Inclusive Tech Opens Up Possibilities for Children With Medical Care and Everyone in Japan
The Paris Paralympics are about to get into full swing. Florence held the “Para Esports Festival: Let’s Play With Inclusive Tech!” on August 24.
Children with medical care gathered and enjoyed playing Puyo Puyo, Suika Game, and other very popular games together.
You may wonder why Florence hosted a gaming convention.
【The Hidden Potential in Children With Medical Care】
In 2014, Florence established Helen, a nursery school for children with disabilities, and began looking after children with medical care, who previously had nowhere else to go, for extended periods of time. In addition, we have also provided a babysitting service for children with medical care, “Nancy”.?
During this, I met a third grader in elementary school named Sumire-chan. She is physically handicapped and can barely move her body. However, she was able to move the mouse on an iPad with a Switch controller which can be used with a single finger.
So, she tried drawing pictures. She improved by practicing over and over again, and her drawing won the Tokyo Governor’s Award.
Now she designs t-shirts and sells UNIQLO t-shirts online to buy her favorite snack, cotton candy, as her reward.???
*Sumire7 is putting up her designs for sale on UTme!
I thought that this had amazing potential.
These children may have such talents lying dormant. It does not even have to be a talent. It could be things that they want to do or enjoy. It would be wonderful if we could bring out such “motivation” that had gone unnoticed until now because of their inability to move their bodies.??
【Inclusive Tech】
We call technology that maximizes the potential of people with illnesses and disabilities “inclusive tech.”
For instance, there is a high school girl who is on a ventilator and moves around in a wheelchair. She loved music.
She started her career as a Vtuber /Vsinger under the name “Suzune Mui” (without her parents’ knowledge).
I believe that this is a form of inclusive tech.
?Technotools Corporation promotes inclusive tech with us.
They create special controllers that allow users to operate computers and game consoles even if they can only move one finger.
There was even a project to fly a drone using their controller.
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【Esports Is a Gateway to Inclusive Tech】
Sumire-chan, whom I mentioned earlier, was exposed to inclusive tech through video games. In time, as she was enjoying playing them, she began to try drawing pictures.??
She can even type letters on the LINE app.
No matter how much technology is available, children cannot become familiar with it unless there is some “fun”.
Gaming (esports) is one of the best introductions to inclusive tech because it gives us enjoyment.?
【We Are Looking For Partners to Create Hope Together】
Florence will do its best to spread inclusive tech around the world.
It is not about making only people with disabilities happy.
For example, with inclusive tech, I will be able to write articles like this, communicate with friends on the LINE app, enjoy playing games, or even write tanka poems and publish them on the Internet even when I become old and immobile.
We can be human, connect with others, and express ourselves until our final moments.
Perhaps this is hope for Japan, which is a super-aging society.
We are looking for companies and organizations that can create such hope together with Florence.
SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS INC. provided an amazing venue called “TUNNEL TOKYO” for our “Para Esports Festival.”?
The Kobayashi Aoitori Foundation subsidized the event. It is not easy to fund an event like this, so we are really grateful for their help.
ORACLE CORPORATION JAPAN and PagerDuty, Inc. made donations, and their employees came to the event as volunteers.
Occupational therapists from the Tokyo Association of Occupational Therapists and students came to volunteer, and Technotools Corporation lent us their Flex Controllers. Digireha, Inc. provided us with a tool that allows us to receive rehabilitation using technology.
Whatever help you can offer will be greatly appreciated. Please join us in spreading inclusive tech and creating an exciting society where people can create happiness no matter what condition they are in, even if they are sick, disabled, or elderly.??
Our activities such as these are supported by your donations.
We kindly ask for your warm support!
Support Florence with your donation.