Basic Programme for Persons with Disabilities

Glossary (note)

Normalization:

It is a concept of cooperative society in which persons with disabilities can live normal life as other persons, not being regarded as unusual persons; therefore living conditions should be arranged in accordance with the types of disabilities.

Rehabilitation:

It is a concept of comprehensive program targeting physical, mental and social self-reliance of persons with disabilities. It is also a way of thinking to contribute to persons with disabilities at all stages of life for their recovering independence and participation in the society.

Barrier-free:

It is a concept of removing barriers for persons with disabilities in all aspects of life. It originally refers to removal of physical barrier used in the technical term of constructing houses. It also refers to removal of social, institutional, and attitudinal barriers that restrict persons with disabilities to participate in the society.

Universal design:

While "barrier-free" is a concept of dealing with barriers resulting from disabilities, "universal design" is a concept of designing in advance the towns and living environments accessible to all persons regardless of disabilities, age, sex and race.