Risk Free Assessment
By John Samuel
As the temperature continued to rise in July, I headed east… Far East! I took a clarity break once our fiscal year ended and went back to Japan after a 31-year hiatus.
What a lot of people don’t know about me is that in late July of 1990, my family and I moved to Tokyo. My Dad was transferred to the Nortel Networks Japan office for a three-year assignment. This was just a few years prior to the internet, so we didn’t know what to expect, and we went into the experience blindly. Those three years were probably some of the best years of our lives. That move helped my Dad propel in his professional career, my Mom embraced the Japanese culture, and the many unique adventures my sister had as a high school student helped her tremendously as she was writing college essays. As for me, I gained a level of independence that few 9-year-old kids from the suburbs ever got because I was able to roam freely around one of the world’s largest cities on my trusted bicycle, unaccompanied!
However, when I returned to Japan this time, I traded in my white-wheeled BMX bike for a white cane. And to my amazement, I was able to have a level of independence that I didn’t think possible, thanks to the Tenji Blocks that mask the surfaces of the city that had been added since I left in 1993.
Tenji Blocks, also known as tactile paving, are raised surfaces installed on sidewalks, train platforms, and public spaces in Japan to assist visually impaired individuals. These blocks have distinctive patterns, such as dots and lines, that can be felt underfoot or with a white cane, helping users navigate safely. Tenji Blocks are also a key element of universal design, a concept that promotes creating environments accessible to all people, regardless of age, disability, or other factors. In Tokyo, the widespread use of Tenji Blocks reflects a commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that public spaces are navigable and safe for all people. This approach aligns with the broader principles of universal design, which emphasize usability, simplicity, and equity in design, making cities more accommodating for everyone, including those with disabilities.
In Tokyo, they not only relied on the tactile nature of the Tenji Blocks, but also made them bright yellow, creating a high contrast marking that could be visible for people with low vision, who might not be relying on a white cane to navigate the city. This was just another element of the universal design of their adoption of this wayfinding system.
And as I returned to Japan, 34 years after first setting foot in the country, I was able to leverage the Tenji Blocks to find my old home in the neighborhood of Meguro – and it was an amazing feeling! However, almost the exact time I was embarking on a new adventure in Japan, in my home country, the United States was taking on its own new journey of passing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The ADA passed on July 26, 1990, which has significantly transformed the United States by promoting accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities. The ADA mandates that public spaces, including buildings, transportation, and services, be accessible to all, leading to widespread installation of ramps, elevators, and accessible signage. It also prohibits discrimination in employment, ensuring equal opportunities and reasonable accommodations in the workplace. The ADA has also raised awareness about disability rights and fostered a more inclusive society, enabling greater participation and independence for individuals with disabilities in all aspects of life.
Although, we have made significant progress over the past 34-years since President George Bush passed the Bill, we still have a long way to go for true equity in the US. However, as I return home to North Carolina, with a clear mind and soul, I truly believe that we can learn from the “Land of the Rising Sun” and follow their yellow “Tenji Block” road to greater universal design and accessibility for all Americans! Happy ADA Day!