What is Mental Barrier-Free? Easy-to-Understand Introduction with Examples!

1. What is Mental Barrier-Free?

Did you know that there is also a concept of mental barrier-free? When people hear "barrier-free," many think of installing ramps and handrails to make life easier.

If mental barrier-free is achieved, it is possible to create a society where everyone can live vibrantly regardless of disability, age, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation.

This article will clearly explain mental barrier-free with examples.

Through this article, let's consider mental barrier-free from various perspectives and think together about what each of us can do to achieve a mentally barrier-free society.

1-1. Definition and Significance of Mental Barrier-Free

According to the Prime Minister's Office website, mental barrier-free is defined as follows:

It is about all people with various mental and physical characteristics and ways of thinking communicating with each other to deepen mutual understanding and support one another (from the "Universal Design 2020 Action Plan" decided at the Universal Design 2020 Ministerial Meeting in February 2017).
Source: About Mental Barrier-Free | Prime Minister's Office

By deepening understanding of disabilities and handicaps, people with disabilities and the elderly can more easily participate in social activities, just like those without disabilities. This should lead to the realization of a coexisting society.

If we understand each other's differences and eliminate discrimination and prejudice, everyone can live authentically, enriching society as a whole.

1-2. Situations Requiring Consideration and Thoughtfulness

Mental barrier-free begins with changing the awareness of each of us. There are various situations where consideration and thoughtfulness are required in mental barrier-free, including the following examples.

・If you see someone in a wheelchair looking troubled, offer assistance
・If someone has a hearing impairment, try using sign language or writing
・Do not place items on tactile paving
・Avoid misunderstanding or making assumptions about people with disabilities
・Offer seats to those who need priority seating on trains or buses

In daily life, you can find many opportunities for mental barrier-free. By working on mental barrier-free, we can create a society where everyone can live more comfortably.

1-3. Introduction of Mental Barrier-Free Examples

In Chigasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, initiatives by public institutions and municipalities are summarized and introduced as examples of mental barrier-free in a PDF, and we will introduce particularly noteworthy examples.

In Chofu City, Tokyo, a barrier-free pamphlet was created to allow people with disabilities and others to comfortably use stores, and it was distributed to merchants to encourage small acts of consideration for people with disabilities.

Additionally, the Kanto Transport Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism conducts outreach lectures on mental barrier-free as part of creating an environment where the elderly and people with disabilities can use public transportation and other facilities with peace of mind and lead independent social lives.

Reference: Collection of Initiatives on Mental Barrier-Free (Page 2, Page 5) | Chigasaki City

2. Three Important Points for Practicing Mental Barrier-Free

Here, we will clearly explain the important points for understanding and acting on mental barrier-free.

2-1. Understanding the Social Model of Disability

The first important point is to understand the social model of disability. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the social model of disability is:

The concept that "disability" is created by the interaction between an individual's mental and physical impairments and social barriers, and that it is society's responsibility to remove these barriers (from the "Universal Design 2020 Action Plan").
Source: Mental Barrier-Free / Social Model of Disability | Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

This perspective sees disability not as an individual's characteristic but as something created by society.

For example, people who use wheelchairs find it difficult to move around when there are stairs or steps. This is because society is not designed with wheelchair users in mind.

In the social model of disability, if society is designed with wheelchair users in mind, they may be able to live just like those without disabilities.

2-2. Reducing Prejudice and Understanding Reasonable Accommodation

Next, it is very important to reduce prejudice against those involved and understand reasonable accommodation. For example, schizophrenia, a mental disorder, has often been misunderstood by society due to a lack of accurate information, leading to perceptions like "unpredictable" or "scary."

As a result, many people have been subjected to discrimination and prejudice, forced to live isolated in hospitals.

To eliminate such discrimination and prejudice, people with mental disorders were invited as guest speakers in school classes. By interacting with those involved, understanding of mental disorders deepened, and accurate knowledge was gained.

To eliminate discrimination and prejudice, it might be more effective to actually interact with and listen to people with mental disorders than just studying.

By doing so, reasonable accommodation may gradually progress.

Reference: How Can We Eliminate Discrimination and Prejudice? | Japan Association of Mental Health Social Workers

2-3. Accepting Differences and Communicating

Additionally, it is very important to accept differences in disability, culture, and ways of thinking, and communicate.

