August 20, 2021 Organizing Study Meeting on Promoting Disability-friendly ICT Devices

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) will hold a study meeting on promoting disability-friendly ICT devices. This study meeting aims to obtain advice from experts to further promote the use of disability-friendly ICT devices amidst the ongoing digitization of society as a whole.

1. Purpose

As the digitalization of society as a whole makes progress, there is a need to realize an inclusive society (a society that coexists with the use of digital technology) where everyone, regardless of disabilities, can enjoy the convenience of digital technology and lead a rich life with diverse values and lifestyles.
Both ministries consider the importance of the purpose of the people-friendly digitization that leaves no one behind, as indicated in the Basic Policy for Reforms toward the Realization of a Digital Society (a Cabinet decision of December 25, 2020). Accordingly, this meeting will be held to obtain advice from experts to effectively implement measures and promote the use of disability-friendly ICT devices towards the realization of a society in which people can live together using digital technology. Mr. SHINTANI Masayoshi, State Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, and Mr. YAMAMOTO Hiroshi, State Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, will preside over this meeting.

2. Matters deliberated

• 1.
  Ensuring the information accessibility of ICT devices
• 2.
  How to proceed with specific measures (Japanese version of the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) and disability-related information database) concerning 1.
• 3.
  Others

3. Members

• *
  The published material is in Japanese only.

4. Schedule

The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, and followed by succeeding meetings in sequence.