What is the DRC?

The Disability Resource Center (DRC) is a support desk for students with disabilities to ensure an equal learning opportunity. There are professional coordinators on staff to access students’ various support needs and arrange environments conducive to studying.
The DRC also provides consultations about assistive technology and related resources to faculty, staff, and on-campus support personnel.

DRC Information

To start with, please call or email us at the DRC.
◎Even if you do not have a diagnosis, you can still receive a consultation.

Privacy Policy

Disability Type Location Contact Information
For Students with Physical Disabilities Kinugasa Campus
Kenshinkan 1F
075-465-8343
drc@st.ritsumei.ac.jp
For students with mental disorders/developmental disabilities, and those who may have these conditions
(located in the Office of Student Affairs)
Kinugasa Campus
Kenshinkan 2F*
075-465-8174
sns-k@st.ritsumei.ac.jp
Biwako-Kusatsu Campus (BKC)
Central Arc 1F
077-561-3951
sns-b@st.ritsumei.ac.jp
Osaka Ibaraki Campus (OIC)
Building A, South Wing 1F (AS Office)
072-665-2130
sns-oic@st.ritsumei.ac.jp

*If you are enrolled in a graduate school located on the Suzaku Campus, please contact the Office of Student Affairs (at Kinugasa Campus).

Request Regarding Inquiries from Third Parties (Parents/Guardians, etc.)

Based on the “Ritsumeikan University Policy on Support for Students with Disabilities,” the Ritsumeikan University Disability Resource Center promotes support for students in which students choose to come to the consultation office and talk to one of the relevant staff members of their own volition. In principle, consultations regarding academic support and reasonable accommodation are to be conducted via consultations with the student themselves. In addition, at Ritsumeikan University, based on the “Disability Resource Center Privacy Policy,” the content of student consultations is treated as personal information. Due to this, in the case that we have not received consent to share information directly from the relevant student, even if an inquiry is from the parents/guardians of the student, in principle, we are unable to respond to it. We kindly ask for your understanding.

Request Regarding Inquiries from Third Parties (Parents/Guardians, etc.)

Based on the “Ritsumeikan University Policy on Support for Students with Disabilities,” the Ritsumeikan University Disability Resource Center promotes support for students in which students choose to come to the consultation office and talk to one of the relevant staff members of their own volition. In principle, consultations regarding academic support and reasonable accommodation are to be conducted via consultations with the student themselves. In addition, at Ritsumeikan University, based on the “Disability Resource Center Privacy Policy,” the content of student consultations is treated as personal information. Due to this, in the case that we have not received consent to share information directly from the relevant student, even if an inquiry is from the parents/guardians of the student, in principle, we are unable to respond to it. We kindly ask for your understanding.

Process for receiving support - from application to the start of support

Application
If you wish to receive support, please contact your college's or graduate school's administrative office, or the DRC directly and apply for a consultation.
Consultation
After you have consulted with a support coordinator regarding what kind of support you need, the DRC will work with your college’s or graduate school’s administrative office to make arrangements.
Document Submission
Please submit the required documents to the DRC (e.g., support application form, medical certificate, disability certificate, etc.).

The DRC takes great care managing any personal information received with the student’s consent during the provision of support. This information will never be shared with a third party without consent.

Support Eligibility

Students that fulfill conditions ① – ③ are eligible to receive support.

  1. Currently enrolled at Ritsumeikan University
  2. Experiencing significant learning limitations
  3. Wishes to receive support, and is recognized by the university as needing support (incl. requiring temporary support due to illness, injury, etc.)

Policy on Support for Students with Disabilities

Our Core Values

Ritsumeikan University is committed to creating an inclusive environment that supports students with disabilities through the following three principles:

  1. To provide students with disabilities equal access to quality education
  2. To contribute to the learning and development of all students through supporting students with disabilities
  3. To aim to enhance the university’s educational capabilities by bringing an awareness of support for students with disabilities to faculty and staff through FD (Faculty Development) and SD (Staff Development) initiatives.

For details, click the following link to see
The Ritsumeikan University Policy on Support for Students with Disabilities.

Our Objectives

Through providing support, the DRC works towards developing the following 3 skills in students:

  1. Self-awareness
    The DRC will help students develop self-awareness of what they can do, what they are good at, and what they can achieve with a little ingenuity and support.
  2. Self-advocacy
    Through helping students verbalize their goals, challenges, hopes and needs, the DRC will assist in the development of their abilities to proactively seek support and to select the right resources and support for their needs.
  3. Self-management
    The DRC will help students develop their abilities to design their own support plan and to utilize various on- and off-campus resources in order to solve problems and achieve goals.

