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Funding and governance of library and information services for visually impaired people: international case studies

Part2:Country studies

Japan

Gaps between policy and practice

Politically, it is stated that full social participation by disabled people should be realised. However, there is no proper social system or services to realize these goals. The true voice of disabled people is not much reflected when making policies or planning services. In Japan there is no established system to reflect the voice of disabled people in politics. The general public lacks proper understanding of disabled people, while the disabled people themselves also still lack awareness or actions for independence. Although people do not often take discriminating actions against the disabled in general, they have not yet reached the level of understanding the people with disabilities in a true sense.