この記事は次の言語でも読めます：日本語
Hi,
This is Mizuki!
In February, I had visited Seattle for 2 weeks. I have been to 10 cities in the US so far, but I had not yet been to Seattle.
Seattle is a great place full of nice people and the city is so beautiful!
I really love Seattle so much!
During my stay in Seattle, I had 2 host families and spent 1 week with each host family.
The first host family lives in West Seattle.
Their condo has a huge window which I could see the whole downtown Seattle.
The next morning after arrival, I saw a clear blue sky which is very rare in winter in Seattle.
I started my visit with a great feeling!
The 2nd host family lives in Sammamish which is on the east side of Seattle.
They volunteer to raise a puppy dog, who may be a future guide dog.
Luckily I could spent time with a 8 weeks puppy during my stay.
It was very precious experience to live with local people.
I learnt new things from the host families and felt so grateful for their kind support.
In Seattle, in addition to interviewing for my research, I had opportunities to be interviewed by local medias and to give a speech to local organizations.
Research Interview
The list of organizations and companies I visited:
1) Starbucks Headquarters
I had visited there 2 times during this stay.
I had a chance to interview employees with disabilities in person.
Starbucks has put so much effort for employees and customers with disabilities and I was very impressed and learned so much from Starbucks.
2) Microsoft Headquarters
I had interviewed their Human Resource department.
Also some employees from Microsoft organized a round-table meeting for me and other employees who are related or interested in the topic of people with disabilities.
3) Amazon Headquarters
Amazon shared their ideas on employment for people with disabilities, reasonable accommodation, internal training program for employees.
4) Costco Headquarter
Costco showed me one of the store where I found some employees with disabilities working together with other non-disabled employees.
5) University of Washington, DO-IT
DO-IT is a program for students with disabilities to get them skills and knowledge of technology and expand their possibilities for their future.
DO-IT explained why they started this program and shared the outcome and impact by assisting students with disabilities.
6) University of Washington, Professor Kurt Johnson
Professor for Disability Studies.
He talked about the hidden issues of employment for people with disabilities in the U.S., which majority people haven’t noticed but just have seen good parts of employers.
7) Academy for Precision Learning
A private school which implements inclusive education.
In all grades and all classrooms, students with disabilities study with students without disabilities in the same room.
8) Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind
An organization for providing vocational trainings and service for people with visual impaired or both visual and hearing impaired.
They showed me computer training program, manufacturing process, and contact center where blind people work.
9) Alliance of People with disAbilities
An organization which helps independent living for people with disabilities such as housing, cooking, opening bank account and so forth.
Alliance of People with disAbilities talked about the change of movement for people with disabilities for the past 25 years after ADA passed.
10) Disability Rights Washington
An organization which supports people with disabilities with technology, education, employment, lawsuit (discrimination against disabilities) and self-advocacy.
They deliver messages of people with disabilities through SNS, and I will join and talk about the issue and hopes for employment for people with disabilities.
Media
I was interviewed by the following local media which are interested in my research.
I will update the information once it is released.
Talk
Also I gave a talk to the following organizations to share my experience and thoughts.
I delivered a talk to Japanese students who study in Seattle.
I shared my life experiences and gave some tips that may be helpful to them to build their future.
I gave a talk to Japanese mothers who have kids with development disabilities and live in Seattle area.
I shared my experiences as a kid with disability as well as my mom’s stories of raising me.
Please check upcoming reports for the detail! Stay turned!