Traveling to another country has always intrigued me, but the barriers I feared I would face as a wheelchair user always outweighed the intrigue. In November 1999, I put the fears aside and ventured to Japan to represent Mobility International USA (MIUSA) at a conference.

While in Japan, I also had the opportunity to meet with Japanese and foreign students who were attending universities in the city of Fukuoka, in the Kyushu region of Japan. Chieko Hattori of ABC Study Abroad Center accompanied me as my indispensable guide and interpreter, as I visited Seinan Gakuin University and Kyushu University. She provided a bridge between languages and cultures as I learned more about living and studying in Japan.

We traveled by shinkansen (bullet train), subway and taxi and found that wheelchair access was good throughout the city. However, elevators to access the trains are often inside stores and could not be accessed outside business hours. The sidewalks and crossings are very accessible with raised aggregate to provide better tactile guides for visually impaired people and auditory signals for crosswalks. Curb cuts could be found at almost all crosswalks and public restrooms usually had accessible unisex toilets.

Seinan Gakuin University

Our first stop was Seinan Gakuin University located in Fukuoka, the largest city in southwestern Japan. Originally a boys’ academy, Seinan Gakuin University was established in April 1949 as a Christian university. It also includes a high school, junior high school, Maizuru Kindergarten and Samidori Day Nursery.

Many employees have traveled abroad and have insights and information about other countries and cultures. The university has been participating in international student exchanges for 25 years and is very interested in reaching out to international students with disabilities. Students interested in international opportunities at Seinan Gakuin University may contact the Department of Student Affairs, which handles exchange programs and disability-related accommodations requests. The university advised that it is important for students with disabilities to inform staff early of their needs and any accommodations that are required. Students may also inquire about the two scholarships available for students with disabilities; both are given on the basis of academic strength and financial need.

The university has worked to ensure that students with disabilities can access classes and learning. Seinan Gakuin University is very accessible with ramps and elevators in four of the six buildings. Classrooms and the cafeteria have been designed with seating areas for people who use wheelchairs. The library has private study rooms reserved for people with disabilities and a number of restrooms on campus have been remodeled to make them accessible. Other accommodations available include a Braille system for note taking and for teachers to convert tests into Braille. Extended time for tests is also available, if needed, for students with disabilities.

The administration also recognizes the importance of inclusion in the social aspects of university life. The staff has set up support systems for students with disabilities, which has included matching students with disabilities with nondisabled students to ensure that students with disabilities have an easier time getting to classes and have an opportunity to meet other students.

I had the opportunity to meet Masahiro Nishi, a young man who is blind and uses a guide dog. He has attended the Seinan Gakuin University for more than three years and plans to be an English teacher. Nishi explained that when he was thirteen, he had an English teacher who was blind who had impressed him very much, and from that time forward he has been motivated to teach others. Nishi chose Seinan Gakuin University because of the high standard and prestige of the school. He advises other students with disabilities to not be afraid to ask for what they need and encourages them to establish a support network for themselves at the university.

Kyushu University

I also visited Kyushu University, which had just celebrated its 88th anniversary. The university has four main campuses and a number of other facilities. Participation in international exchange programs is strongly encouraged at Kyushu University. At the time of my visit, about 750 international students from more than 50 countries were studying at the university.

While visiting Kyushu University, I toured the Center for Clinical Psychology and Human Development, which was established in 1986. The purpose of the center is to provide psychological diagnosis and treatment to disabled adults and children, carry out research on human development, and offer education and training for graduate students to become clinical psychologists.

At Kyushu University, I also met with Lo Shih-Lin, who is an exchange student from Taiwan. She is studying chemistry and will be receiving her Doctorate in the next year; a scholarship from Japan has given her the opportunity to study at Kyushu University. She uses a power chair for mobility and lives close to the university in an accessible student-housing apartment. Much of the housing is three- or four-story housing units, so it is hard to say how accessible other units might be.

Shih-Lin has attended the university since she was an undergraduate and has been very happy during her time at Kyushu University. Her experience at the university has been full of wonderful opportunities and a number of challenges. Before attending Kyushu University, Shih-Lin had never lived alone or with as much independence as she was able to experience in Kyushu. She feels that people on the campus and in the community are friendly and helpful, including employees at the train stations and subway stations. Some of the problems Shih-Lin has faced involve accessibility of programs and buildings. She has encountered dark ramps, backdoor entrances, accessible doors that are locked and pavement that is difficult to travel on in a wheelchair. She believes many of the problems can be addressed by not letting the administration forget that students with disabilities are there and by reminding them of accessibility issues. Kyushu University is building new campuses and accessibility is a priority for them.

Shih-Lin’s recommendation to any exchange students thinking of coming to Kyushu University is to expect no special treatment as students with disabilities are treated like all other students. She feels the experience of going to school in a country other than her own has been rewarding and life changing, and she recommends it to everyone who has the opportunity.

Impressions

In my conversations with students at these universities, I had the opportunity to learn more about their experiences as students with disabilities – what worked at the school and what did not. While I’ve had similar conversations with students in the United States, my interpreter explained that it was uncommon for students and administrators to speak about these issues with such frankness. She helped me to realize the strength and leadership of the students we met and the willingness of the administration to continue to work on inclusion and access for students with disabilities.

In my role as a homestay host for MIUSA’s programs, I have had many opportunities to spend time with people with disabilities from all over the world and hear about their countries and cultures. However, nothing compares to visiting the country and having the experience first hand.

Alicia Hays has opened her home to host numerous participants in MIUSA’s exchange programs in Eugene, Oregon. Currently the president of MIUSA’s Board of Directors, she is also active in the local disability community. Hays works as the Lane County Training and Development Coordinator and the ADA Coordinator for Lane County, Oregon. She hopes that her trip to Japan is the first of many international experiences.

Contacts

Seinan Gakuin has exchange agreements with several universities in the United States (contact your study abroad office) and in other countries, and also accepts independent student enrollment.

Center for International Education
Seinan Gakuin University
6-2-92 Nishijin, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka
814-8511 JAPAN
Tel: (81-92) 823-3334
Fax: (81-92) 823-3346
Email: intleduc@seinan-gu.ac.jp
Web: www.seinan-gu.ac.jp

Kyushu University has a few exchange agreements with other universities, but individual students may also directly enroll by contacting Kyushu University.

International Student Exchange Division
Kyushu University
6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka
812-8581 JAPAN
Tel: (81-92) 642-2140
Fax: (81-92) 642-2144
Email: garkikak@jimu.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Web: www.kyushu-u.ac.jp