Photo/Illutration Hiyori Tamaki on Feb. 13 at the Tokyo metropolitan government office, which accepted her school program proposal (Yuka Honda)

Hiyori Tamaki, an 18-year-old disabled student, proposed a special program that allows Tokyo high school students to try to navigate the world in a wheelchair.

Tamaki was inspired by the friendship of her high school classmates, who made her life easier by understanding her experiences as a wheelchair-user.

When she learned that the Tokyo metropolitan government was soliciting ideas for new programs from the general public, she wrote a proposal overnight.

She was so full of ideas that she was barely able to stay within the word limit.

Her proposed program aims to deepen students’ understanding of how to make society more inclusive.

Under Tamaki’s plan, high school students would use wheelchairs and, for example, attempt to overcome short steps, which often pose serious obstacles for Tamaki and other wheelchair-users.

After her proposal was accepted, the metropolitan government earmarked 54 million yen ($365,000) for the initiative in its budget.

Tamaki also received a letter of appreciation from Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike.

At the age of 2, Tamaki was diagnosed with Ullrich disease, an incurable condition that progressively weakens the muscles.

She was able to attend elementary and junior high schools by wearing shoe-like prosthetic mobility aids. When she went to Tokyo Metropolitan Machida High School, Tamaki needed a wheelchair to study in the same classrooms as other students.

During her junior high school days, Tamaki felt a wall rise between herself and her classmates each time she heard them say, “I’m sorry for asking about your disorder.” 

This all changed after Tamaki entered senior high school.

There, friends would pepper her with questions about her disease and pinpoint possible “areas that would be difficult to traverse in a wheelchair.” Even when Tamaki wasn’t around, her classmates continued to think about accessibility.

This experience made Tamaki realize that gaining a personal connection to a subject can alter the way people think about it. With that lesson in mind, Tamaki decided to submit her proposal to create an opportunity for other students to learn about disabilities first-hand.

In April, Tamaki will begin her first year at university studying social welfare. She will also continue with public speaking activities, which she started during senior high school.

“I want to show that people with disabilities are no different from their able-bodied counterparts,” she said. “We face challenging circumstances at times but generally live happy lives.”

Tamaki plans to speak about these ideas to high schoolers as part of the program she designed.

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