Kobe Para Sports, Journalism in Japan & ‘Wheelchair-bound’ versus ‘Wheelchair User’

The 2024 World Para Athletics Championships which was held from May 17th to May 25th ended on Saturday. Barrier Free Japan went to the entrance of the stadium and found it to be accessible. Not all did find it accessible though, and a woman - she never gave her name - with her husband and daughter, a daughter who has cerebral palsy.

Kyodo reported:

“But another Kobe resident in her 50s said that the city was "divided in some parts," while also lamenting that attendance could have been better. She came to see the tournament with her husband and daughter, who has cerebral palsy and is wheelchair-bound.”

Some people with disabilities who use wheelchairs find ‘wheelchair-bound’ to be offensive and prefer the term ‘wheelchair user’. Barrier Free Japan sometimes gets comments and posts on social media about this issue.

Episode notes:

‘Para athletics: Athletes, fans praise "successful" Kobe tournament’ (Kyodo):

https://english.kyodonews.net/paralympics/news/2024/05/fe0fbc2ad909-para-athletics-athletes-fans-praise-successful-kobe-tournament.html

Outside the Stadium for the Kobe 2024 Para Athletics World Championships:

https://barrierfreejapan.com/2024/05/21/outside-the-stadium-for-the-kobe-2024-para-athletics-world-championships/