It is the early hours of the morning and I'm sat out in the open air. My eyes are closed and my hand is clutched tightly around a car of lukewarm beer. Frankly, I'm feeling a little disorientated.
Just an average Saturday night in Roppongi, you might think. Actually, I'm about 300 km further south on the small island of Hachijojima. I have my eyes closed because the house rule in this bar is that all patrons put themselves in the shoes of the bar staff, who are blind. I am drinking under the stars because I'm at Universal Camp 2008, a three-day activity program for those both with and without disabilities.
Over 140 people attended, about one third of whom had a disability of some kind. The aim of the camp was to give all participants a chance to learn about the practical and social problems caused by particular disabilities.
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