Profile : Koji ONOUE

I was born in Osaka in 1960. After spending elementary school years in a special school/institution for children with disabilities, I attended ordinary junior and senior high schools. Upon entering Osaka City University in 1978, I joined afterschool activity, which discussed about the issues of persons with disabilities (PWDs). And it prompted me to begin work on the independent living movement for persons with disabilities.
I was actively involved in the introduction of buses with lifts which started to be operated in Osaka City for the first time in Japan in 1991. I was also active in the movement towards the enactment of an “Ordinance for the foundation of comfortable living environments for persons with disabilities” in Osaka Prefecture, which was enacted in autumn of 1992. In the RI (Rehabilitation International) conference I participated in the demonstration for accessible transportation and worked as staff of the assembly for international solidarity. I took part in DPI’s actions towards accessible transportation as staff. After the earthquake in 1995, I worked on the rescue operation with the help of PWDs themselves as a member of the PWD rescue headquarters. I voiced my opinion as a witness in the Diet when the Barrier-Free Transportation Law was enacted in April 2000. I went all over Japan to attend regional assemblies to prepare for the DPI World Assembly which was held in Sapporo City in 2002. Currently, I hold positions as a navigation committee member of the Independent Living Center, a permanent committee member of Peer Osaka, and the Secretary-General of DPI (Disabled People's International) Japan.