and consumer trouble.
(1) Promotion of disaster prevention measures○ The preparation of regional disaster prevent plans and implementation of disaster drills
and other programs will be promoted through participation by persons with disabilities,
welfare-related people, and others, and in cooperation with disaster prevention bureaus
and welfare bureaus to promote the creation of disaster-resistant areas. [3-(1)-1]○ A combination of physical and non-physical measures focused on the prevention ofdamage from landslides, such as the creation of sand arrestation barriers and otherfacilities, 26 and specification of dangerous spots that are at risk of damage fromlandslides in areas where facilities for persons with disabilities, who find it difficult toflee for refuge themselves and so need special consideration, are located will bepromoted. [3-(1)-2]○ To appropriately transfer information to persons with disabilities when a disaster occurs
or is feared to occur, the establishment of information transmission systems paying heed
to the characteristics of disabilities will be promoted in cooperation with private business

24

The biggest UN-related international conference ever held in Japan took place in Sendai, in March 2015.
As barrier-free, information assurance, and various other programs were adopted with an eye towardmaking it an "accessible conference" (a conference that can be readily attended even by persons withdisabilities), more than 200 persons with disabilities participated in it. The plenary session set aside
opportunities for representatives of persons with disabilities’ groups to speak and such speakers
demanded that behavioral frameworks for disaster prevention, adopted by various countries, be inclusive
so as to include persons with disabilities.
25
Shelters specially designed for people who have difficulties in living in ordinary shelters. In designating
welfare shelters, it is desirable to pay attention to connection the people in need of special support andfamily members living with them to their living spheres and communities.
26
Sand arrestation barriers set up at mountain streams and other places to prevent landslide disasters.

30

operators, fire-fighting organs, prefectural police departments, etc. [3-(1)-3: Reposting]○ Support the establishment of necessary systems at local governments to provide
appropriate support for persons with disabilities’ refuge when a disaster occurs or isfeared to occur, using a list of people who need support in escaping. [3-(1)-4]○ Programs to make shelters and emergency temporary houses barrier-free and prompt
municipalities to help persons with disabilities receive support matching thecharacteristics of their disabilities and reasonable accommodation at shelters, 27 will bepromoted based on the "Guidelines for Securing and Managing Welfare Shelters."
Municipalities will be prompted to secure necessary welfare shelters as well. As
prefectures are responsible for emergency rescue operations under the Disaster Relief
Act, they will be prompted to appropriately secure emergency temporary houses that canbe used by people in wheelchairs while taking local conditions into account. [3-(1)-5]○ Disaster prevention measures will be promoted at support facilities for persons withdisabilities, medical institutions, and other places to continue welfare and medical
services after the occurrence of a disaster and efforts to create extensive networks ofsocial welfare facilities, medical institutions and other facilities within and without the
local community, such as accords among welfare shelters, will be made. [3-(1)-6]○ The introduction of an emergency messaging system at firefighting headquarters acrossJapan, using smartphones or other non-vocal tools to send urgent messages to persons
with hearing and language impairments anytime and anywhere when a fire or emergency
situation occurs will be promoted. [3-(1)-7]○ The preparation of escape plans and implementation of drills at facilities for people whoneed special consideration in a disaster in areas where flooding is considered likely or
which are subjected to warning against the possibility of damage from landslides will bepromoted to ensure a smooth and prompt escape of people who need special
consideration in a disaster when flood or landslide damage occurs. [3-(1)-8]○ To enable persons with disabilities to easily use welfare services for persons withdisabilities, the establishment of cooperation between them and local fire companies andresidents in times of natural disasters will be promoted. In addition, the fire protection
and security system will be reinforced by partially subsidizing refurbishments andinstallations of fire-extinguishing equipment in compliance with standards set under the27

The support includes the provision of necessary goods

31Building Standards Act and the Fire Service Act. [3-(1)-9: Reposting]○ Information based on the "Guidelines for Disaster Management and Reconstruction
Initiatives from a Gender Equality Perspective," etc. will be provided to facilitate
consideration for women in disaster management and reconstruction efforts, including
women with disabilities, in the establishment of the disaster management frameworks oflocal governments under normal conditions and at shelters, emergency housing and otherplaces after disaster strikes. [3-(1)-10](2) Promotion of reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and otherdisasters○ Participation by persons with disabilities and their families in designing, planning andimplementing measures for reconstruction in each region will be promoted, and acollection of cases will be prepared and published as part of information provision for
promoting region-wide town building. [3-(2)-1]○ Providers of welfare services for persons with disabilities in disaster-hit areas will besupported to stabilize welfare services for persons with disabilities there in order tosupport persons with disabilities’ continuous life in disaster-hit areas or support theirreturn to the areas. [3-(2)-2]○ Mental care, supervision, advisory, and other services will be upgraded for persons withdisabilities continuing refuge life away from their familiar living environments. [3-(2)3]○ Support for the employment of persons with disabilities in disaster-hit areas will bepromoted, while recognizing local employment conditions, by creating jobs in tandemwith industrial policy and eliminating mismatches between job offers and seekers. [3(2)-4](3) Promotion of crime prevention measures○ Promote the use of the 110 emergency call number via fax, e-mail, and other means, andtake prompt and appropriate countermeasures matching individual cases. [3-(3)-1]○ Training will be promoted to help police officers deepen their understanding of
disabilities and persons with disabilities and utilize measures to support communicationof persons with disabilities such as assigning sign language-capable police offices topolice boxes and other places, and using communication support boards. [3-(3)-2]○ Efforts will be made to prevent and promptly detect criminal damage through the32promotion of cooperation between the police and organizations of persons withdisabilities, welfare facilities, government, etc. in the local community. [3-(3)-3]○ Reviews, etc. concerning the establishment of facilities will be promoted to ensure
security related to crime prevention and measures taken by staff members in charge ofcrime prevention to enable persons with disabilities, who use support facilities, to live atease following a stabbing spree at support facilities for persons with disabilities in July
2016. Establish a safety-ensuring system in collaboration with entities concerned, local
residents, and others. [3-(3)-4]○ National movements to prevent and root out violence against women, including thosewith disabilities, will be further promoted through the "campaign to eliminate violenceagainst women" and others. 28 The establishment of government-involved one-stop
support centers for victims of sexual crimes and violence will be promoted, their
management will be stabilized and counseling functions at Spousal Violence Counselingand Support Centers will be upgraded in order to upgrade support for victims of sexual
crimes and sexual violence and victims of violence by spouses and others. [3-(3)-5](4) Prevention of consumer trouble, and relief from damage○ Information needed to prevent consumer trouble and contribute to the protection andpromotion of benefits for persons with disabilities as consumers will be provided.
Consumer education concerning persons with disabilities, etc. will be promoted byencouraging participation in consumer-related events held by persons with disabilities
and supporters of persons with disabilities and implementing training programs. [3-(4)1]○ The establishment of monitoring networks (Regional Councils for Ensuring the Safetyof Consumers) to protect persons with disabilities from consumer damage will bepromoted through collaboration among groups for persons with disabilities, consumer
groups, welfare-related groups, and government and various other regional bodies. [3(4)-2]○ A counseling system for consumption life will be established, paying heed to thecharacteristics of disabilities by accepting requests for advice sent to consumer centersof local governments, etc. via fax, e-mail, and other means, and implementing training
programs, etc. for advisors and others’ understanding of persons with disabilities. [3-(4)3]28

The campaign is annually held for two weeks from November 12 to 25 every year (International Day for
the Elimination of Violence against Women).

33

○ Efforts will be made to further develop various services of the Japan Legal Support
Center (hereinafter referred to as "Houterasu") and organizational frameworks to provide
them, aiming to promote the use of legal systems for recovery from damage suffered bypersons with disabilities. [3-(4)-4]○ Efforts will be made to promptly discover and recover consumer damage suffered bypeople in need of special consideration such as persons with disabilities because of banktransfer scams and fraudulent business practices, through the establishment of closer
cooperation among contract attorneys of Houterasu including staff attorneys, welfareorganizations and other entities. [3-(4)-5]34

4. Elimination of discrimination, promotion of rights advocacy, and prevention of abuse[Basic Concept]
Various kinds of publicity and awareness-raising activity will be engaged in tofurther expand the acceptance of the Discrimination Elimination Act, while promoting
collaboration with efforts by local governments, groups for persons with disabilities,
and many other subjects, in order to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability
in all social scenes. Efforts will also be promoted to make the Discrimination
Elimination Act more viable by implementing programs to eliminate suchdiscrimination on a broad front, including the improvement of environments, under
extensive understanding of business operators and the general public.
The abuse of persons with disabilities will be prevented through the appropriate
enforcement of the Act on Prevention of Maltreatment of Person with Disabilities andSupport for Attendants of Person with Disabilities (Act. No. 79 of 2011) (hereinafterreferred to as the "Maltreatment Prevention Act") and programs to protect the rightsof persons with disabilities will be steadily advanced through such efforts as upgrading
counseling and trouble-shooting systems in order to prevent the infringement of rightsof persons with disabilities and relieve them from damage.
(1) Promotion of rights advocacy and prevention of abuse○ Support, such as using consultants, etc. to prevent the abuse of persons with disabilities,
securing dwelling units for temporary protection and giving advice to caregivers, will be
provided through the appropriate enforcement of the Abuse Prevention Act, while
actively engaging in publicity and awareness-raising activities concerning that Act forthe prevention of abuse of persons with disabilities. [4-(1)-1]○ Guidelines on decision-making support will be disseminated from the viewpoint ofrespecting self-decisions based on support for independent decision-making by persons
with disabilities and the appropriate utilization of adult guardianship will be promoted.
[4-(1)-2]○ Support efforts made by parties concerned to protect the rights of persons withdisabilities. [4-(1)-3]○ The counseling and trouble-shooting system will be upgraded and its utilization
promoted to prevent discrimination against persons with disabilities and otherinfringements of their rights and relieve them from resultant damage. [4-(1)-4]○ Expenses needed to promote the appropriate use of the adult guardianship for persons
with inadequate capacities for judgment due to intellectual disabilities or mental
35

