What reasonable accommodation means?

     ”Reasonable Accommodation” is an important term for CRPD.

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     According to Article 2 in CRPD,“Reasonable accommodation” means necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms;

 

      From an education standpoint, this means the school and the board of education should modify and adjust the environment for all children to learn with relief.

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     In Japan, in Article 8 of the Act to Eliminate Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, the provision of reasonable accommodation has been obligated in public schools and private schools

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     There is a wrong translation about reasonable accommodation. The Japanese government has translated accommodation as consideration. It does not match CRPD. We think it should be translated into “modification” same as CRPD  so that recipients and providers can discuss equally.

 

     Paragraph 29, CRPD Committee’s General Comment No. 4, explains the concept of reasonable accommodation as following.

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     “include changing the location of a class, providing different forms of in-class communication, enlarging print, materials and/or subjects in sign, or providing all handouts in an alternative format, providing students with a note-taker, or a language interpreter or allowing students to use assistive technology in learning and assessment situations. Provision of non-material accommodations, such as allowing a student more time, reducing levels of background noise, sensitivity to sensory overload, alternative evaluation methods or replacing an element of the curriculum by an alternative element,”

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     Originally, reasonable accommodation is a modification for all to learn at regular class. However, in Japan, there is misunderstanding that placement of special school/class will be a reasonable accommodation for disabled children to assure their development. It is explicitly impropriety.