Notes from the field.
Short essays on accessibility, lived experience, and the gap between buildings that comply and buildings that work.
9 minute readGrowing Up Blind in Japan: Akiko’s Story of School and Independence
Akiko has been blind since birth. She spent twelve years in Japan's special needs education system, moved to Tokyo at fifteen, and now works a corporate job. A conversation about wayfinding, independence, and what buildings teach you about whether you belong in them.
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11 minute readDisability Employment in Japan: The Quota System Explained
Akiko's experience of disability employment in Japan shows the gap between meeting a hiring quota and building an inclusive workplace where disabled people can genuinely contribute, progress and belong.
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8 minute readWhy I Wear Sunglasses Indoors: Living With Light Sensitivity
For years I thought my fatigue and overwhelm were normal. A pair of sunglasses changed everything. Here's what I wish more people understood about light sensitivity, invisible disabilities, and how buildings can do better.
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1 minute readYour Campus Is "Accessible". But Is It Actually?
There's a lift. There's a ramp. There's a hearing loop sign on the lecture theatre door. Box ticked, right? Not quite.
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