I suppose everybody here has been to an amusement park before.
Which attraction do you like best in the park?
Is it a merry-go-round or the Big Wheel or a haunted house?
I guess the most exciting and enjoyable one must be a roller-coaster ride. When a train on the track falls down from the top you can feel great fear and thrill.
That’s the reason why many people love this attraction.
It happened at an amusement park in Tokyo on the day of Christmas Eve last year when a group of the visually impaired Korean teachers visited there to enjoy a roller coaster ride.
They bought tickets and stood in a line. Holding white sticks they were easily noticed by an attraction staff.
"Excuse me but we are very sorry to say that the visually impaired person will not be admitted to this attractions (due to the safety reasons.) "
"Why can’t we ride it? (What do you mean by the safety reasons?)"
"Because it will be required for you in an emergency to walk down by yourself through a steep and narrow stairway, but I don’t think you could manage it. (In addition you may also have difficulty in getting off the train. )"
"Oh, it sounds not so difficult for us to do by ourselves. We have ever experienced the same kind in Korea."
"Ok, then show it to me. Would you walk down the stairs without a stick?"
"What? Are you trying to test us whether we can walk without a stick which substitutes for our eyes? Is it safe enough? We would strongly protest against any tests which violate human right."
"Sorry, that’s not my intention, but it is our policy according to our safety regulation. So we can't give you a ride before I confirm you can do it by yourself."
The Korean teachers never gave up. And a heated argument between 2 parties went on for nearly 3 hours under the wintry cold weather at night. But unfortunately Korean group couldn’t make it and had to go back their hotel with exhaustion and sorrow.
As this accident was reported to the Visually Impaired Teachers’ Association, it took a quick action for stopping discrimination and prejudice against the visually impaired people.
A representative of this Association, Mr. Masatoshi Shigeta who is now with us tonight, made a visit to the amusement park, and demonstrated not only getting on and off the train but also going up and down through the steep and narrow stairway helped by a guide person.
Finally the manager had learned that the visually impaired people would have no limitations to do if there are a stick and assistance of a guide person. Accordingly the attraction company apologized and promised to revise its policy for disabled customers.
I was so happy to have heard this story from Mr. Shigeta, and realized that discrimination can be easily canceled through a little deeper recognition by able-bodied people.
Towards cohesive society in Japan new legislation on Eliminating Discrimination against Disabilities has come into force since the first of this month.
Which attraction do you like best in the park?
Is it a merry-go-round or the Big Wheel or a haunted house?
I guess the most exciting and enjoyable one must be a roller-coaster ride. When a train on the track falls down from the top you can feel great fear and thrill.
That’s the reason why many people love this attraction.
It happened at an amusement park in Tokyo on the day of Christmas Eve last year when a group of the visually impaired Korean teachers visited there to enjoy a roller coaster ride.
They bought tickets and stood in a line. Holding white sticks they were easily noticed by an attraction staff.
"Excuse me but we are very sorry to say that the visually impaired person will not be admitted to this attractions (due to the safety reasons.) "
"Why can’t we ride it? (What do you mean by the safety reasons?)"
"Because it will be required for you in an emergency to walk down by yourself through a steep and narrow stairway, but I don’t think you could manage it. (In addition you may also have difficulty in getting off the train. )"
"Oh, it sounds not so difficult for us to do by ourselves. We have ever experienced the same kind in Korea."
"Ok, then show it to me. Would you walk down the stairs without a stick?"
"What? Are you trying to test us whether we can walk without a stick which substitutes for our eyes? Is it safe enough? We would strongly protest against any tests which violate human right."
"Sorry, that’s not my intention, but it is our policy according to our safety regulation. So we can't give you a ride before I confirm you can do it by yourself."
The Korean teachers never gave up. And a heated argument between 2 parties went on for nearly 3 hours under the wintry cold weather at night. But unfortunately Korean group couldn’t make it and had to go back their hotel with exhaustion and sorrow.
As this accident was reported to the Visually Impaired Teachers’ Association, it took a quick action for stopping discrimination and prejudice against the visually impaired people.
A representative of this Association, Mr. Masatoshi Shigeta who is now with us tonight, made a visit to the amusement park, and demonstrated not only getting on and off the train but also going up and down through the steep and narrow stairway helped by a guide person.
Finally the manager had learned that the visually impaired people would have no limitations to do if there are a stick and assistance of a guide person. Accordingly the attraction company apologized and promised to revise its policy for disabled customers.
I was so happy to have heard this story from Mr. Shigeta, and realized that discrimination can be easily canceled through a little deeper recognition by able-bodied people.
Towards cohesive society in Japan new legislation on Eliminating Discrimination against Disabilities has come into force since the first of this month.
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