## Summary of revisions to the “Guidelines for Designing Educational Facilities”

## Background

## Measures concerning the “Schools for Special Needs Education” system (Starting in April 2007)

• Measures concerning students with severe/multiple disabilities

• Measures concerning the function of Schools for Special Needs Education as the local center of Special Needs Education

• Ensure appropriate teaching and supports in all regular schools in consideration of the individual needs of children with disabilities

## Measures concerning the course of study

• Further promotion of self-motivated activities aimed to establish independence

• Promotion of vocational independence based on social changes and development

• Measures concerning suitable educational consultation from an early stage (including infancy)

## Measures addressing current issues surrounding school facilities

• Measures addressing current issues such as barrier-free renovation, earthquake resistance, crime prevention, collaboration with local governments, etc.

## Proposal of review of “Guidelines for Designing Educational Facilities”

## ◆ Guidelines for Designing Facilities of Schools for the Blind, Schools for the Deaf, and Schools for the Otherwise Disabled

☑ Comprehensive revision; creation of “Guidelines for Designing Facilities of Schools for Special Needs Education”

• Facility plan that accommodates severe/multiple disabilities (taking into consideration multiple disabilities, etc.)

• Facility plan that accommodates the function of Schools for Special Needs Education as the local center of Special Needs Education

• Facility plan that accommodates the courses of study that offer more Activities to Promote Independence and vocational training

• Facility plan that addresses current issues such as barrier-free renovation, earthquake resistance, crime prevention, collaboration with local governments, etc.

## Guidelines for Designing Elementary and Lower Secondary School Facilities

## ☑ Partial revision of regulations concerning Special Needs Education

• Facility plan that accommodates students in need of special support (including those with developmental disabilities)

• Special classes: facility plan that accommodates stepped-up exchanges and joint learning

• Resource rooms: facility plan that accommodates students and parents who come to the school

• Regular classrooms: Plan to include a small space for students with developmental disabilities to regain composure in close proximity to regular classrooms

## Guidelines for Designing Kindergartens and Upper Secondary School Facilities

☑ Partial revision of general rules

• Facility plan that accommodates children (or students) in need of special support (including those with developmental disabilities)

## Proposal of measures concerning improvement of facilities to promote Special Needs Education in the future

## (Background) : increase in number of students with disabilities, increase in number of severe/multiple disability cases

(Issues concerning Special Needs Education facilities)

• Expansion of Schools for Special Needs Education and a lack of classrooms

• Necessity to accommodate the function of Schools for Special Needs Education as the local center of Special Needs Education

• Upgrading of resource rooms in regular elementary and lower secondary schools is lagging behind

## Measures to advance the upgrading of Special Needs Education facilities in the future

Promotion policies for school founders

① Systematic upgrade based on future trends in student enrollment

② Obtaining space required for adding function of Schools for Special Needs Education as the local center of Special Needs Education

③ Obtaining space required for resource rooms in regular elementary and lower secondary schools

National promotion policies

① Necessary review of standard area of national subsidies (the function of Schools of Special Needs Education as the local center of Special Needs Education, resource rooms in regular elementary and lower secondary schools)

② Financial support for school founders (obtaining necessary estimates for designing facilities of Schools for Special Needs Education)

③ Actively offer information such as concrete plans or collection of excellent case studies concerning improvement of facilities

④ "Soft" measures concerning operating systems etc. and corresponding overall promotion of Special Needs Education

### 3. Measures concerning improvement of facilities to promote Special Needs Education in the future

The report by the Consultative Committee for Research and Surveys Relating to the Formation of Guidelines for Designing Educational proposes not only revisions to the “Guidelines for Designing Educational Facilities” but also measures concerning improvement of facilities to promote Special Needs Education in the future.

The proposal provides measures that should be implemented by both the central government and school founders. It calls for overall promotion of Special Needs Education that corresponds to “soft measures” such as upgrading operating systems on the government’s side.

Based on the revisions to the “Guidelines for Designing Educational Facilities” and the proposal by the Consultative Committee for Research and Surveys Relating to the Formation of Guidelines for Designing Educational, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology will strive to further promote Special Needs Education.