disabilities will be subsidized. 29 In addition, training programs will be offered to fosterand utilize people capable of appropriately carrying out services as adult guardians,
curators or assistants. [4-(1)-5]○ The system imposing limits on the rights of adult wards, warrantees, and persons underassistance (the so-called "disqualification clause") will be reviewed and amended, if
necessary, based on the "Act on Promotion of the Adult Guardianship System" (Act No.
29 of 2016) and the "Basic Plan for Promotion of the Adult Guardianship System"(adopted by the Cabinet on March 24, 2017). [4-(1)-6](2) Promotion of elimination of discrimination based on disabilities○ Efforts will be steadily implemented to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability,
such as banning unfair discriminatory treatment on the basis of disability and thoroughly
providing necessary and reasonable accommodation (reasonable accommodation) for
persons with disabilities under the Discrimination Elimination Act as well as the basic
policy, Handling Directions, and Handling Guidelines based on that Act. Efforts will also
be made to enable companies to appropriately deal with the issue. [4-(2)-1]○ Policy measures will be steadily implemented to, in the physical aspect, make facilities
barrier-free, and to improve accessibility in collecting, using and disseminating
information and improving environments for training staff members, etc., while taking
technological advances into account, to appropriately provide reasonableaccommodation about the removal of social barriers under the basic policy based on the
Discrimination Elimination Act. In this case, heed will be paid to the smooth
implementation of measures in such ways as fleshing out ideas related to theimprovement of environments in each field of policy measures concerned, while taking
the characteristics of each policy field into account in the policy guidelines, etc. [4-(2)2]○ Local governments will prepare the Handling Directions and advance the apparatus ofRegional Support Councils for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with
Disabilities, in cooperation with prefectures, to eliminate discrimination on the basis of
disability and announce the results of studies to grasp the state of preparing the Handling
Directions and the apparatus of Regional Support Councils for Eliminating
Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, etc. [4-(2)-3]○ Various kinds of publicity and awareness-raising activities will be promoted to further

29

Such disabilities include developmental disabilities (the same as in 5-(1)-2)

36

expand the acceptance of the Discrimination Elimination Act through cooperation
among government ministries and agencies concerned, local governments, companies,
groups for persons with disabilities and various other subjects, led by the Cabinet Office,to broaden and deepen the national understanding of the significance and purpose of theDiscrimination Elimination Act, required efforts, etc. In addition, efforts will be made tocollect, analyze and publicize cases of reasonable accommodation. In addition, efforts
will be made to collect, analyze and publicize cases of reasonable accommodation.[4(2)-4]○ Instructions, etc. will be issued, if necessary, when requests for consultation, reports, etc.
are made concerning a ban on discrimination against persons with disabilities andprovision of reasonable accommodation at prefectural labor bureaus and Public
Employment Security Offices (hereinafter referred to as "Hello Work Offices").
Support will be provided for settling trouble through third-party mediation whenrequired by a party or parties concerned. [4-(2)-5]○ The counseling and trouble-shooting system will be upgraded and its utilization
promoted to prevent discrimination against persons with disabilities and otherinfringements of their rights and relieve them from resultant damage. [4-(2)-6:
Reposting]○ Promote the elimination of discrimination against persons subject to the Act on Medical
Care and Treatment for Persons Who Have Caused Serious Cases Under the Conditionof Insanity (Act No. 110 of 2003) to facilitate the social rehabilitation of such persons.
[4-(2)-7]○ To prevent persons with disabilities from suffering disadvantages in obtaining national
certifications, etc., reasonable accommodation in line with the characteristics ofdisabilities will be provided in conducting examinations, etc. [4-(2)-8]○ Conduct studies to secure accessibility when documents need to be filled in, such as
seeking permission for signing and affixing seals, or for writing on behalf of a principal
when the principal’s intention is appropriately confirmed, except for procedures that
require the principal to personally sign or affix the principal's seal. [4-(2)-9]* In this basic program, efforts concerning the provision of reasonable accommodation for persons withdisabilities, improvement of environments, etc. are mentioned in each field in principle, with the
exception of cross-sectional measures (for example, consideration, etc. in the field of administrative
services, etc. are mentioned in 7, consideration, etc. in the field of employment and work in 8, andconsideration, etc. in the field of education in 9).

37

5. Promotion of support for independent life and decision-making[Basic concept]
For persons with disabilities who find it difficult to make and declare their own
decisions, necessary support for their decisions will be provided from the viewpoint ofrespecting their own decisions. In addition, systems will be created so that persons withdisabilities will seek advice in their familiar locality based on their own decisions.
The realization of a local community where citizens, whether they have a disability ornot, mutually respect their personalities and individuality will be sought throughprograms to further facilitate the movement of persons with disabilities within thecommunity and enable them to receive appropriate support in line with actual local
conditions whenever and wherever necessary.
To enable persons (including children) with disabilities to live day-to-day life andsocial life matching the dignity of individuals enjoying fundamental human rights, efforts
will be made steadily to improve the quality and quantity of at-home services, upgrade
services for children with disabilities, conduct research and development programs forequipment that can contribute to the improvement of accessibility and nurture and secure
human resources for the welfare of persons with disabilities.
(1) Promotion of support for decision-making○ To enable persons with disabilities, who find it difficult to make and declare their own
decisions, to appropriately use welfare services for persons with disabilities, theprovision of necessary support, etc. will be promoted, while paying heed to theirdecision-making, by dispersing the guidelines of support for decision-making, etc., fromthe viewpoint of respecting their own decisions. [5-(1)-1]○ Expenses needed to promote the appropriate use of the adult guardianship for persons
with inadequate capacities for judgment due to intellectual disabilities or mental
disabilities will be subsidized. In addition, training programs will be offered to fosterand utilize people capable of appropriately carrying out services as adult guardians,
curators or assistants. [5-(1)-2: Reposting](2) Establishment of counseling and support system○ A system to provide comprehensive counseling and support service in accordance withthe kinds of disability, age, gender, conditions, etc. will be established so that persons
with disabilities can receive appropriate counseling and support services in their familiar
community based on their own decisions. [5-(2)-1]○ Efforts to implement appropriate decisions to supply support to parties concerned, suchas the preparation of plans for use of services, etc., based on the mental and physical38

states of individual persons with disabilities will be promoted, regardless of whether theyand their families are willing to use services, etc. [5-(2)-2]○ The establishment of core counseling and support centers will be promoted bypublicizing their importance in playing central roles in providing counseling and support
services in the local community by providing professional guidance to counseling andsupport service providers, fostering human resources, and offering comprehensive
counseling services for persons with disabilities, etc. The development of support
systems for people with disabilities will be accelerated by promoting the establishment
and vigorous operation of councils aimed at strengthening the cooperation of relatedorganizations and carrying out system maintenance depending on the regional situations.
[5-(2)-3]○ People offering counseling services for children with development disabilities and theirfamilies and parent mentors at support centers for persons with development disabilities,
etc. will be fostered, 30 and local problems and other issues will be discussed at regional
councils for support for persons with development difficulties, consisting of people
engaged in local medical, health care, welfare, educational, and other services, toupgrade local life support systems, led by support centers for persons with
developmental disabilities. [5-(2)-4]○ Coordinators of counseling and support services will be assigned to local support bases
to provide professional counseling and support for children with higher brain
dysfunctions, 31 in accordance with their life stages and cooperation, coordination, etc.
with councils, set up by prefectures and municipalities, and other entities concerned will
be carried out to upgrade support systems for persons with disabilities, etc. Furthermore,
the transmission of information on higher brain dysfunctions will be upgraded andexpanded. [5-(2)-5]○ Efforts will be made to eliminate distress, anxieties, etc. of persons with intractable/rare
diseases in day-to-day life and provide counseling and support for persons withintractable/rare diseases in day-to-day life through support centers for persons withdisabilities, etc. in the local community so as to promote measures to support persons
with intractable/rare diseases in the local community in order to offer refined counselingand support matching various needs of persons with intractable/rare diseases. [5-(2)-6]30

Parent mentors are persons who have raised children with development disabilities. Utilizing theirexperience, they receive consultations from and provide advice to parents soon after those parents'
children are diagnosed as having development disabilities and other people concerned.
31
Including cases involving the simultaneous occurrence of aphasia and other related diseases.

39

○ Support, such as using consultants, etc. to prevent the abuse of persons with disabilities,
securing dwelling units for temporary protection and giving advice to caregivers, will be
provided through the appropriate enforcement of the Abuse Prevention Act, while
actively engaging in publicity and awareness-raising activities concerning that Act forthe prevention of abuse of persons with disabilities. [5-(2)-7: Reposting]○ The quality of counseling services will be improved through such measures as the
preparation and distribution of various guidelines and implementation of training
programs for counseling workers for persons with disabilities and staff members
engaging in support for consultation, and a network of child guidance centers,
rehabilitation counseling centers, healthcare centers, and other entities concerned will becreated and its use will be promoted so as to create a system enabling persons withdisabilities to seek professional advice in their familiar community. [5-(2)-8]○ Information on persons with disabilities living with their families as well counseling andsupport services will be provided to support the homes and families. Counselingactivities will be provided by parties concerned, such as peer counseling, peer support,
etc., 32 which are important means mutually offered by persons with disabilities and theirfamilies, while fostering peer supporters. [5-(2)-9]○ Peer supporters will be fostered through the utilization of the Community Life Support
Project and promote peer support in order to reinforce support for children with
developmental disabilities and their families. [5-(2)-10]○ National movements to prevent and root out violence against women, including thosewith disabilities, will be further promoted through the "campaign to eliminate violenceagainst women" and others. The establishment of government-involved one-stop support
centers for female victims of sexual crime and sexual violence will be promoted, their
management will be stabilized and counseling functions at Spousal Violence Counselingand Support Centers will be upgraded in order to upgrade support for victims of sexual
crimes and sexual violence and victims of violence by spouses and others. [5-(2)-11:
Reposting]32

Here, "peer" means "buddy, equal or compeer." Peer support is aimed at giving people in need a sense of
security and a sense of self-affirmation, which cannot be gained through support by professionals,
because they can share feelings coming from people who have experienced the same problems andenvironments.