Support at Ritsumeikan

Support for students with disabilities is mainly academic and provided after taking into consideration the students’ individual needs. Below are examples of the kind of support offered at RU. For further details, please contact the DRC.

Support Services

Academic Support

  1. providing digital text files of class/research materials
  2. proxy writing, proxy reading, audio guides
  3. sighted guides
  4. making class auditory information accessible through text (e.g., note taking accommodations using a computer or by hand, etc.)
  5. transcribing lecture notes from the blackboard, proxy blackboard writing
  6. assistance moving between classrooms and preparing for class (e.g., taking out textbooks and writing utensils from bags, etc.)
  7. material organization
  8. braille accommodations (*please consult the DRC)
  9. lending of assistive devices and providing explanations on their use
  10. consulting with course instructors regarding accommodations, preparation of written requests for accommodations
  11. periodic consultations, reflection meetings each semester
  1. are services offered by the DRC support staff.
  2. *For final examination accommodations, please consult with the administrative office of your college or graduate school.
  3. *To apply for access to digital text files of the library’s collections, please contact the library.

Assistive Devices

The availability of assistive devices varies year to year and depending on students’ needs. During consultations, the DRC will loan assistive devices and explain their use in accordance with the students’ needs and study environment. If you want to know more about what kinds of assistive devices are available, please feel free to contact the DRC.

Support Activities

At Ritsumeikan University, personal support activities such as making information accessible through text (e.g., note taking accommodations using a computer), creating digital texts of learning materials, proxy reading, proxy writing, assisting with movement around campus, assisting with class preparation (e.g., taking out writing materials from bags), and other forms of support are carried out by other students (“Support Staff”).

How to Become a DRC Support Staff Member

If you are a student interested in becoming a DRC Support Staff Member, please contact the DRC.

Support Staff Activities

Activities include making information accessible through text (e.g., note taking accommodations using a computer), creating digital texts of learning materials, proxy reading, proxy writing, assisting with movement around campus, assisting with class preparation (e.g., taking out writing materials from bags), etc.
*The content of support activities changes every academic year depending on the situations of students with disabilities that require personal support. If you want to know more about what the support staff is currently doing, please feel free to contact the DRC.

How to Register

  1. Please visit the DRC or contact the office by phone or email to inquire about becoming a support staff member or about support activities.
  2. A coordinator will explain the support activities.
  3. Support staff employment registration procedures will be carried out.
  4. Before starting support activities, new staff will undergo support training.
  5. Support activities will begin.

Remuneration for Support Staff

Support Staff will receive remuneration depending on the content of the support activity.
Support activities are only open to undergraduate and graduate students at RU and only those students may receive remuneration.

Message for Faculty and Staff

In response to the need for a university-wide support system, in 2006 Ritsumeikan University established the “Disability Resource Committee,” chaired by the Vice President of RU, and the specialized “Disability Resource Center.” Then in 2016, these organizations were merged with the previously established “Special Needs Support Room” that provided comprehensive support to students with developmental disabilities, including those who could potentially have this kind of disability. Under this new system, the university has been working to provide various forms of support in cooperation with the administrative offices of RU’s colleges and graduate schools.

The DRC supports not only students with disabilities, but also the Support Staff and third-party faculty and staff. In order to provide support, we work with the DRC’s resident coordinator, course instructors, and individuals in charge of support at each college administrative office and related organizations.

Message for Course Instructors

As a part of academic support for students with disabilities the DRC is implementing accommodations for “required matters for taking regular classes”. We also prepare written requests to course instructors that explain required accommodations and ask for their understanding and cooperation, which are distributed to instructors by the student themselves.

In addition, the DRC prepares “Individual Evacuation Plans” for students, primarily those with physical disabilities that require support in the event of a disaster. In addition to everyday considerations, please confirm disaster evacuation procedures with these students.

For questions regarding other considerations, please contact the DRC.

You may also refer to the Faculty and Staff Guide (English Version) for details.

Faculty and Staff Guide (English Version)

  1. Faculty and Staff Guide ”Physical Disability” ver. 2019
  2. Faculty and Staff Guide “Mental and Developmental Disability” ver. 2019

Barrier-free Map