Tokyo Institute of Technology: 12 Additional Members Step Up as Accessibility Leaders

Five more students and seven faculty and staff members are now certified accessibility leaders after passing the Level 2 Accessibility Leader exam organized by the Accessibility Leader Promotion Consortium, an association consisting of 27 universities and the Japan Student Services Organization. Several of the new accessibility leaders attended a ceremony at Hisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza (Taki Plaza) on March 11 to receive their certifications from Vice President for Student Affairs and Student Support Center Head Tetsuji Okamura.

The certification ceremony also included a session during which student accessibility leaders for academic year 2023 conducted the Tokyo Tech Accessibility Survey. Many participants shared their opinions about accessibility at the Institute openly, and these suggestions will be put to use when updating Tokyo Tech’s Accessibility Map.

One definition of accessibility is the ability for everyone, regardless of disabilities, physical characteristics, age, language, culture, or other factors, to use facilities and participate in activities. It refers to the ease of use of information, services, products, environments, and the like for as many people as possible.

At Tokyo Tech, Student Accessibility Services at Tokyo Tech’s Student Guidance and Accessibility Section organizes the Accessibility Leadership Program (ALP) on an on-demand basis to develop professionals capable of promoting accessibility in a diverse society. Upon completion of the program, participants can, if they wish, take the Accessibility Leader Promotion Consortium Level 2 Accessibility Leader exam.

Academic year 2023 marks the fourth year of ALP at Tokyo Tech. To date, over 150 of the Institute’s members have joined the program with the goal of contributing to campuses that are accessible to all.