40

(3) Enrichment of transition support to community life, home care services, etc.
○ To enable persons with disabilities to live day-to-day life and social life matching the
dignity of individuals enjoying fundamental human rights, in-home long-term care,home-visit care for persons with severe disabilities, accompanying support services,
activity support services, and other support services will be provided in accordance with
the needs of individual persons with disabilities to help in-home persons with disabilities
live day-to-day life and social life. Improvements will be made to the quantity andquality of in-home care by securing short-term stay services and places for daytime
activities, etc. [5-(3)-1]○ Daytime and nighttime medical care will be upgraded and the development of social
resources that can be temporarily used by persons with disabilities when necessary
because of changes in their physical conditions or their supporters’ circumstances will
be promoted so as to enable persons with disabilities in need of constant care to live inthe community of their choice. [5-(3)-2]○ Self-support, aimed at training to improve the physical functions and living capacity of
persons with disabilities (functional training and training for day-to-day living), will bechanged to a mechanism usable by anyone, and training programs by professional staff
members in accordance with the characteristics of users' disabilities will be promoted sousers can receive necessary training at nearby facilities. [5-(3)-3]○ Support for programs carried out by local governments, taking local characteristics andusers’ conditions into account, such as upgrading the functions of local activities support
centers, etc., which provide convenience in day-to-day life, will be promoted while
supporting movements for outings and offering opportunities for creative activities andmanufacturing activities [5-(3)-4]○ Local activities support bases will be established to promote support for persons withdisabilities living in the local community and reinforce functions to secure the system ofproviding in-home long-term care and services, and to support professional care in orderto make them cable of dealing with the worsening of disabilities and aging of persons
with disabilities. [5-(3)-5]○ Support facilities for persons with disabilities will support the relocation of residents tolife in the community and support persons with disabilities living in the community fromthe viewpoint of encouraging their relocation to life in the community. The establishmentof group homes in various forms as a place of residence for persons with disabilities in
the community will be promoted and systems will be upgraded to meet the needs of
persons with severe disabilities. [5-(3)-6]41

○ Persons with disabilities will be encouraged to relocate to life in the community byintroducing support for their independent life and new services to support life on theirown. [5-(3)-7]○ The development of local infrastructures, including councils of people involved in health,
medical and welfare services and support for securement of dwelling units, will bepromoted to create a comprehensive local care system applicable to mental disabilities
as well so that persons with mental disabilities and their families can live in their own
way as members of the local community and with a sense of security. [5-(3)-8](4) Enrichment of support for children with disabilities○ Benefits and other support will be provided as much as possible for all children andchild-rearing families, including children with disabilities and other families, in thefamiliar community under the Child and Child Care Support Act (Act No. 65 of 2012).
Necessary support will be also provided to enable children with disabilities to smoothly
use education, childcare, etc., based on that Act, such as publicity that they are entitledto priority use thereof. [5-(4)-1]○ The acceptance of children with disabilities at childcare centers will be facilitated bysuch measures as making childcare centers, which accept children with disabilities,
barrier-free, implementing training programs to secure staff members in charge ofchildren with disabilities and improve their expertise and projects to visit childcare
centers, etc. [5-(4)-2]○ Systems to supply effective support, consistent from the time of being a baby and toddler
through graduation from school, will be established in familiar places in the community
through such measures as entities concerned sharing information concerning growthrecords of babies and consideration given to them in guiding them, when necessary andwhile paying heed to the handling of information, from the viewpoint of supporting the
growth of children with disabilities. Support will be provided in such forms as providing
information on ways of treatment and education and counseling. [5-(4)-3]○ Doctors capable of examining developmental disabilities and providing support will befostered, and the allocation of supporters, such as travelling professional supports, will
be promoted in light of the importance of diagnosing developmental disabilities andproviding support at an early stage. [5-(4)-4]○ Systems will be upgraded to enable children with disabilities to receive necessary
support in their familiar community through such measures as providing development
42support for children with disabilities, etc., including giving guidance and training tochildren with disabilities under the Child Welfare Act (Act No. 164 of 1947) andproviding in-home long-term care, short-stay service, and day-time monitoring service
that temporarily accepts children with disabilities, etc. based on the Act onComprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities. Appropriate support matching thedevelopment stages of children with disabilities will be also offered, such as nursery
center visiting support and day services for after-school children, etc. In addition,
cooperation between health care, medical care, and welfare and other organs concerned
will be promoted to enable children in need of medical care to receive comprehensive
support in the community. [5-(4)-5]○ The homes and families of children with disabilities will be supported through theprovision of information as well as counseling and support services. For children withsevere mental and physical disabilities living with their families, support for in-homecare, such as short-term stays at facilities equipped with professional support systems,
in-home long-term care, development support for children with disabilities, etc. will be
upgraded. [5-(4)-6]○ Professional functions of development support centers for children with disabilities andfacilities housing children with disabilities will be reinforced in accordance with thedegree of aggravation, duplication and diversification of disabilities. In addition,necessary institutional improvements will made for such institutions, positioned as core
support bases in the community, so that they will tie up with business establishments,
etc. in the community, and play their roles as treatment and education organs capable ofmeeting a variety of needs, including medical care for children with disabilities. [5-(4)7](5) Improvement of quality of welfare services for persons with disabilities○ Providers of welfare services for persons with disabilities, and counseling and support
services, and providers of appropriate guidance for them to smoothly offer such services,
will be fostered and allocated. [5-(5)-1]○ Training and other programs will be implemented to enable staff members at businessestablishments providing welfare services for persons with disabilities to understand thephilosophy of a society of coexistence and provide necessary support for persons withdisabilities and their families while respecting their will. [5-(5)-2]○ Appropriate solutions to complaints filed against business establishments providing
welfare services for persons with disabilities, appropriate implementation of third-party
assessment of the business establishments and release of assessment results, etc. will be
43promoted. Persons with disabilities, etc., who use welfare services for persons withdisabilities, will be enabled to choose high-quality services matching their individual
needs and the establishments will be prompted to improve the quality of their services.
[5-(5)-3]○ To enable persons with disabilities, who find it difficult to make and declare their own
decisions, to appropriately use welfare services for persons with disabilities, theprovision of necessary support, etc. will be promoted, while paying heed to theirdecision-making, by dispersing the guidelines of support for decision-making, etc., fromthe viewpoint of respecting their own decisions. [5-(5)-4: Reposting]○ The state will prepare a basic policy, setting numerical targets concerning theestablishment of service infrastructure, etc. for supporting the lives of persons withdisabilities in the community to assist local governments’ preparation of Plan for Welfareof Persons with Disabilities and is making systematic efforts to ensure a system for theprovision of welfare services for persons with disabilities, and consultation support, as
well as the Community Life Support Project by prefectures and municipalities. [5-(5)-5]○ For persons with severe disabilities who require long-hour home-visit services,municipalities responsible for providing such services will be involved in publicity andreceive support provided in cooperation with prefectures. [5-(5)-6]○ Efforts will continue to be made to eliminate regional discrepancies in welfare services
for persons with disabilities through appropriate support, etc. for municipalities provided
by prefectures that have jurisdiction over them. [5-(5)-7]○ The coverage of diseases by the Act on Comprehensive Support for Persons with
Disabilities will be expanded to include the provision of welfare services, etc. for persons
with intractable/rare diseases, and understanding and cooperation will be promoted tofacilitate clerical procedures paying heed to the characteristics of disabilities (changes
and advances in disease conditions, needs for welfare, etc.) at local governments. [5-(5)8]○ Ongoing studies will be conducted on measures to further upgrade welfare services for
persons with disabilities, taking into account the Act on Comprehensive Support for
Persons with Disabilities, the enforcement of the Act on Comprehensive Support for
Persons with Disabilities following revision under the Act on Partial Revision of theChild Welfare Act (Act No. 65 of 2016), the implementation of Plan for Welfare of
Persons with Disabilities, and welfare plans for children with disabilities prepared by
prefectures and municipalities. Necessary measures, based on study results, will be taken
44when deemed necessary. [5-(5)-9](6) Promotion and research and development of assistive products contributing to
improvement of accessibility and fostering of assistance dogs for physicallydisabled people○ Research and development programs to improve the user-friendliness of assistive
products by supplying high-quality, inexpensive products, and the production of
products friendly to all users by encouraging the adoption of universal design, based on
research and development, people with disabilities’ needs, etc. will be advanced. Active
standardization of products will be conducted and, when necessary, international
standards will be proposed to achieve appropriate promotion and dissemination ofassistive products. [5-(6)-1]○ The widespread use of welfare equipment will be promoted in a manner matching thetimes by using public funds to partially cover the purchase, borrowing, and repairing ofassistive equipment, granting or lending equipment for use in day-to-day life, andproviding information on welfare equipment. [5-(6)-2]○ The provision of information on welfare equipment and the establishment of counsellingcounters will be facilitated by establishing a network of information providers andcounselling organs, and the quality of professional counsellors offering advice on
welfare equipment will be upgraded by upgrading training and other programs. [5-(6)3]○ The fostering of assistance dogs for physically disabled persons and the smooth use of
assistance doges for physically disabled persons at facilities, etc. for persons withdisabilities will be facilitated based on the Act on Assistance Dogs for Physically
Disabled Persons (Act No. 49 of 2002). [5-(6)-4]○ Research and development programs for robotics, etc. will be promoted to support thesafe and secure lives of persons with disabilities from the viewpoint of supporting their
independent activities. Furthermore, the research and development of care robots will bepromoted and necessary improvement of environments for their introduction in actual careservices will be implemented under the "New Robot Strategy" adopted by the
Headquarters of Japan’s Economic Revitalization on February 10, 2015. [5-(6)-5](7) Fostering and securement of human resources who support welfare for persons
with disabilities○ Welfare professionals, such as certified social workers, psychiatric social workers, andcare workers will be fostered and secured while making effective use of their expertise45

