The Center for Diversity, Accessibility and Career Development (DAC Center) of the University of Tsukuba is promoting research and practice projects to help students with various characteristics (or ‘colors’), including developmental disabilities, enjoy a rich student life.
We call it the Project for Reasonable Accommodation for Developmental Disabilities, or RADD Project.
Background to the launch of the RADD Project
There are many students with so-called developmental disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Specific Learning Disorder (SLD), enrolled in higher education institutions across Japan.
However, it has been pointed out that since these disabilities are often not apparent at first glance, it is easy for such students and those around them to be unaware of them; and due to the diversity of their needs, it is often difficult to know how to provide appropriate support.
The number of students with developmental disabilities in higher education institutions has been increasing every year, and is expected to increase further in the future. At the same time, higher education institutions are required to further enhance their support systems so that these students can fully demonstrate their abilities.
Purpose of the RADD Project
Phase 1: FY2015-2018
(funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
With support from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), we have launched a four-year research and practice project, “Providing Reasonable Accommodation for Students with Developmental Disabilities with Motivation and Ability and Building a Support Model in Higher Education: Realization of Individualized Support for “Invisible Disabilities”, abbreviated as the “Reasonable Accommodation for Developmental Disabilities Project” (RADD Project). (Project Representative: Kazunori Takeda).
The project was scheduled for the 2015-2018 academic years, and the first phase aimed to “build a model for supporting students with developmental disabilities.
In this first phase, the University of Tsukuba, which has a long history of supporting students with visual impairment, hearing impairment, and motor and internal disabilities, made use of its experience to promote research and practice that will contribute to the enhancement of support for students with developmental disabilities at higher education institutions in Japan, with the cooperation of experts in disability science and support for children with disabilities from inside and outside the university. Specifically, the project developed a model for supporting students with developmental disabilities in higher education institutions, by focusing on the following three points.
- Appropriate assessment
- Fair and impartial assessment
- Multi-layered academic support for individual students
Phase 2: From FY2019
Since fiscal year 2019, we have been refining the “model for supporting students with developmental disabilities” constructed in the first phase, as well as gathering research evidence that will serve as the foundation for the model, and promoting its dissemination to and implementation in other universities, etc.
The model is only a model, and must be adjusted according to the actual situation of each university. For this purpose, we are promoting activities for research, practice, and dissemination.
Currently, the project is being carried out in collaboration with the following three projects.
(1) Training and consultation for other universities, etc.
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Joint Usage Center for Education: “Education Center for Human Resources to Support Students with Diverse Developmental Characteristics”
<Purpose>
As a center for faculty and staff development (FD/SD) regarding support for students with developmental disabilities for faculty members of other universities nationwide, the Center will conduct FD/SD training, etc., to improve the response capabilities of faculty members. It will also respond to requests from other universities for individual consultations and dispatch of lecturers.
(2) Enhancement of assessment and consultation functions at the University of Tsukuba
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Funds for Functional Enhancement (for promoting functional enhancement): “Implementation of Psycho-Educational Assessment to Maximize the Performance of Diverse Students”
<Purpose>
To conduct individual psycho-educational assessments to objectively evaluate within the University of Tsukuba. In addition, specialized assessors will be trained.
(3) Accumulation of evidence regarding support for students with developmental disabilities
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A): “Realization of Neurodiversity Based on Optimization of Rational Consideration and Support Models in Universities” [Principal Investigator: Kazunori Takeda]
<Purpose>
In line with the paradigm shift from “developmental disabilities” to “neurodiversity” in other countries, we will conduct research to build a model optimized for the current situation in Japan, in collaboration with researchers inside and outside the university.
RADD Project Implementation Structure
The RADD Project is a research and practice project led by the DAC Center and the Department of Human Sciences, as part of the University of Tsukuba’s organizational efforts to develop diverse human resources.
About the logo
RADD is an acronym for Reasonable Accommodation for Developmental Disabilities. The color scheme of the logo expresses the purpose of the project: to enhance support for students with various personalities (or ‘colors’) so they can enjoy a rich student life together.
majoring in composition in our university’s School of Arts and Design.