Abstract
The importance of normalization is ever-increasing. In Japan, the first movie starring a person:with a hearing disability, was produced and released in 1999, aiming at a barrier-free society. The second movie was produced in 2000, and was released in 2001. Since these were only released in urban cities, an independent organization of persons with and without hearing disabilities showed the films in rural cities. An evaluation was conducted. Purpose: 1. To evaluate the movies by both of the viewer and the organizer. 2. To identify contributing factors to the continuation of viewing and presenting the movie. This was basic data to promote activities of independent organizations collaborating with persons with disabilities seeking a barrier-free society. Methods: Subjects were 1,620 viewers, and 49 organizers who agreed to participate in the survey at the movies in 2000 and 2002. We conducted a questionnaire survey. We asked whether the subjects would watch the movie or participate in the activity again. Outcome measures were also included in the questionnaire. The items included were: satisfaction on the movie, and the understanding of persons with hearing disabilities and sign language, and the experience of activities for persons with hearing disabilities and other disabilities. Results: The higher satisfaction of viewers at the movies was observed, a deeper understanding of persons with hearing disabilities and sign language, a deeper understanding of a society inclusive of persons with and without disabilities, and a higher willingness to participate in activities involving persons with hearing disabilities was observed. Viewers tended to want to participate in activities for persons with hearing disabilities after seeing a movie starring an auditory impaired person. Re-viewing factors were interest in sign language, overall enjoyment of the movie, the story itself, satisfaction in date and time of the presentation, understanding of persons with hearing disabilities, and understanding of normalization. The organizer's factors to continue the movie-project, was willingness of participation in activities for persons with hearing disabilities. Therefore it is important to associate with persons with hearing disabilities.