and knowledge. Efforts will also be made to secure human resources with professional
skills and knowledge, such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, orthoptists,
prosthetists, speech therapists, certified public psychologists, 33 and other people
engaged in rehabilitation and other services, 34 and improve the quality of their work.
For home help services, fostering and training programs will also be offered for homehelpers understanding the characteristics of disabilities. In addition, business operators
offering welfare services for persons with disabilities will be prompted to thoroughly
respect labor regulations and improve treatment and work environments for service
workers. [5-(7)-1]○ Professional studies on disabilities at the National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with
Disabilities and other professional national institutions will be conducted. While thecollection, provision, etc. of information will be carried out, the institutions will be
actively used for fostering and training staff members engaging in welfare services for
persons with disabilities. [5-(7)-2]○ Peer supporters will be fostered through the utilization of the Community Life Support
Project and promote peer support in order to reinforce support for children with
developmental disabilities and their families. [5-(7)-3: Reposting]

33
34

The national examination for psychologists was held for the first time in 2018.
A physical therapist is occasionally referred to as "PT," occupation therapist as "OT," and speechtherapist as "ST."46

6. Promotion of health and medical care
[Basic concept]
Medical care and support for persons with mental disabilities will be provided in thelocal community as much as possible to help each person with mental disabilities live atease as a member of the community in his or her own way. The early relocation of persons
with mental disabilities from hospitalization to the community will be facilitated to end
so-called social hospitalization. Post-discharge support will be provided for persons withmental disabilities to smooth their relocation to and settlement in the community.
Local medical care systems, etc. will be upgraded to enable persons with disabilities
to receive medical care and rehabilitation services in their familiar community.
The development of innovative drugs, etc., based on excellent basic studies, as well as
research and development programs concerning the discovery of causes and conditionsof diseases, etc., and the prevention, treatment, etc. of them, utilizing the latest knowledge
and technology will be promoted. To meet needs for high-quality medical services,innovative medical equipment will be developed through such means as the utilization ofAI, ICT, and robotics.
In addition, measures will be steadily implemented to foster and secure personnel for
health and medical care services along with measures for health and medical care
concerning intractable/rare diseases and the prevention and treatment of diseases, etc.
that cause disabilities.
(1) Appropriate provision of mental health and medical care
○ While medical care and support for persons with mental disabilities will be provided in
the community as much as possible, the early discharge of persons with disabilities from
hospital (shortening of hospitalization period) and relocation to the community will bepromoted to eliminate so-called social hospitalization by developing social resources
through the following measures to enable persons with mental disabilities to live in thecommunity. [6-(1)-1]
A. The establishment of appropriate mental care service systems and improvement ofcounselling functions in the community will be promoted by facilitating cooperation
between specialized hospitals and non-specialized hospitals, healthcare centers andother institutions conducting examinations, and by establishing mental emergency
systems capable of addressing urgent needs. [6-(1)-1-A]
B. The contents of psychiatric daycare services and outreach (home-visit support) will
be upgraded by a variety of job categories such as outpatient medical services andtreatment of mental disabilities such as social withdrawal. [6-(1)-1-B]

47

C. In-home long-term care and other home visit-oriented services will be upgraded anda local supply system of counselling and support services (Transition Support toCommunity Life and Community Life fixing support) will be established. [6-(1)-1C]
D. Human resources for psychiatrists, care workers, psychiatric social workers,
certified public psychologists, etc. who are involved in the relocation of persons withmental disabilities within the community will be fostered, and a tie-up system will beestablished among them. [6-(1)-1-D]○ Programs to raise citizens’ mental health through consulting, counselling and otheropportunities concerning mental health at schools and workplaces will be promoted.
Other measures to be promoted include programs to recognize changes in children’s
mental state at schools, appropriate measures by employers to address employees withmental health disorders at workplaces, and counselling on mental health at healthcare
centers and mental health and welfare centers in the community. Furthermore, ways of
preventing mental illness and diagnosing it at an early stage will be established, andopportunities to diagnose it will be ensured and upgraded in order to lead to appropriate
support. [6-(1)-2]○ A variety of counseling systems matching the needs of persons with mental disabilities
and their families will be created. Support will be provided for regional public bodies
engaging in counseling activities through families of persons with mental disabilities andother related parties. [6-(1)-3]○ Prefectures and ordinance-designated cities will be prompted to upgrade and improve
the functions of their psychiatric review boards by reviewing their operation manuals
and publicizing good cases at local governments in order to ensure the protection ofhuman rights in mental health treatment. [6-(1)-4]○ The functions of hospital beds for mental patients in accordance with their conditions
and characteristics will be differentiated, and the provision of information on mental
treatment and safety measures will be promoted to enable patients and their families tochoose medical institutions. [6-(1)-5]○ For the protection of decision-making and other rights by a patient hospitalized at a
psychiatric hospital, study the protection of decision-making and other rights by a third
party other than the hospital, based on the contents of a report compiled in February 2017by the "Commission to Study Ideal State of Future Mental Health, Medical Treatment,
and Welfare." [6-(1)-6]48

○ The development of a comprehensive local care system applicable to mental disabilities
as well will be promoted so that persons with mental disabilities and their families canlive in their own way as members of the local community and with a sense of security.
[6-(1)-7: Reposting]○ The establishment of bases for social activities will be promoted, home care will be
upgraded, and understanding among residents in the community will be facilitated forsmooth relocation of persons with mental disabilities to and settlement in the community.
Programs related to support for persons with mental disabilities after discharge from
hospital, including employment, will be carried out. [6-(1)-8]○ Mental health and medical care services will be provided, and support will be upgradedthrough cooperation of medical care and welfare, based on the Act on Medical Care andTreatment for Persons Who Have Caused Serious Cases Under the Condition of Insanity,
for persons subject to the law. [6-(1)-9](2) Enrichment of health and medical care
○ The local medical care system, etc. will be upgraded to enable persons with disabilities
to receive necessary medical care and rehabilitation services in their familiar community.
In such a case, particular attention will be paid to deal with the worsening and increasing
number of disabilities due to such causes as the aging of persons with disabilities. [6(2)-1]○ Based on the Act on Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities, expenses for
medical care for reducing mental or physical disabilities of persons with disabilities, etc.
and for enabling them to live an independent day-to-day life and social life (medical
expenses to support independence) will be subsidized. [6-(2)-2]○ At the National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, functional
rehabilitation training for each disability, along with medical counselling and mental
support, is exercised to pave the way for early discharge from hospital and social
rehabilitation. In addition, services and information are provided to promote the healthof persons with disabilities. [6-(2)-3]○ For disabilities involving bones, joints and other functions as well as sensory organs andhigher brain dysfunctions, whose functions or recovery can be expected throughrehabilitation drills, efforts will be made to secure appropriate assessment and integrated
rehabilitation from hospital to the community, etc. [6-(2)-4]49

○ The system of providing healthcare services in combination with welfare services for the
maintenance and promotion of the health of persons with disabilities will be upgraded.
Appropriate medical care will be secured to prevent diseases, external injuries, infectious
diseases, etc. that tend to be caused by disabilities, and to treat disabilities resulting fromthe simultaneous occurrence of them and concomitant diseases. [6-(2)-5]○ Programs to maintain and promote the oral health through the prevention of dental
problems for persons with disabilities who find it difficult to receive regular dental
checkups or dental treatment will be advanced. Programs will also be promoted to foster
dental experts with knowledge and skills matching the conditions of persons withdisabilities. [6-(2)-6](3) Promotion of research and development, etc. that contribute to improvement ofhealth and medical care
○ Research and clinical trials will be supported, clinical trial environments will be
improved, and the RS Strategy Consultation of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices
Agency, 35 an independent administrative body, etc. will be utilized to promote thedevelopment of innovative drugs and medical devices based on excellent basis studies.
[6-(3)-1]○ Research and development programs concerning causes of diseases and other matterswill be promoted, and clinical conditions, prevention, treatment, etc. will be clarified,utilizing the latest knowledge and skills while paying head to ethical factors. In addition,
research and development will be promoted in the field of regenerative medicine andapproaches to accelerating practical applications of regenerative medicine will be made,in order to offer solutions to many persons with disabilities and patients. [6-(3)-2]○ The development of new diagnostic measures related to higher brain dysfunction andsensory function and cognition disabilities, rationalization of rehabilitation drills, andimprovement of training programs will be advanced, taking advantage of advances instudies on brain function. [6-(3)-3]○ The development of rehabilitation skills for the maintenance and recovery of overall
functions for life of persons with disabilities will be promoted. [6-(3)-4]

35"RS Strategy Consultation" refers to Regulatory Science Strategy Consultation (Targeting universities,
research institutions and venture companies, consultation is offered from the final stage of selecting
candidates for drugs, medical devices, or regenerative medical products to planning of necessary
experiments, clinical tests, etc.)50

