Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC)

"Ad hoc Committee on Standardization for the Elderly and People with Disabilities"

Summary

June 16, 1998

Consumer Life Standards Division, Standards Department, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology

Tel:81-3-3501-5683 Fax:81-3-3580-8606

It is of utmost importance for Japan, and also for any other countries, to create a "barrier-free society" where the elderly and people with disabilities encounter no barriers in living independently and participating in social activities.

The Japanese Industrial Standard Committee (JISC), believing that standardization of products and environments adapted to the needs of the elderly and people with disabilities can contribute to the creation of a barrier-free society, set up an "Ad hoc Committee on Standardization for the Elderly and People with Disabilities" in January 1998. The Committee discussed what standardization policy is needed for this purpose and today adopted a report that will be submitted as policy recommendations on standardization to the Minister of International Trade and Industry. The report includes the recommendations discussed below.

The Committee strongly requests that the government, industries and private organizations follow these recommendations in conducting standardization work and take necessary actions promptly so that the standards adopted will be utilized in society as widely as possible. The Committee hopes that industries and private organizations will play a central role in implementing these recommendations in cooperation with groups of the elderly and people with disabilities. It believes that the relevant governmental bodies should coordinate with each other to help industries and private organizations attain their objectives in the most efficient manner and take all necessary actions to formulate a national consensus toward a barrier-free society.

Recommendations

1. Promotion of the basic principle of "universal design"

"Universal design" is the concept that products and environments should be designed so that all people including the elderly and people with disabilities can use them easily. The importance of "universal design" of products and environments needs to be accepted both domestically and internationally.

The Committee believes that the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) should produce a guide on basic principles and considerations on the needs of the elderly and people with disabilities in designing products and environments to be promoted as an international guide for designing all products and environments around the world.

To reach this end, JISC should participate actively in the Ad hoc Working Group of ISO Committee on Consumer Policy (COPOLCO) as conveyor in order to form an international consensus.

2. Standardization on technical aids

The development and use of technical aids enables the elderly and people with disabilities to live independently and participate in social activities. JISC should develop standards on basic technical aids (such as adjustable beds) in which careful considerations for safety are taken into account. Where it is necessary to help consumers choose technical aids easily, JISC should promote a proper products marking scheme, including the JIS mark which certificates conformity to relevant Japanese Industrial Standards.

JISC should promote standardization work based on the results of the governmental research and development programs on technical aids, adapted to the needs of the elderly and people with disabilities.

3. Standardization on universal design products

The development and marketing of universal design products that all people including the elderly and people with disabilities can use without difficulties basically depends on voluntary inventions and efforts by industries. However, confusion to consumers is likely, if for example, the ways to mark tactile small dots or small cuttings or the sound signaling of various operating stages of products are not unified. JISC should standardize communications methods such as the use of tactile small dots as quickly as possible.

Recently we have seen rapid progress in information technologies. In order that the elderly and people with disabilities can access and use information technologies, JISC should consider developing standards of information technologies including interface technologies adapted to the needs of these stakeholders.

4. Standardization on environments

JISC should consider the standardization of products and service that are needed to have environments accessible for the elderly and people with disabilities and, if appropriate, promote this standardization taking into account close coordination with relevant technical aids.

In addition to physical environments, JISC should examine the role of standards and, if necessary, promote the standardization methods to have social and private services accessible by the elderly and people with disabilities.

5. Promotion of the technical research program for standardization

In order to promote standardization based on the needs of the elderly and people with disabilities, it is extremely important to develop measuring methods of physical characteristics, such as visual, audio and tactile capabilities of the elderly and to collect data on these characteristics. Therefore, JISC should endeavor to upgrade the present technical research program on measurement of physical characteristics and technical aids.

6. Promotion of universal design

In order to promote products, services and environments accessible for the elderly and people with disabilities, efforts should be made to upgrade an information exchange scheme. A marking indicating that the product, service and environment are accessible for the elderly and people with disabilities should be considered and a commendation scheme for people who contribute to this promotion should be examined.