1/3/2024 0 Comments List of invisible disabilities![]() ![]() ![]() The “Help Mark” thus became a nationwide sign and system ( 5). As a result, public institutions as well as local and prefectural governments attempted to promote this sign in Japan. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) made further efforts to promote awareness of this wearable sign by revising the JIS Z8210 standard for graphical symbols for guidance, with the aim of making this symbol easier to understand not only for the Japanese but also for foreign tourists, in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. The “Help Mark” is being promoted as a part of efforts to develop a symbiotic society. Posters have also been displayed in public transport and other places to promote awareness of this sign. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government distributes the “Help Mark” badges at metropolitan transportation facilities (such as subway stations and bus offices). This system was designed to induce help from others and to create an inclusive environment for people with invisible disabilities. The “Help Mark” was originally created in 2012 by Akemi Yamaka, a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly who has artificial joints, to make the daily lives of people with “hidden disabilities” (e.g., people with prosthetic legs, artificial joints, internal ailments, and internal and rare diseases) easier by receiving assistance from people around them in public settings. Our study examines whether future-oriented thinking increases positive attitudes toward this system. ![]() In this study, we focus on a unique system to promote social inclusion for people with hidden or invisible disabilities in Japan called the “Help Mark.” Despite its proposed usefulness, the recognition and effectiveness of the “Help Mark” among the general public is low ( 4). To promote inclusion of people with hidden and invisible disabilities and ensure their rights and participation in the society is an urgent issue for countries that ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) ( 3), including Japan. Besides chronic medical conditions, there are many invisible disabilities such as neurodevelopmental disorders, mental disorders, hearing impairments, and symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue, and dizziness. However, it is easy to imagine that the rate is higher than expected as studies show that about 10% of Americans have a medical condition, which could be considered an invisible disability and 96% of those with chronic medical conditions live with a condition that is invisible ( 2). ![]() There is not enough data about the rate of prevalence of invisible disabilities. Invisible disability is a physical, mental, or neurological condition that is hidden or not visible to an observer. These results indicate that encouraging future-oriented thinking may lead to positive attitudes regarding the “Help Mark” system.Īccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 15% of the global population or over one billion individuals live with one or more disabling conditions ( 1) notably, most of these conditions are invisible. Furthermore, it was indicated that people who saw the poster containing a message implying that the “Help Mark” is “for everyone” reported increased positive attitudes toward the “Help Mark” system. The results suggest that a message that reflects that the “Help Mark” is for “everyone,” based on future-oriented thinking, is more effective. Additionally, based on the data obtained in Study 1, we presented a newly designed poster to promote the “Help Mark” sign and attempted to empirically examine the effect of this poster (Study 2). The purpose of this study was to examine the type of messages that are more effective in promoting the “Help Mark” system (Study 1). However, it is difficult to assert whether there is sufficient awareness regarding this sign in the Japanese society. Several attempts have been made to publicize the meaning and implications of this wearable sign through various media. It is designed to induce help from others for those in need of help because of their hidden disabilities or health conditions. The “Help Mark,” created in Japan, is worn by people who need help in public settings. ![]()
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