2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Special Lecture: Disability Studies
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Tomotake Kinoshita
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.S114
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
The aim of the lecture is to study physical disabilities and to create an axis of thought.
This lecture will reconsider "disability" while encompassing such specialized areas as history, sociology, education, engineering, art and literature. Therefore, we will establish some themes that are deeply related to physical disability.
What is "disability"? First, we will consider it from this perspective. After that, we will discuss a wide range of topics such as sign language, Braille, assistive technologies such as hearing aids and wheelchairs, movies and social movements, Universal design, Barrier-Free access, and physical expression in assistance.
As this is a liberal arts course, explanations will be given in plain language. Students are expected to actively participate in group of four or five people discussions on the themes set.
As the Instructor is Deaf*, a wide range of visual communication methods will be used, including sign language interpretation, voice recognition applications, written communication, and typing. This lecture will be a great opportunity for you to learn a new mode of communication.
* Deaf: Person who is hearing-impaired by nature or since childhood, and whose main language is sign language.
Course description and aims
1) Understand the concept and theory of disability.
2) To be able to analyze and explain disability in one's own words by acquiring a broad perspective on disability.
3) To be able to see the body from multiple perspectives through dialogue with others, and to be able to respect others.
4) To be able to explain your own interests from the perspective of disability.
Student learning outcomes
実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)
This lecture will be based on my experience as a Deaf or from experience in assisting disabilities, approaching the whole physical disability.
Keywords
diversity and different cultures, history, art, Society and Legal System, Universal design and Barrier-free access, reasonable accommodation
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Combine lecture and discussion.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Orientation: What is a disability? | Understand the aims of the lecture. To be able to give an overview of disability studies. |
| Class 2 | Disability and History | Students can engage in dialogue about the situation of the disability in history and society. |
| Class 3 | Disability and Society | Students can engage in dialogue about the situation of the disability in history and society. |
| Class 4 | Disability and Society | Students can engage in dialogue about the situation of the disability in history and society. |
| Class 5 | Universal Design and Barrier Free, Laws and regulations related to them | Students can engage in universal design and barrier-free access. |
| Class 6 | Disability and Film/Video | Students can engage in a dialogue about the representation of disability in film and video. |
| Class 7 | Disability and Artistic Expression, Literature | Students can engage in a dialogue about the disability in artistic expression. |
| Class 8 | What is a disability? Part II | Overall summary of the lecture. Tentatively submitted reports will be peer reviewed and discussed or the exam. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 50 minutes at most preparing for class and another 50 minutes at most reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class. They should do so by referring to course material.
Textbook(s)
No textbook will be assigned. All students watch pictorial images and videos and read the documents, samples.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Lecture materials distribute.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Comment and Group discussion: 60%.
Report or exam: 40%.
Related courses
- LAH.H102 ： Art A
- LAH.H202 ： Arts B, Esthetics B
- LAH.H302 ： Arts C, Esthetics C
- LAH.H113 ： Studies of Culture and Representation A
- LAH.H215 ： Studies of Culture and Representation B
- LAH.H314 ： Studies of Culture and Representation C
Prerequisites
No knowledge or experience with disabilities is required.
Other
The "Language" field is labeled "Japanese," but in actuality, the program will be conducted in Japanese Sign Language and read out into Japanese by a sign language interpreter. In addition, Japanese typing input will be provided as needed.(This is appended here because the language setting can only be selected between Japanese and English.)