Abstract
This study investigates the status of the implementation of extension classes as a lifelong study for persons with special needs at national universities in Japan (N=86). A total of 55 universities responded to the questionnaires. Only 6 had specific admission requirements for persons with special needs who wished to attend extension classes. 19 universities accepted persons with special needs without specific admission requirements. In most cases, such applicants were persons with physical disabilities. It is important that national universities consider creating opportunities for persons with special needs who desire to attend extension classes and increasing the number of applicants, so that these institutions can become places that facilitate lifelong study that fulfill the following objectives: (a) change universities staff's consciousness and attitude toward persons with special needs, (b) realize that a diversity of people including persons with special needs desire to take classes and prepare reasonable accommodations for them, and (c) offer a unique curriculum for extension classes for persons with special needs, especially those with intellectual disabilities.
