When Japanese people with disabilities travel to Europe or the United States, they are often surprised by the barrier-free environment. This refers to urban structures designed to allow wheelchair users to live the same lifestyles as able-bodied people. Not only does this make life more convenient, but it also seems to provide a good working environment for people with disabilities. This trend is beginning to be adopted by Japanese companies. One such company is “Taiyo no Ie,” a special subsidiary of Omron that manufactures sockets and switches for control devices. Of the 73 employees, 34 are people with disabilities, making up roughly half. With a few exceptions, such as during the Lehman Shock, it is a reputable company that has remained profitable. The number of companies utilizing people with disabilities as a valuable asset is gradually increasing.
It is becoming increasingly recognized that incorporating the perspectives of people with disabilities in product development leads to better products. Beyond product development based on the perspective of people with disabilities, there is recognition that product development focused on the growing elderly population will increase added value. Companies that effectively employ people with disabilities will be able to expand into uncharted fields. For people with disabilities, continuing to work in a new field will provide a sense of accomplishment and renewed motivation for their work. Considering the decline in the senses and declining health that occurs with aging, the elderly can also be considered a potential disability force. An increasing number of elderly people are concerned about issues such as hearing loss and difficulty reading newspaper pages. This increase in the elderly population will create new markets. Therefore, if people with disabilities can offer ways to alleviate their disabilities, new business opportunities will emerge.
The proportion of the world’s population aged 65 and over will nearly double from 9.4% in 2020 to 18.5% in 2060. Even healthy people over 65 experience hearing and visual impairment due to aging. The WHO estimates that by 2050, approximately 2.5 billion people, or one-quarter of the world’s population, will live with hearing loss. Whenever inconveniences arise, humans have created new technologies to resolve them. These businesses operate in all countries and regions, and developing products that are easy for everyone to use has become a source of competitive advantage. Developing products that are easy for everyone to use creates new business opportunities. One such product development company is Sony, which has continued to listen to the voices of consumers with disabilities. The aging of the global population is the driving force behind this company’s efforts to improve product usability. Sony develops new products by involving employees with disabilities in the product planning and development stages.