○ The development of innovative medical equipment, utilizing AI, ICT and robotics among
other measures will be promoted to meet the need for high-quality services and support
the development of equipment to support life and independence of persons withdisabilities. [6-(3)-5](4) Fostering and securement of human resources who support health and medical
care○ The quality of doctors and dentists in training courses and the lifelong learning process
will be improved by upgrading education concerning medical care for persons withdisabilities and comprehensive rehabilitation to deepen their understanding of
disabilities. Efforts will be made to nurture high-quality care workers capable ofaddressing various situations and persons in need of care. [6-(4)-1]○ People with professional skills and knowledge will be secured and the quality of theirwork will be improved among those engaged in rehabilitation work such as physicaltherapists, occupation therapists, and speech therapists. [6-(4)-2]○ The quality of staff members at healthcare centers, health centers, and other places
offering health counselling services in the local community will be improved, andcooperation between business establishments for healthcare, medical care, and welfare
services will be promoted to promptly offer information on welfare and other services
needed by persons with disabilities. [6-(4)-3]○ Doctors capable of examining developmental disabilities and providing support will befostered, and the allocation of supporters, such as travelling professional supports, will
be promoted in light of the importance of diagnosing developmental disabilities andproviding support at an early stage. [6-(4)-4: Reposting](5) Promotion of health and medical care programs for intractable/rare diseases○ The reality of persons with intractable/rare diseases will be ascertained, causes andclinical conditions will be clarified, and the development of breakthrough diagnostic andtreatment methods as well as studies on intractable/rare diseases will be promoted toraise the level of medical treatment patients receive for intractable/rare diseases throughthe establishment and spread of diagnostic standards and treatment guidelines. [6-(5)-1]○ A stable life of treatment for persons with intractable/rare diseases will be ensured andthe quality of life for them and their families will be improved by providing appropriate
support needed for home care while offering comprehensive counselling and support forthe patients and securing hospitals for them in the community. [6-(5)-2]51

○ Treatment for intractable/rare diseases will be established and spread, and medical
expenses will be subsidized to reduce the financial burden on person with intractable/rare
diseases. [6-(5)-3]○ For children suffering from diseases that require long-term treatment and areaccompanied by the risk of life, their families, who are required to pay huge expenses
for the treatment, will be eligible for subsidies to reduce the financial burden from theviewpoint of the healthy growth of children. [6-(5)-4]○ The formation of a network linking intractable/rare diseases medical cooperation
hospitals, local governments and various others concerned, led by intractable/rare
disease counseling and support centers, will be promoted, and counseling and support in
day-to-day life as well as exchange activities for intractable/rare disease patients livingin the community will be facilitated, in order to implement measures to support thepatients through detailed counselling and support matching their various needs whileeliminating their distresses and anxieties during their life of treatment. [6-(5)-5]○ Children, who have had a scarcity of opportunities to get in touch with society and so
failed to develop independence needed for social life as they were affected with chronic
diseases during early childhood and have since been subjected to long-term treatment,
will be encouraged to attain independence for social life through the provision of
upgraded counselling and support, etc. matching conditions of the local community. [6(5)-6]○ The coverage of diseases by the Act on Comprehensive Support for Persons with
Disabilities will be expanded to include the provision of welfare services, etc. for persons
with intractable/rare diseases, and understanding and cooperation will be promoted tofacilitate clerical procedures paying heed to the characteristics of disabilities (changes
and advances in disease conditions, needs for welfare, etc.) at local governments. [6-(5)7: Reposting](6) Prevention and treatment of diseases, etc. that cause disabilities○ Health checkups for pregnant women, parturient women, babies, toddlers and children,
healthcare guidance, and the perinatal medical care and pediatric care systems will be
upgraded to promptly discover diseases, etc. and launch treatment. Medical-care andwelfare professionals with knowledge and experience in treatment and education will be
secured to achieve the prompt diagnosis and treatment of diseases. [6-(6)-1]○ Programs to promote health, medical cooperation, health checkups, health guidance, etc.
will be promoted to improve lifestyle habits concerning nutrition, diet, physical activities
52

and exercise, rest, drinking, smoking, and dental and oral health, in order to prevent
lifestyle diseases as well as the occurrence of concomitant diseases and deterioration of
conditions. [6-(6)-2]○ Specialized medical institutions, medical institutions in the local community, home-careservices, and healthcare services provided by healthcare centers, mental healthcare andwelfare centers, child guidance centers, municipalities, etc. will be upgraded, and theircooperation will be promoted to offer appropriate treatment of diseases, injuries and soon. [6-(6)-3]○ The medical care service system will be upgraded and cooperation among institutions
concerned will be promoted for appropriate treatment of injuries and so on. [6-(6)-4]53

7. Enrichment of consideration at government, etc.
[Basic concept]
Necessary environmental improvements and reasonable accommodation matching thecharacteristics of disabilities in judicial proceedings, elections, etc. will be provided toenable persons with disabilities to smoothly exercise their rights. Consideration for
persons with disabilities at inquiry counters of administrative organs will be thoroughly
implemented, while the use of ICT, etc. in providing administrative information, etc.
will be studied as part of consideration for accessibility. Devices will be actively
introduced when possible. As for the so-called disqualification cause, reviews will be
constantly conducted, taking into account the intention of each system and needs
created by technological advances and changes in the social situation, etc.
(1) Consideration in judicial proceedings, etc.
○ Due consideration will be given in criminal case proceedings to enable persons withdisabilities to express their views smoothly when they become suspects or defendants
and victims or witnesses. For officials involved in the proceedings, furthermore,necessary training will be conducted to deepen their understanding of disabilities andpersons with disabilities. [7-(1)-1]○ Audio and visual recording of interrogation of suspects and others, who have difficulties
in communication because of mental disabilities and other reasons, will be maintained.
Advisory and other programs by mental and welfare experts will also be maintained.
More studies will be conducted. [7-(1)-2]○ The provision of programs to support social rehabilitation for persons with disabilities
who enter correctional institutions will be promoted, and necessary training for staff
members at the facilities will be conducted. [7-(1)-3]○ Community life settlement support centers will provide support to help repeat offenders,etc. among persons with disabilities receive necessary welfare services after release fromcorrectional institutions in cooperation with probation offices and other organs
concerned, in order to facilitate the social rehabilitation of repeat offenders withdisabilities, etc. in correctional institutions. [7-(1)-4]○ Supports for re-integration into society of persons with disabilities, etc. who havecommitted crimes will be enhanced, from the viewpoint of preventing repeat convictions,through necessary supports for resolving legal disputes, which can become barriers
against their re-integration into society, in cooperation among attorneys, local bar
associations, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and Houterasu, etc. [7-(1)-5]54

(2) Consideration in elections, etc.
○ Efforts will be made to upgrade the supply of information for elections, etc., in
accordance with the characteristics of disabilities, through such means as adoption ofsign-language interpreters and addition of captions in campaign broadcasting, use of
braille, sound, and enlarged text or the supply of information on candidates via theInternet, while taking advances in ICT, etc. into account. [7-(2)-1: Reposting]○ For persons with disabilities having difficulties in moving, voting stations will be madebarrier-free, voting equipment friendly to persons with disabilities will be installed, andthe voting environment will be improved at voting stations. Programs to enable persons
with disabilities to smoothly vote based on a will of their own, such as appropriate
implementation of proxy voting, will be promoted. [7-(2)-2]○ Voting opportunities for persons with disabilities having difficulties in voting at voting
stations will be secured by promoting absentee balloting at designated hospitals, etc. andby mail and other means, while maintaining the fairness of elections. [7-(2)-3](3) Promotion of consideration and understanding of persons with disabilities atgovernment and other organs○ In implementing clerical and operational work at administrative organs and other entities,
necessary and reasonable accommodation (reasonable accommodation) will be adopted
for elimination of social barriers, as needed by persons with disabilities under the
Discrimination Elimination Act, while environmental improvements needed forreasonable accommodation in both physical and non-physical aspects will be steadily
advanced. [7-(3)-1]○ In order to prompt officials at administrative organs to deepen their understanding of
persons with disabilities, training programs will be implemented on diseases that require
deeper understanding, the characteristics of diseases barely outwardly visible,
consideration required for persons with disabilities in multiple difficulties, etc. forthorough consideration for persons with disabilities at counters and other services. [7(3)-2]○ Government ministries and agencies will take various characteristics of disabilities into
consideration when providing information on measures and facilities for persons withdisabilities and during an emergency in a manner readily understandable to persons withdisabilities, including those with intellectual and mental disabilities, such as appropriate
use of captioned and oral information. [7-(3)-3: Reposting]55

○ Government ministries and agencies will strive to enrich and expand the electronic
supply of administrative information in a manner friendly to all users, including persons
with disabilities. In providing information via websites and other means, necessary
measures will be taken to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, suchas the adoption of specifications that make all functionality available from a keyboard
and addition of captions or phonetic explanations to videos. In addition, efforts will bemade to improve web accessibility at local governments and other public entities [7-(3)4: Reposting]○ For proving administrative information, government ministries and agencies will study
the use and utilization of ICT and other new technologies paying heed to accessibility
and will strive to provide information, taking accessibility into consideration, throughsuch means as active introduction of those available for use and utilization. [7-(3)-5:
Reposting](4) Consideration in connection with national certification○ To prevent persons with disabilities from suffering disadvantages in obtaining national
certifications, etc., reasonable accommodation in line with the characteristics ofdisabilities will be provided in conducting examinations, etc. As for the so-called
disqualification cause, reviews will be constantly conducted, taking into account theintention of each system and needs created by technological advances and changes in thesocial situation, etc. [7-(4)-1]

