#Japan #Tokyo #youth education #Tokyo Deafblind #Awareness Program

Enhancing Understanding of Deafblindness Among Youth

In a remarkable initiative aimed at raising awareness of deafblindness, the Tokyo Association of Deafblind Persons, a certified NPO led by Chairman Kazuyuki Fujitaka, successfully organized an understanding and awareness program in collaboration with five universities: Waseda University, Toyo University, Japan Social Work University, Teikyo Heisei University, and Seishin Women's University. This initiative attracted over 100 participants, including students, faculty, and general public members, highlighting a significant increase in understanding and support for deafblind individuals.

Background and Objectives

With an estimated 10,000 deafblind individuals residing in Japan, understanding their needs and struggles is essential. People with dual sensory impairments face numerous challenges in accessing information, moving around, and communicating, necessitating appropriate human support. Despite the establishment of a system for dispatching interpreters and assistants for deafblind persons, the number of registered assistants under 30 years old in Tokyo has dramatically decreased from 11% to just 3% over the past decade. This decline presents a significant concern, necessitating future-oriented recruitment of young supporters.

The Tokyo Association of Deafblind Persons is the only organization offering training courses for interpreters and assistants for deafblind individuals in the metropolitan area. Despite its long-standing commitment to recruiting and training support personnel, the participation rate of younger individuals has waned. This, coupled with limited opportunities to learn about deafblindness, has contributed to the current situation.

In light of this, the “Understanding and Awareness Program for Deafblind Persons” was structured to include lectures, communication experiences, and film screenings led by those directly touched by these challenges. It aims to enlighten students, who are pivotal to the future of education, welfare, and healthcare, about deafblindness and the necessity for support. This program serves as a springboard for fostering interest and engagement, encouraging attendees to encounter the realities of a society where all coexist.

Program Implementation and Reactions at Five Universities

Waseda University

• - Date: May 9, 2025
• - Participants: 9 students
• - Content: In a course titled 'Social Welfare Seminar III/IV,' a lecture by the association's chairman, Kazuyuki Fujitaka, was held, along with a practical exercise in finger Braille communication. Students engaged with understanding Braille, supportive technologies, and the daily challenges that deafblind individuals face.
• - Feedback: All students expressed they were “very satisfied,” with many noting, “the practical exercise with finger Braille was invaluable” and “interacting real-time illuminated the reality of support.”

Toyo University

• - Date: June 21, 2025
• - Participants: 21 students
• - Content: A workshop focusing on understanding deafblindness was conducted for students on the Diversity Team. The session included a lecture by Chairman Fujitaka, an introduction to the living realities of deafblind people, communication methods, and simulated experiences.
• - Feedback: Many students reported, “I feel more confident interacting with deafblind individuals” and “I was captivated by the personal stories shared,” confirming an increase in their interest and commitment to support.

Japan Social Work University

• - Date: June 22, 2025
• - Participants: 18 (students and faculty)
• - Content: A symposium as part of the 'Social Work Forum 2025' included speaker Tomo Fukushima, a deafblind individual and advisor to the association, and Akihide Maeda, director of the Tokyo Deafblind Support Center. They discussed the future outlook of deafblind support from both institutional and personal perspectives.
• - Feedback: Participants shared, “Hearing directly from those affected made my understanding of ‘support’ more concrete” and “it prompted me to consider the future of support systems.”

Teikyo Heisei University

• - Date: July 1, 2025
• - Participants: 36 students
• - Content: During an educational course, the session included a lecture by Atsushi Mori, a congenital deafblind member of the association, who shared his educational journey, current role, and insights about support systems.
• - Feedback: Participants reported, “I could envision support within a real-world context” and “this is crucial knowledge for future educators,” indicating high value attached to the insights gained.

Seishin Women's University

• - Date: July 4, 2025
• - Participants: 19 (students, faculty, general public)
• - Content: A public lecture followed the screening of the film “Living in Darkness,” with a talk by Miwa Muraoka, a deafblind member of the association, who talked about her experiences, daily adaptations, and philosophy of life.
• - Feedback: Comments included, “The perception of deafblind individuals has completely changed,” “I was deeply moved by her life story,” and “I want to continue learning about this topic.”

Future Plans

This initiative aligns with the WAM-funded project aiming at the