Atsushi Mori
General Affairs Division, Public Relations・Information Technology Promotion Section
University of Tsukuba

I am a deafblind person who has had both visual and hearing impairments since birth. In FY2017(2018), I graduated from the Department of Social Welfare, Faculty of Integrated Human Studies, Lutheran Gakuin University. My studies in Information Accessibility Course, Graduate School of Technology and Science, Tsukuba University of Technology was completed in FY2020(2021). Currently, I work as an administrative assistant in the Public Relations and Information Promotion Section of the University's General Affairs Division and as a technical assistant in the Center for Higher Education and Research for Persons with Disabilities.

I am unable to see and hear and have difficulty communicating, obtaining information, and moving around, so I mainly use tactile sign language (a method of reading signs by lightly touching the other person’s sign language) as a method of communication. In addition, it is possible to use finger Braille and chat using a computer. I also use Braille characters.

At the university, there are few precedents for supporting students with deaf-blindness, and I received various support through repeated discussions with university faculty and staff.

During lectures, I received tactile sign language interpretation as information security The university paid for all costs of the interpretation, and two interpreters who could interpret tactile sign language took turns. I also asked students and outsiders to record the lectures on a computer because it was difficult to take notes of the lecture content while receiving tactile sign language interpretation. The recorded data was read in Braille by connecting a Braille Sense (*1) or Braille display to a computer.

Besides, using this method to receive computer interpretation via BN chat (*2) for English classes, after entering graduate school, I was exploring new methods, such as using a remote information security system.

In addition, for handouts, textbooks, reference materials, etc., I requested the university faculty in charge and the library to provide the data converted to text data and read it using the above method. Lecture reports were also created as text data and submitted to the faculty in charge as an email attachment.

Since it was difficult for me to commute alone in my life outside of lectures, I launched the Akkun Club as a volunteer organization and called for cooperation from on-campus, neighboring universities, local sign language circles, etc. As a result, about 5 to 10 members gathered, and they took turns accompanying me from home to the university when I went to the university. Looking back now, I have good memories of not only being late for class because the members had overslept, but also being embarrassed when the university staff came to pick me up. Plus, I was able to deepen my friendship with the people who cooperated not only by helping me commute but also by having lunch together and holding exchange meetings.

In addition, to support commuting to the university, the Akkun Club also requested assistance in converting materials into text data and in participating in events for the deaf and deaf-blind groups, etc. Some people also provided remote assistance.

The university also had a sign language circle, so when I participated in worship services and events on campus, I asked not only the members of the Akkun Club, but also the members of the sign language circle, etc., to provide sign language interpreters and computer interpreting.

Thanks to this support and my network of friends, I was able to lead a fulfilling university life not only through lectures, but also in charge of food stalls at school festivals, participating in circle discussions, and participating in drinking parties outside of school.

*1 Braille voice information terminal made in Korea. It can be used as a Braille display for PCs and smartphones and can also be used by itself to read and write text data and use e-mail and the Internet. Many products have been released as the Braille Sense series.
URL: http://www.extra.co.jp

*2 A chat system developed for deaf-blind people. It can be used by connecting Brail Memo to a computer.
URL: https://www.kgs-jpn.co.jp/