56

8. Support for employment, work, and economic independence[Basic concept]
Secure various job opportunities and nurture supporters for employment to enable
persons with disabilities who are willing to work to fully exercise their capacity inaccordance with their competency, based on the idea that employment is important for
persons with disabilities to live a high-quality and independent life in the local
community. For people who find it difficult to engage in ordinary work, comprehensive
support will be promoted, such as wage increases by raising the level of welfare-oriented
work.
In addition, support for the economic independence of persons with disabilities will be
provided through the supply of pension benefits and various allowances, cuts in economic
burdens, etc. under an appropriate combination of policy measures to promote
employment and work and welfare programs.
(1) Comprehensive support for work
○ To further promote employment from welfare, education, medical care and other sectors,
comprehensive support will be provided from the promotion of workplace training,support for acceptance before employment and support for retention after employment
through close cooperation between Hello Work Offices, Local Vocational Centers for
Persons with Disabilities, the Employment and Vocational Life Support Centers for
Persons with Disabilities and other related organs in the community. [8-(1)-1]○ Hello Work Offices will provide detailed employment counselling, introduction, andworkplace-adaptation guidance, etc. in accordance with the kinds and degrees of
disabilities. [8-(1)-2]○ Employers’ understanding of employment of persons with disabilities will be facilitatedthrough the promotion of trial employment, etc. to eliminate concern about having
employees with disabilities. 36 [8-(1)-3]○ Various subsidy programs for the establishment of an environment for employment of
persons with disabilities to hire workers with disabilities and offer know-how for
employment of workers with disabilities will be used. [8-(1)-4]○ The Local Vocational Center for Persons with Disabilities will conduct professional36

The trial employment program accepts persons with disabilities as employees on a short-term trial basis
to promote their transfer to full-time employment.

57

vocation rehabilitation programs and support employers in such forms as advice on
employment management. To help persons with disabilities adapt to workplaces, jobcoaches will offer direct and professional support and give local employment support
organs, etc. technical advice and support for vocational rehabilitation services, in orderto nurture professional supporters for the employment of persons with disabilities andenhance their expertise. [8-(1)-5]○ The establishment of an Employment and Vocational Life Support Center for Persons
with Disabilities will be promoted as a base of cooperation between employment,
healthcare and welfare, education and other related organs in the community familiar topersons with disabilities, and its functions will be enhanced to give persons withdisabilities integrated counselling and support services ranging from employment to life.
In cooperation with local employment support organs, support for retention at
workplaces will continue. [8-(1)-6]○ Classes at polytechnic schools for persons with disabilities will be designed to respect
students’ wishes as much as possible, and occupational training matching thecharacteristics of their disabilities as well as training responsive to technologicalinnovations and other advancements for people in employment will be conducted. In
addition, ordinary public polytechnic facilities will provide occupational training for
persons with disabilities while various commissioned training will be provided for
persons with disabilities in accordance with their conditions, using private educational
and training institutions, etc. in the community familiar to persons with disabilities.
Awareness-raising activities will be carried out to help business operators and citizens
deepen their understanding of the importance of developing and improving thevocational capacity persons with disabilities. [8-(1)-7]○ For workers with disabilities receiving jobs in general terms, using employmenttransition assistant offices and others, work retention support for coping with difficulties
in life resulting from employment will be provided to promote their retention at
workplaces. [8-(1)-8]○ To further advance employment in general terms at employment transition assistant
offices and other offices, on-the-job training at companies in favor of the program,support for job-hunting activities (support outside facilities), etc. will be promoted. Good
cases will be collected and publicized to share support know-how and improve thequality of employment. [8-(1)-9](2) Support for economic independence○ To enable persons with disabilities to live a high-quality, independent life in their58

community, pension benefits and various allowances will be paid to them under anappropriate combination of measures to promote employment and work (including selfemployment) and welfare programs. Support for economic independence will be also
provided, utilizing referential tax treatments and various support measures, such as freeuse of welfare services available to low-income persons with disabilities. The disability
pension system will be publicized to prevent persons with disabilities from failing toreceive benefits due to lack of knowledge of the system. Income security for persons
with disabilities will be upgraded and their income monitored on a regular basis throughthe steady implementation of the pensioner support benefit system. [8-(2)-1]○ Based on the Act on Provision of Special Disability Benefit to Specified Persons with
Disabilities (Act No. 166 of 2004), special disability benefits are paid to specified
persons with disabilities as set forth in that Act. [8-(2)-2]○ For use of facilities owned and management by the state and governmental corporations
by persons with disabilities, reduction, exemption, or other measures will be taken forfees for use after examining the necessity of such measures and taking the reality of use
into account. [8-(2)-3](3) Promotion of employment of persons with disabilities○ The employment of persons with disabilities will be facilitated through various programs
led by the employment rate of persons with disabilities under the Employment
Promotion Act. Programs to promote the employment of persons with mental disabilities
will be upgraded based on the 2013 revision of the Employment Promotion Act making
it mandatory to hire persons with mental disabilities. 37 [8-(3)-1]○ Companies will be prompted to hire persons with disabilities at a legally set rate of
employment, with Hello Work Offices and other institutions giving guidance tocompanies that have no employees with disabilities or do not meet the rate. Nationalorgans will actively hire persons with disabilities to fully clear the legally set rate,
recognizing their position to demonstrate the employment of persons with disabilities
for private companies. [8-(3)-2]○ The fact that local governments need to introduce necessary measures for local
government employees under the principle of equal treatment 38 and the guidelines on

37
38

Enforced in April 2018
The principle of equal treatment is based on Article 13 of the Local Public Service Act (Act No. 261 of
1950)

59

reasonable accommodation 39 at the recruitment, employment, and post-employment
stages will continue to be publicized, in order to further promote the employment of
persons with disabilities. [8-(3)-3]○ Job opportunities for persons with disabilities will continue to be increased andworkplace environments improved, utilizing the special subsidiary system, etc., and theemployment of persons with severe disabilities will be expanded, utilizing theemployment rate system for persons with disabilities, etc. 40 [8-(3)-4]○ Government ministries and agencies will exercise "challenge employment" to hire
persons with mental disabilities, etc. 41 and have them experience work for one to three
years with the aim of paving the way for their employment at general companies, etc.
[8-(3)-5]○ Prefectural Labor bureaus will provide careful responses to individual counselling, etc.
to appropriately protect the rights of persons with disabilities as workers, such as
preventing abuse by employers, and offer guidance, etc. for their compliance with related
laws and regulations. [8-(3)-6]○ Instructions, etc. will be issued, if necessary, when requests for consultation, reports, etc.
are made concerning a ban on discrimination against persons with disabilities andprovision of reasonable accommodation at prefectural labor bureaus and Hello Work
Offices. Support will be provided for settling trouble through third-party mediation whenrequired by a party or parties concerned. [8-(3)-7: Reposting](4) Support for work matching the characteristics of disabilities and securement ofvarious employment opportunities○ Support will be upgraded and strengthened in accordance with the various characteristics
of disabilities and measures will be introduced to enable people who have become
disabled after employment to smoothly return to their workplaces and stabilize theiremployment. [8-(4)-1]

39

Guidelines on measures that employers should take to ensure equal opportunities and treatment for
persons with and persons without disabilities and amend situations hampering the effective exercise ofabilities by employees with disabilities (Notice No. 117 of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in
2015)
40
The employment rate system for persons with disabilities calculates a pair of persons with severe
physical disabilities and severe mental disabilities (excluding short-time workers) as one person.
41
Government ministries and agencies and local governments hire persons with mental disabilities andhave them experience work for one to three years with the aim of realizing their employment at generalcompanies through Hollo Work Offices, etc.

60

○ Employers’ understanding of mental disabilities will be deepened through such measures
as holding seminars to nurture supporters who warmly watch over persons with mental
and developmental disabilities in the workplace, and expand the employment of persons
with mental and developmental disabilities and promote their retention by upgrading andstrengthening support matching the characteristics of their mental and developmental
disabilities. In support for work by persons with mental disabilities, a shift from "medicalcare" to "employment" will be accelerated while employment support organs work
together with medical institutions. In addition, Hello Work Offices and other organs willreinforce professional support for persons with developmental disabilities, persons withintractable/rare diseases, etc. [8-(4)-2]○ Environments that enable persons with disabilities to choose various ways of work, suchas short-time work, work at home, and self-employment, will be created, and telework
utilizing ICT will be further spread and expanded, 42 in order to promote flexible ways
of work making effective use of time and place. [8-(4)-3]○ The prior purchase (procurement) of goods and services from facilities employing
persons with disabilities, etc., will be promoted based on the Act for Promoting Priority
for Procurement of Goods, etc. from Facilities Employing Persons with Disabilities, etc.
by the State, etc. (hereinafter referred to the "Act for Priority Procurement") (Act No. 50
of 2012). [8-(4)-4]○ The establishment of welfare farms designed to offer job training and employ persons
with disabilities (joint project between agriculture and welfare) will be promoted. [8-(4)5]○ The employment of persons with disabilities in the field of agriculture will be promoted
by providing information to facilities and companies that employ persons withdisabilities and engage in agriculture, and by supporting the sixth industrialization. [8(4)-6](5) Upgrading of welfare-oriented work
○ Integrated public-private programs will be promoted to support the reinforcement ofmanagement by business establishments, joint reception of orders, etc. for raising wages
at employment support B-type business establishments. To raise the quality of work at
employment support A-type business establishments, thorough measures will be taken
to check easy entry into the business, such as setting the balance of earnings and expenses

42

ICT-based flexible ways of work making effective use of time and place.

