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?:abstract
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The spread of COVID-19 across Japan has exacerbated accessibility issues born out of the nation\'s past, creating difficulties for disabled people in the present and anxieties about the future In this article, I consider some of the historical contingencies and geopolitical circumstances that have fueled a precarious pipeline to risk and institutionalization for many disabled individuals My analysis reveals how inadequate installation and inappropriate use of accommodations like ramps and elevators in various public venues has prevented disabled people from obtaining key supplies It suggests that some disabled people have survived the current moment by relying on professional caregivers, but others have been unable to do so due to service cancellations and fear of contagion For individuals without support networks, assisted living facilities have offered a means of survival However, many assisted living facilities have long grappled with funding issues and lack of willing workers Accordingly, their residents have been exposed to neglect, abuse, and now, viral infection Aware of the situation, government officials have instituted emergency policies to provide disabled people and assisted living facilities with personal protective equipment and flexible financing And yet, as activists have argued, those policies have often failed to pan out in practice The future of disability in Japan remains uncertain But as I suggest, the current crisis is our chance to intervene I contend that we must use this opportunity to identify and resolve barriers to accessibility in Japan and build an inclusive society for domestic and international populations of disabled individuals
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