Direction of reform concerning fundamental issues
are set forth under the following eight headings:
- Full recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities to live in the community, and building an inclusive society: facilitating transition from living in residential institutions to living in the community, with the person’s choice, and with the provision of support services for community life
- Recognition of the social model-based concept of disability: raising awareness among the public, emphasizing the “social model” vis-à-vis “medical model”
- Definition of (persons with) disability: setting definitions in respective program areas to embrace all people with disabilities who need services
- Definition of discrimination on the basis of disabilities setting a legal definition of discrimination to include denial of reasonable accommodations
- Respect for appropriate communication means and modes: ensuring freedom of expression and access to information through various forms of communication and language of choice, including sign language
- Freedom from abuse: prevention, early detection, monitoring and support
- Issue of how to express “disabilities” (“Shougai”) in Japan’s legislation: an issue peculiar to the context of Japanese language
- Survey and information basis: need to reflect the reality of persons with disabilities in policy formulation