61

at the establishments higher than the total of wages paid to users, based on the standards
for designated disability welfare services, etc. revised in April 2017. 43 Wages for
persons with disabilities will be raised through necessary support and guidance by local
governments after recognizing the management conditions of business establishmentsby requiring business establishments failing to meet the standards to submit management
improvement plans. [8-(5)-1]○ The prior purchase (procurement) of goods and services from facilities employing
persons with disabilities, etc., will be promoted based on the Act for Priority
Procurement. [8-(5)-2: Reposting]

43

Standards for Personnel, Equipment, and Management of Designed Welfare Service Businesses for
Persons with Disabilities based on the Act on Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities(Ordinance No. 171 of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in 2006)

62

9. Promotion of education[Basic concept]
Toward the realization of a society of coexistence in which no citizens are divided
according to whether or not they have a disability and all citizens mutually respect theirpersonalities and individuality, efforts will be advanced to create a mechanism enablingthem to receive education together to the best possible extent and promote programs todeepen understanding of disabilities based on what is called the "social model." To
promote support for students with disabilities in higher education, programs, such asproviding reasonable accommodation, will be further upgraded along with those todevelop environments to offer appropriate support for students with disabilities. In
addition, cross-sectional and comprehensive measures will be promoted to realize asociety of coexistence and create environments which enable students with disabilities
to pursue their own possibilities throughout their life, including the period of postgraduation from school, and to enjoy various opportunities for lifelong education,
sports, cultural, and other activities in order to live a fruitful life as members of thecommunity.
(1) Promotion of an inclusive education system 44○ Appropriate guidance and necessary support will be made available to children attending
kindergartens, elementary schools, lower and upper secondary schools, and schools for
special needs education (hereinafter referred to as "all schools"), while providing
reasonable accommodation to them, through individualized education support plans andindividualized teaching plans while developing fundamental environments, from theviewpoint of supporting subjective efforts for independence and social participation bychildren with disabilities. Options of offered consideration and learning opportunities
will be increased through such programs to improve conditions where children, whether
they have a disability or not, study together as much as possible and promote thedevelopment of an inclusive education system enabling individual children to receive
education best suited for their educational needs [9-(1)-1]○ Appropriate measures will be introduced to prevent or promptly detect bullying
involving children with disabilities, based on the "Basic Policies to Prevent Bullying"
Based on the "social model," furthermore, efforts throughout entire school education tofacilitate understanding of disabilities, exchanges, and joint learning will be promoted to44

Article 24 of the CRPD defines the inclusive education system as a mechanism in which persons withand persons without disabilities study together for the purpose of strengthening respect for humandiversity, etc. and enabling persons with disabilities to develop their potential to the greatest possible
extent and participate in a free society63create a society where people overcome prejudice and discrimination, and mutuallyrespect and work together whether they have a disability or not. [9-(1)-2]○ In deciding where children with disabilities should study, the children and their guardians,
municipal education boards, schools and others concerned need to agree on educational
needs and necessary support in principle while respecting the opinions of the children
and their guardians as much as possible under the provision of enough information tothem. Parties concerned will continue to be informed that the children can flexibly
change their places of learning in accordance with their development stages and adaption.
[9-(1)-3]○ Schools will be encouraged to create an in-school support system, led by an education
coordinator for special support, under the leadership of the principal and provide support
to meet the various needs of the child as an organization by making use of a school
counsellor, school social worker, nurse, speech therapist, occupational therapist, physicaltherapist, and other professionals as well as a special needs education assistants. [9-(1)4]○ In providing reasonable accommodation, schools will continue to be informed that it isdesirable for them to, while paying heed to information security and means ofcommunication, recognize the state of each child’s disabilities and educational needs,
and make a decision and offer it after forming an agreement between the founder andschool as well as the child and guardian as much as possible. [9-(1)-5]○ To secure opportunities for children in need of medical care or long-term hospitalization
to receive education or study together with other children, research and other measures
will be promoted to assign nurses for medical care and establish support systems for thechildren. [9-(1)-6]○ To promote the progression of children with disabilities to upper secondary education,
consideration for their individual needs, such as the use of ICT, will be upgraded in
implementing entrance examinations. [9-(1)-7]○ Efforts will be made to make special courses for children with disabilities more widelypracticed, as the number of teachers in charge of special courses for children withdisabilities at elementary and lower secondary schools was made into a fundamental
constant by the revision of the Act on Standards for Class Formation and Fixed Numberof School Personnel of Public Compulsory Education School (Act No. 116 of 1958) inMarch 2017, which has also made special courses for children with disabilities possible
at upper secondary schools. [9-(1)-8]64

○ Career education and employment support for children with disabilities will be upgradedunder cooperation between welfare, labor and other programs to encourage them tobecome independent and participate in society while utilizing various support. [9-(1)-9]○ To promptly recognize disabilities and lead to appropriate support, early educationalcounselling and support systems for children and their guardians will be upgraded undercooperation between medical care, health care, welfare, and other services, taking into
account the results of health checkups of pupils, toddlers and children at the time of entry
into school and the conditions of children after enrollment. [9-(1)-10]○ To enable children with disabilities to receive guidance and support continuously fromenrollment in school through education, the preparation and use of individualized
education support plans and individualized teaching plans will be promoted undercooperation between medical care, health care, welfare, labor and other services, andwith their guardians’ participation so that information concerning the records of their
growth and contents of guidance will be shared and utilized by organs concerned, while
paying heed to the handling of the information. [9-(1)-11](2) Development of educational environments○ All schools will be prompted to establish a special needs education system on theassumption that all schools and all classes have children in need of special support
because of disabilities, and programs that enable all teachers and staff members,
including holders of managerial positions, to deepen understanding and expertise
concerning special needs education will be promoted. [9-(2)-1]○ Schools for special needs education will be upgraded as the local center of special needs
education to reinforce the system of special needs education at kindergartens, elementary
schools, and lower and upper secondary schools, and to support for children withdisabilities in the community. [9-(2)-2]○ The assignment of special needs education assistants by local government will bepromoted due to the importance of special needs education assistants in support forchildren with disabilities at kindergartens, elementary schools, and lower and upper
secondary schools [9-(2)-3]○ The use of textbooks, educational materials, support equipment and so forth according
to the educational needs of each child with disabilities, including the smooth creationand supply of digital textbooks, etc. and the use of ICT for communication, will bepromoted due to the importance of communication for securing education opportunities
65

for children with disabilities and the promotion of their independence and social
participation. [9-(2)-4]○ Programs to make school facilities barrier-free and address the shortage of rooms for
special needs education will be promoted. In particular, necessary support will be
provided to make public elementary and lower secondary schools, which can be used as
shelters at the time of disaster, barrier-free and westernize toilets, while taking requests
by founders of schools into account. [9-(2)-5]○ Support related the transfer of children with disabilities for school education activities
will be upgraded, and cooperation between education and welfare bureaus in thecommunity will be upgraded. [9-(2)-6]○ As teachers in charge of school for special needs education, classes for special needs
education, special support service in resource rooms are required to have expertise on
special needs education, measures will be promoted to raise the rate of teachers withspecial needs education licenses, etc. and enhance their expertise. [9-(2)-7](3) Promotion of support for students with disabilities in higher education○ To enable students with disabilities to participate in various opportunities provided byuniversities, etc. on an equal footing with students without disabilities, consideration to
information security and communication in classes, etc., consideration concerning
textbooks, educational materials, etc. and efforts to make facilities barrier-free will bepromoted. [9-(3)-1]○ The establishment of support systems and of networks linking support personnel
between universities, etc. will be promoted through such measures as standardizing
counselling desks and creating support offices at universities, etc., and nurturing anddispatching support personnel in order to facilitate support based on constructive
dialogues paying heed to the individual needs of each student with disabilities. [9-(3)-2]○ Universities will be prompted to disclose, on their websites, in-house prescriptions forstance and policy, procedures, etc. concerning support for students with disabilities andcases of support, and notify students of the prescriptions and cases in guidance forstudents. [9-(3)-3]○ To help students with disabilities find employment, universities will be prompted toestablish cooperation between officials in charge of educational support, employment
support, and sections in charge of support for students with disabilities, and to promote
cooperation and the establishment of networks with labor and employment organs for66

employment and retention support in the community, employers and their organizations,etc. [9-(3)-4]○ The provision of information through surveys and studies, which are the basis forpromoting, expanding, and raising understanding of support for students with disabilities,
as well as various opportunities, will be upgraded along with trading, etc. for teachersand staff members. [9-(3)-5]○ Consideration given to students with disabilities at examinations held by the National
Center for University Entrance Examinations will be made more flexible to meet theneeds of each student with disabilities by the use of ICT, etc., and high school anduniversity officials concerned will be more informed of efforts for consideration. [9-(3)6]○ Due consideration will be offered in university and other entrance examinations, and in
credit recognition, to more accurately assess the ability, aptitude, and learning of students
with disabilities. [9-(3)-7]○ Universities. etc. will be prompted to disclose information on consideration in
examinations, barrier-free conditions of facilities, contents of support and support
systems for students, acceptance records of students with disabilities, etc. [9-(3)-8](4) Enrichment of various lifelong learning activities○ Studies will be conducted on effective ways to provide learning support, etc. to help
persons with disabilities maintain, develop, and expand the power needed to live
independently in society throughout their life after graduating from school and put theresults of such studies into extensive use in order to support learning by persons withdisabilities at each of their life stages. Participation by persons with disabilities in thecommunity and society will be promoted through such approaches to pave the way forrealizing a society of coexistence. [9-(4)-1]○ The "Community Cooperation Activities for Learning and Education," that aimed atproviding community-wide support for the growth of children under cooperation andcollaboration between the community and schools, will be promoted on a nationwide
basis, including schools for special needs education, These efforts upgrade learning andexperimental programs for children with disabilities after school, on Saturdays, etc. andpromote the utilization of human resources of companies and communities, etc. [9-(4)2]○ The Open University of Japan will upgrade learning support for students with disabilities
67

through such measures as addition of captions to video classes and preparation of
examinations in braille. [9-(4)-3]○ At public libraries and school libraries, efforts will be promoted to make the reading
environment friendly to persons with disabilities at public libraries and school libraries
will be promoted. [9-(4)-4]○ Various opportunities for learning activities will be provided and upgraded so that
persons with disabilities can enjoy education, sports, culture and various other subjects
throughout their life. [9-(4)-5]

