Over 100 countries in the world traveled on wheelchair.
    I hope that everyone can go anywhere they want.

 
 
When I was 17 years old,  I broke my back bone while playing rugby in high school.
It was a terrible sport accident in 1990 and I became a wheelchair man. 
Nothing changed on my side except that I could not walk. 
But the behavior of people around me changed completely, 180 degrees. 
Society and people would look at me as being poor, miserable, and unfortunate. 
Also whenever I wanted to do something, everybody said 
" Don't do that because there is no equipment "  " It is a rule, so you cannot do that ".

I think it is OK to let people do what they want as long as they are ready to take responsibility.
I was so disappointed with Japanese society for not giving us a chance.

First summer vacation in university,  I stayed in USA for one month and was really shocked. 
I forgot that I was on a wheelchair while in USA.  This was my first trip overseas.
It was wheelchair accessible almost everywhere including town, shops, transportation .
No barrier. Above all, no people eyes.  Wheelchair was not special and I felt like a citizen. 

In USA, people would first see me as an individual person.
But in Japan, people looked at "disability " before individual character.
Disability is recognized by society. So if society changes, disability may disappear.

Understanding differences, respecting personality, giving equal opportunity,
I wish for a better society and peace, full of love and smile !!
　 

e-mail always welcome !

My story of English textbook in Japan.