Nagoya University strives to create an educational and research environment free of inequality and discrimination on grounds of disability. To accomplish this mission, we established the Disability Services Office, in response to the enforcement of the "Disability Discrimination Elimination Act" in April 2016. One of the most important tasks of the Disability Services Office is to

determine appropriate and reasonable accommodation for disabled persons who have requested for academic support. The specific procedure is as follows. First, the Disability Services Office accepts requests for academic support or accommodation submitted by disabled students and other disabled persons who will participate university-sponsored events or use university facilities. Second, based on the thorough consideration of the requests, the Disability Services Office will meet with faculty and staff members who are familiar with the environment for which reasonable accommodation is required (academic supervisor, course instructor, academic adviser, student affairs section, staff members responsible for the event, etc.). Depending on the situation, the three parties (including the Disability Services Office) will come together to determine what qualifies as "reasonable accommodation". It is an important task, because inequality should not be tolerated, regardless of whether an individual has a disability or not. Similarly, if the requested accommodations are excessive and, therefore, result in unequal treatment of others involved, such requests will not be approved. On the other hand, if the accommodations requested fail to meet the definition of "reasonable" agreed upon, the Disability Services Office will propose more appropriate accommodations. Finally, the related faculty and staff members familiar with the environment concerned will provide the reasonable accommodations decided upon, receiving assistance from student support organizations such as the Office for Students with Disabilities at the Center for Student Counseling, or the Department of Advising & Counseling Services of the International Education & Exchange Center.

Other activities of the Disability Services Office include planning and awareness campaigns to promote the elimination of discrimination on grounds of disability, as well as responding to consultation, etc. on the discrimination on grounds of disability committed by our university faculty and staff members. When it comes to support for disabled persons, it is equally important to adapt our organizations and systems in addition to satisfying individual needs. Regardless of whether you have a disability or not, we will strive to provide an environment where all of us on campus are able to receive the educational and research opportunities afforded by Nagoya University, free from discrimination.