Abstract
In January 2002, the National Institute of Multimedia Education (NIME) conducted a survey based on mail-in questionnaires concerning students with disabilities and their IT environments. ("Students with disabilities" as used here refers to restricted mobility, blind or partially sighted, deaf or hard of hearing, medical condition, etc. It does not include persons with learning disabilities) This survey targeted 1,266 places of higher education throughout Japan (667 universities, 537 junior colleges, and 62 technical colleges), and the questionnaires were given to head quarters of institutions. We had response rates of 66% from universities, 60% from junior colleges, and 81% from technical colleges. Our survey shows that support systems for students with disabilities after they enter are limited to their own efforts to help themselves. I intend to reflect on the current status of Japanese higher education and IT environments as identified in the survey.