Diversity is a keyword often heard in this era. Even among those without disabilities, there are various perspectives, such as differences in gender, nationality, skin color, and values.

The same can be said for people with disabilities. Whether or not someone has a disability, it is important to see it as individuality and accept them as a person.

3. Introducing Activities to Promote Mental Barrier-Free

Here, we introduce inspiring activities to promote mental barrier-free.

3-1. Mental Barrier-Free Certification System

The Mental Barrier-Free Certification System is one of the systems implemented by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

It aims to create an environment where elderly and disabled tourists can enjoy traveling with peace of mind, thereby revitalizing the tourism industry.

The system involves certifying tourist facilities that actively work on barrier-free measures to ensure that elderly and disabled people can spend time comfortably.

To receive certification, facilities must meet all of the following conditions, in addition to the structure and equipment of the facility.

Implement three or more measures to maintain the facility's barrier-free performance (such as remote controls that can display TV subtitles)
Conduct barrier-free related education and training at least once a year
Actively distribute barrier-free information, such as information about the facility's barriers, on websites other than their own

Reference: Mental Barrier-Free Certification System for Tourist Facilities | Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

Facilities that receive certification are granted a certification mark, and the list of certified facilities is published on the Japan Tourism Agency's website.

For users, the fact that these facilities meet strict standards provides a sense of security when searching for them.

Furthermore, the certification is valid for five years from the date of certification. If the certification requirements are not met at the time of expiration, the certification is revoked, ensuring continued quality.

At Ayumi, we also conduct our own barrier-free certification business, offering comprehensive support services tailored to stores for barrier-free measures and disability support.

We fully support obtaining mental barrier-free certification, not only specifying what is needed and the detailed process through Ayumi but also disseminating information on "Flat. ~Barrier-Free Information Site~," providing a service that meets all certification system requirements.

We can also provide monthly examples of good barrier-free practices and information, leading to ongoing physical and mental barrier-free improvements.

If you are considering obtaining mental barrier-free certification, feel free to consult Ayumi.

For inquiries and requests for the latest materials, please visit the page below.

Reference: Barrier-Free Certification Business
Reference: [Barrier-Free Certification] Document Request – Ayumi

We recommend consulting with the General Incorporated Association Ayumi, which provides comprehensive support for barrier-free measures.

Start with a 30-minute free consultation: Click here

3-2. Mental Barrier-Free Initiatives in School Education and Corporate Training

According to the Chiba Prefectural Board of Education, as part of mental barrier-free education, schools and communities are collaborating to aim for a coexisting society, utilizing the achievements of education related to past Olympics and Paralympics.

Specifically, the following initiatives are being carried out.

・Researching and engaging in activities related to barrier-free, aiming for mutual understanding and a coexisting society
・Learning to deepen understanding of people with disabilities through disability sports
・Using activities related to welfare, such as wheelchair experiences, as opportunities for understanding others
・Utilizing moral education time to learn about the lives of Olympic and Paralympic athletes
・Engaging in sports regardless of disability and participating in sports together

Reference: Chiba Prefecture's Education Initiatives Utilizing the Olympics and Paralympics (Main Text) Page 5 | Chiba Prefecture

Additionally, NTT Claruty Corporation conducts mental barrier-free training and disability understanding training.

In mental barrier-free training,

・Confirming recognition of barrier-free
・Understanding the social model of disability
・Awareness of difficulties and pain
・Disability experience (joint experience with those involved)
・Declaration of action plans, etc.
Source: Mental Barrier-Free Training and Disability Understanding Training | NTT Claruty Corporation

are conducted, and in disability understanding training, lectures and experience sessions by those involved are actively held.

3-3. Promoting Understanding Through Events and Exchange Meetings

In Okinawa Prefecture, a mental barrier-free understanding promotion event was held in cooperation with major companies.

The event, called Barrier-Free Quest, involves experiences such as moving with a white cane (blindfold) or wheelchair to discover barriers and barrier-free elements around you.

Additionally, the Okinawa Puyo Puyo Mix Tournament was held, creating a wonderful opportunity for people with and without disabilities to deepen exchanges through e-sports experiences.

By participating in events involving government, companies, and local residents while having fun, understanding of mental barrier-free and disabilities is expected to spread.

Reference: Practice! Mental Barrier-Free | Okinawa Prefecture