First of all, I encountered disability studies when I became a person with disabilities. When I was 14, I had acute diabetes and due to medical malpractice at the time, I became a person with quadriplegia. Moreover, I have had visual disabilities. I somehow manage to recognize three-dimensional space, colors and people's faces but can hardly recognize letters. Also I can hardly speak and it takes many times for me to output compared with other people. The way of my communication is that his helpers grasp his hands and confirm each letter via Japanese alphabet list. It is what is called "Augmentative & Alternative Communication"--the way of commnucation through my signs using arms.
My communication method as previously mentioned is called Auditory Scanning. In Auditory Scanning, for example, when a listener reads out "A, KA, SA...(lines)," and recognizes the yes-sign at the letter of "TA," then the listener reads out letters of TA line such as "TA, CHI, TSU...," and confirms a letter upon the yes-sign. This is how my helpers decodes each letter for me in my case. When I make long sentences, one helper acts as a main staff and makes them. The way of making sentences is that I name words and the helpers connect those words and make sentences generally. I modify the short sentences the helpers make so that they become logical ones. With the help of the helpers' reading, I rechoose words based on nuance, context, tone and so on.
As a result of my having disabilities, conducting research on disabilities becomes my way of living.
■Research Theme
My research theme at this graduate school is "Time Lags as a Result of Augmentative & Alternative Communication: Focusing on Auditory Scanning." Through this research, I would like to set up a foundation that supports people with locked-in syndrome.
Also, I would like to examine care policies for people with disabilities through the practice of management of business establishments.
■My Personal History
・April 2010…Entered Graduate School of Core Ethics and Frontier Sciences, Ritsumeikan University
・March 2010…Left Japan Lutheran College & Seminary
・July 2009…Set up a business establishment for sending off helpers in Musashino City, Tokyo
・April 2009…Transferred to Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Integrated Human Studies, Japan Lutheran College & Seminary (Third year)
・September 2008･･･Completed a graduation thesis and graduated from the university
・April 2006･･･Third year of the university/ Set up a Lutheran Support Service (LSS)
It is the organization for supporting univesity life of students with disabilities. It later develops to the authorized one by the university.
・April 2005･･･Second year of the university/ Transferred to Depart of Social Work, Faculty of Integrated Human Studies, Japan Lutheran College & Seminary (Second year)
Started studying social welfare and care etc.
・April 2004･･･Entered Department of Christian Studies, Faculty of Integrated Human Studies, Japan Lutheran College & Seminary
・February 2003･･･Took the entrance examination of Japan Lutheran College & Seminary with special considerations but failed.
Yet the university allowed me to audit classed for one year. I studies very hard in order to pass the exam next year.
・March 2000･･･Graduated from Sodegaura High School (school for the disabled)
From that time, studied with the help of a tutor of Chiba University and conducted rehabilitation via Doman Method on weekdays and conducted rehabilitation on Sundays
・April 1997･･･Went to Sodegaura High School (school for the disabled)
・December 1996･･･Transferred to Chiba Rehabilitation Center
Entered Sodegaura Junior High School (school for the disabled) and went to school from the hospital
・August 1996･･･Went out of ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and moved to a general ward
Had many disabilities such as quadriplegia, speech disabilities, swallowing disabilities and visual disabilities
I was able to convey my intentions using "A KA SA TA NA communication" for the first time. I was certified as a person with disabilities (the most severe level of disabilities) this year. I have needed a wheelchair all the time and 24 hour assistance since then.
・May 1996･･･Coma for three weeks at ICU
Bronchotomy/Doubt of diaphragmatic paralysis/ No return to consciousness
・April 1996･･･Misdiagnosis as mental illness as a result of stress and hyperventilation syndrome
After I was taken to the hospital urgently, I was disagnosised as an insulin-requiring diabetic. Thus, I had insulin administration but due to poor treatment, I had cardiac arrest for about 20 minutes. Then I was taken to ICU and was between this life and eternity.
・February 1996･･･Went back to Japan from the U.K. due to poor health condition (the doctor's order to stop the fight) during overseas study
・April 1994･･･After graduating from Affiliated Elementary School of Education Department of Chiba University, I went to Affiliated Junior High School of Education Department of Chiba University.
・December 1981･･･Born in Akitsu-cho, Kure City, Hiroshima
・December 2008…Earned the First Pionner Chancellor Award of Japan Lutheran College & Seminary
・December 2008…Earned the Outstanding Performance Award of the 43rd Disability Welfare Award of NHK
"Go to college via "A, KA, SA, TA, NA""
・September 2008…Graduation thesis of Japan Lutheran College & Seminary
"The Way of Supporting Students' Careers in High School for the Physically-disabled: In Order to Go to University"
・April 2000･･･Received an Honorable Mention of the Shortest Letter in Japan Award