People with disabilities join university students at 4th Open Heart Campus
Official student club aile hosted the 4th Open Heart Campus at Science Tokyo’s Yushima Campus on May 30. The aim was to provide opportunities for people with severe mental and physical disabilities to experience the campus environment and interact with friends of the same age.
This event, the fourth of its kind, was held as part of a project to develop a model for post-high school education for people with disabilities, commissioned by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and carried out by Science Tokyo. The Institute has begun compiling insights so that this initiative can serve as a replicable model for other regions.
In addition to Science Tokyo students, this event included fellow students from other universities, including Ochanomizu University and Toyo University. Breaking down boundaries between institutions and academic disciplines, nearly 30 students from diverse backgrounds came together to create a special day filled with warm energy.
Two unique sessions merging science and engineering with art
On the day of the event, the students warmly welcomed the participants as “classmates on the same course.” At this Open Heart Campus event, aile students led two engaging classes that blended the essence of science and engineering with art.
Session One — Mathematics: Learning with Lego and the wonders of combinations
In the first session, the participants learned about the mathematical concept of combinatorics using Lego blocks under the guidance of Kai Urata, a 4th-year Physics student. Urata introduced the different types of Lego blocks as well as the behind-the-scenes process of building with them using computer software.
“How many different combinations can be made using six 2 by 4 blocks?” Urata quizzed the participants. “915,103,765!”
Both participants and students expressed amazement at the infinite possibilities revealed by mathematics. With these simple tools, everyone in the room was able to experience firsthand the depth of combinatorics and the wonders of science.
Session Two — Creating a one-of-a-kind collage album
In the second session, the participants learned about the art of creating collages — freely combined materials such as photographs, paper, stickers, and illustration — from Yuma Hando, a 4th-year Nursing Science student in the School of Health Care Sciences. Using album pages, photos, and plenty of stickers and pens, all participants took on the challenge of creating “a one-of-a-kind work of art.” Making eye contact with the students and communicating their ideas through hand gestures, facial expressions, and glances, the participants all completed wonderful albums that reflected their unique personalities.
In the second half of the class, everyone participated in fandom activities — dancing together while waving glow sticks to music and live video footage — and the excitement in the classroom reached its peak. To wrap things up, the students and participants wrote down memories and reflections from the day, bringing the fulfilling campus day to a close.
Interacting as classmates, developing a bond of mutual understanding
During the post-activity reflection session, many students, including first-timers, shared their heartfelt impressions. Some said that they were slightly nervous at first, but soon learned that the participants communicated their intentions through eye movements and slight changes in facial expressions. All it took was that first step to get to know the other person and enjoy their company. Others commented that they naturally got into the spirit of things with everyone around them, and as a result had a wonderful time. Through diverse forms of communication — including sign language, eye contact, and body language — meaningful learning and bonds were forged.
Attending university is not always an option for people with severe mental and physical disabilities. The goal of aile's activities is to facilitate opportunities for such people to visit university campuses, interact with young adults of the same age, and create a meaningful time for each other.
Through the Open Heart Campus and other initiatives, Science Tokyo continues to work toward creating opportunities for everyone to visit the campus and learn together. While keeping in mind its social responsibility and encouraging research collaborations in the community, the Institute confidently moves toward realizing an inclusive society where students from diverse backgrounds can naturally socialize and share valuable time together.
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- Student club aile is supported by the Science Tokyo Fund.