Barrier-free methods considered from the perspective of the needs of visually impaired people - Based on the interview and example from Japan-

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Recently, as diversity has been emphasized throughout society, interest in and need for barrier-free spaces has also increased. In Japan, the HeartBuild Act (Act for Promoting Easily Accessible Public Transportation and Facilities for the Aged and the Disabled) has been implemented since 1994, and the revised Barrier-Free Act (Act on Promotion of Smooth Transportation, etc. of Elderly Persons, Disabled Persons, etc.) has been implemented since 2006. Although installation is not mandatory for all buildings, installation is recommended for many building uses. In particular, in buildings with much daily use, barrier-free measures such as eliminating steps or installing handrails are often introduced out of user consideration. Such barrier-free measures are often arbitrary barrier-free measures that do not follow guidelines. The general perception of barrier-free measures in society is centered on wheelchair users, and in such cases, people with visual impairments may have difficulty using them. This study organizes the characteristics of barrier-free use implemented in society from the perspective of the visually impaired. As a research method, interviews are conducted with various types of visually impaired people to investigate the contents of information collection necessary for finding directions or living in daily life and comparative analysis of cases of spaces used in daily life. The purpose is to derive the current status of barrier-free and necessary tasks from the perspective of the visually impaired.