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10. Promotion of cultural and art activities, sports, etc.
[Basic concept]
The lives of persons with disabilities will be enriched and citizens’ understanding
and recognition of disabilities will be deepened to contribute to the independence andsocial participation of persons with disabilities through the participation of all persons
with disabilities in art and cultural activities. The physical power of persons withdisabilities will be strengthened, and their exchanges and leisure will be promoted,
through recreational activities. Sports for persons with disabilities in the community
will be further popularized, and persons with disabilities will be fostered andstrengthened in highly competitive sports.
(1) Development of social environments for enrichment of cultural and art activities aswell as leisure and recreational activities○ Children at schools for special needs education will be provided with opportunities toappreciate and experience high-quality culture and art by dispatching first-rate culturaland artistic groups and artists for performance and demonstration. Opportunities for
cultural and artistic activities for children at elementary and lower secondary schools
will be upgraded by dispatching artists, etc. with disabilities. [10-(1)-1]○ Opportunities will be created for cultural and art activities by people, whether they havea disability or not, by building facilities and equipment, which enable persons withdisabilities to enjoy cultural and art activities, foster people involved in cultural and art
activities matching the needs of persons with disabilities, establishing a counsellingsystem and a network of people concerned, etc. In particular, support for cultural and art
activities by persons with disabilities and the exhibition, etc. of excellent artistic works
by persons with disabilities will be created. [10-(1)-2]○ Efforts will be made for the provision of devices and consideration, based on thephilosophy of universal design, such as the availability of captions, audio assist services,materials for touching, etc. during the performance, exhibition, etc. of cultural and art
activities at national museums, art museums, theaters, etc. [10-(1)-3]○ Art/Culture Festival for Persons with Disabilities will be held, and cultural and art
activities by persons with disabilities will be promoted to enrich the lives of persons withdisabilities, deepen citizens’ understanding and recognition of disabilities, and contributeto the independence and social participation of persons with disabilities through theparticipation of all persons with disabilities in art and cultural activities. Cultural and art
activities, etc. will be supported by private groups, etc. [10-(1)-4]

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○ Japan’s video art will be promoted by supporting the production of barrier-free captions
for persons with hearing disabilities and of audio assists for persons with visualdisabilities under the Subsidy for the Promotion of Culture and the Arts. [10-(1)-5]○ Various recreation classes and festivals, athletic meets, etc. will be held, andenvironments for participation in various activities by persons with disabilities in thecommunity will be created to strengthen the physical power of persons with disabilities
and promote their exchanges, leisure activities, etc. through participation in recreational
activities. [10-(1)-6](2) Development of environments for familiarization with sports and promotion ofprograms related to competitive athletic events, including Paralympics○ The establishment of facilities and equipment enabling persons with disabilities to enjoy
sports in the community will be promoted, and programs such as fostering and utilizing
human resources involved in sports matching the needs of persons with disabilities will
be pushed ahead in order to create environments where people play sports, whether they
have a disability or not. The number of persons with disabilities who serve as leaders inthis case will be increased and persons with disabilities will be encouraged to participate
as volunteers. Opportunities for all people, including those without disabilities, to enjoy
sports for persons with disabilities will be created, and national efforts to promote
Paralympics and other sports for persons with disabilities will be made. [10-(2)-1]○ Sports for persons with disabilities will be promoted by holding National Sports Festival
for Persons with Disabilities, and sports and other events held by private groups, etc. will
be supported. For sports for persons with mental disabilities, which have not beenpracticed as widely as sports for persons with physical disabilities and intellectual
disabilities, efforts will continue to be made to increase competitions open toparticipation by persons with mental disabilities. [10-(2)-2]○ The government will support persons with disabilities so that they can participate in the
Paralympics, Deaflympics, 45 Special Olympics World Games, 46 etc., and can interact
with each other at home and abroad. The government will also support high performancesports for persons with disabilities, such as the Paralympics, will be fostered andreinforced. [10-(2)-3]

45

An international sports event held every four years for persons with hearing disabilities. There are
Summer and Winter Games.
46
An international sports even held every four years for persons with intellectual disabilities. There are
Summer and Winter Games.

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○ A national festival for sports, culture, and education for schools for special needs
education across Japan will be held in 2020 to promote the creation of local societies ofcoexistence as a legacy of the 2020 Tokyo Games. [10-(2)-4]○ Information will be provided on standards and advanced cases related to barrier-free
universal designs of sports facilities to make them friendlier to spectators withdisabilities. [10-(2)-5]71

11. Promotion of cooperation and coordination in the international community[Basic concept]
As a State Party to the CRPD, Japan will appropriately deal with inquiries andexaminations by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and actively
participate in international programs in the field of persons with disabilities to promotemeasures for them in collaboration with the international community. To achieve SDGs
in implementing development cooperation, Japan will, as stipulated in the convention,
implement programs which ensure that the development of capacities is inclusive ofand accessible to persons with disabilities. 47 Japan will also promote measures such as
international exchanges of persons with disabilities in the fields of cultural and art
activities, sports, etc.
(1) Promotion of information transmission to the international community○ Japan will promote external transmission of information on its measures for persons withdisabilities, while paying heed to their features and progressiveness, including its active
participation in the programs for persons with disabilities implemented by international
non-governmental organizations such as the United Nations and other regionalorganizations, and its appropriate responses to inquiries and examinations by theCommittee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. [11-(1)-1]○ Information on measures for persons with disabilities taken by internationalorganizations such as the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, andforeign governments will be collected and provided. [11-(1)-2](2) Promotion of coordination with international frameworks○ As measures for persons with disabilities need to be implemented under international
cooperation, Japan will actively participate in the programs for persons with disabilities
taken by the international non-governmental organizations such as the United Nations,and other regional organizations. As a State Party to the CRPD, Japan will also
appropriately deal with inquiries and examinations by the Committee on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities. [11-(2)-1]○ “Leave no one behind” programs will be promoted to achieve the SDGs, based on the2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations in 2015. [11(2)-2]

47

These capacities including information, experiences, training programs, and best practices.

72

○ Actively promote cooperation in the field of disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region inclose cooperation with the secretariat of the Economic and Social Commission for Asiaand the Pacific and other member countries for the Asia and Pacific Decade of Persons
with Disabilities, 2013-2022. [11-(2)-3](3) Promotion of international cooperation via official development assistance○ Based on the Development Cooperation Charter (adopted by the Cabinet on February 10,2015), efforts will be made to realize the security of humans through protection andreinforcement of capacities, taking the needs of partner countries into account andfocusing on the socially vulnerable, including persons with disabilities. Japan will strive
to have its philosophy understood and accepted by partner countries and step up efforts
to make it mainstream in the international community. [11-(3)-1]○ Cooperation will be provided through the Japan International Cooperation Agency insuch forms as accepting trainees and sending experts to enhance the capacity oforganizations and human resources involved in activities in the field of disabilities indeveloping countries. Support will be provided to local nongovernmental organizations(hereinafter referred to as NGOs), etc. in each field of disabilities through the Grant
Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security. [11-(3)-2]○ Efforts will be made to gain greater participation by persons with disabilities in both theprovision and acceptance of assistance in implementing international cooperation in thefield of disabilities [11-(3)-3](4) Promotion of international exchanges among persons with disabilities○ The fostering of young leaders who will play central roles in international exchanges andsocial activities in the field of disabilities by organizations of persons with disabilities,
etc. will be supported. Cooperation with Japanese NGOs engaging in activities related
to persons with disabilities in developing countries will be promoted, and the projects bythese NGOs concerned will be supported. [11-(4)-1]○ International exchanges among persons with disabilities in the fields including culture
art, and sports will be supported. From the viewpoint of promoting sports diplomacy,
para-athletes and others engaged in para-sports will be invited through the Projects forSports Diplomacy Enhancement, under which the dispatching and inviting of athletes
and coaches, as well as support for transporting sports equipment are conducted. Efforts
will be made to convey Japan’s varied attractiveness, including art and cultural activities
by persons with disabilities, from the viewpoint of publicity and culture diplomacy. [11(4)-2]

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Closure: Long-term challenges for the realization of the society envisioned by the Basic
Act and CRPD
The basic program is expected to be a strong engine for the realization of a society
envisioned by the Basic Act and CRPD. To exercise the functions to the best possible extent,challenges to the comprehensive and effective implementation of measures for persons withdisabilities need to be addressed one by one.
The challenges include those that can be resolved by short-term measures and those that
require long-term approaches. In the case of the latter, approaches do not need to be boundby the period of the basic program but should be implemented on a long-term basis. Longterm challenges to address down the road include the following:- Specific indexes, based on changes in social environments and future predictions, need to
be set. In this case, consistency with indexes related to SDGs needs to be taken into
account.
- Efforts are required to gain cooperation from the legislative and judicial branches ofgovernment, including the provision of reasonable accommodations and environmental
improvements to enable such provision, while paying heed to the independence of thethree branches of government- Studies need to be made on the movement of persons with disabilities in day-to-day life,
including commuting accompanying employment and work
- Reviews of measures will be required, when necessary, based on knowledge gained
through international comparisons. In this case, it should be noted that the standardizationof translations will contribute to understandability and comparison.

74