Supports for students with disability through technology-challenge at California State University, Northridge

Abstract

I have briefly reviewed my experiences at the Computer Access Laboratory (CAL) of California State University, Northridge (CSUN). They support students with disabilities, and reduce the handicap coming from their physical disabilities by using assistive technology. This may tell us the relevance of such technology. After returning to Japan, I got my PhD in nuclear physics from the University of Tokyo in 1993. Now I am working on theoretical nuclear physics, but am also engaged in the TRON project. I belong to a working group, the Enableware Research Group. This group works on HMI (the human-machine interface), which enables anyone, including persons with disabilities to use computers. Through this activity, I have confirmed that facilities like CAL are really needed in Japan. Unfortunately, in Japanese universities we have no such facilities as CAL at the moment. We indeed need such facilities in Japan at any school, especially at universities, because they should provide equal opportunities to every student, even if they have physical disabilities. I hope that those associated with education or research actively struggle with the problems, including the acceptance of students with disabilities.