by Persons with Disabilities and the Improvement of Their Quality"

On 21 December 2022, the Cabinet Office held the first "consultative meeting on the promotion of the development and distribution of equipment that contributes to the acquisition of information by persons with disabilities and the improvement of their quality."

The meeting was held in accordance with the Act for the Promotion of Measures Concerning the Acquisition and Use of Information Communication by Persons with Disabilities (Act No. 50 of 2022). The purpose of the meeting was to share information and exchange opinions to promote the development and distribution of equipment that contributes to the acquisition of information by persons with disabilities and to improve the quality of such equipment.

The meeting started with the Cabinet Office Secretariat explaining the purpose of the discussion, followed by self-introductions by members and participants from relevant ministries and agencies, the selection of a chairperson, and an overview of measures from relevant ministries and agencies, followed further by an exchange of views.

The points of discussion during the exchange of views were as follows:

• Promotion of commercials for programs with subtitles
• The use of the meeting as a platform to ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind at the digital divide stage
• Development of an accessible environment for a wide range of information devices
• Support for the development of companies in general
• Support in the distribution of equipment, e.g., by cooperating with organizations of people with disabilities.
• Promotion of the development of general-purpose/popular products that are easy for people with disabilities to use.
• Use of foreign e-bookstores

As a rule, the meeting is closed to the public because it deals with individual cases, such as product information and information on the development of devices in individual companies and specific industries. Disclosure of such information may give undue advantages or disadvantages to specific persons or organizations.

For more information, please visit the website below:
https://www8.cao.go.jp/shougai/suishin/jouhousyutoku.html