Towards a Society Where Hearing Impairment is Recognized as a "Strength"

Our company supports April Dream, an initiative to share dreams on April 1st. This press release is the dream of the "General Incorporated Association Bridge Heart."

We, the General Incorporated Association Bridge Heart, aim to realize "a society where individuals with hearing impairments can live with self-confidence and authenticity."

Currently, hearing impairment is often discussed in terms of "what cannot be done" or "inconveniences." However, there are inherent "possibilities" that are not yet fully understood. The concentration and observation skills cultivated by not relying on sound, and the rich expressiveness that utilizes sight and senses. In reality, some individuals with hearing impairments express themselves through dance or utilize their sensitivity as designers. Despite this, their potential is not fully leveraged in society simply because it is "not well-known." Representative's Personal Experience Our representative, Yuuri Ikeda, was born with congenital severe sensorineural hearing loss and received cochlear implants at age 1 and age 12. From a young age, she struggled with feeling different from others and with communication, often experiencing situations where her limitations were highlighted. However, she also realized that her own ingenuity could expand her capabilities and that her potential could grow with the right environment and understanding. Therefore, she now wants to create "a society where choices are not narrowed by disability, but where possibilities are expanded." Our Dream Our dream is to create a future where hearing impairment is perceived not as a "handicap," but as one of many possibilities, and where those possibilities are leveraged as value in society. A society where each individual recognizes their strengths and can challenge themselves with confidence. And a society where parents can sincerely think, "My child's future is secure," and where children themselves can feel, "It's okay to be myself." The Future Bridge Heart Aims For Bridge Heart serves as a platform connecting parents, individuals with hearing impairments, experts, companies, and society, providing: • A community where no one feels isolated (where parents and individuals with similar experiences can connect) • An environment where accurate information can be accessed • Opportunities to expand possibilities We deliver these through various initiatives. In addition to online activities, we organize "Dads of Children with Hearing Impairments Meetups" across the country, creating spaces where they can share concerns and feelings that can only be discussed with those in similar situations. We have held these events in Kyoto, Tokyo, Okayama, Kobe, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and other locations, receiving many comments such as "It's good to talk to people with the same worries" and "I'm glad I came." Through both real-world and online interactions, we support the potential of individuals with hearing impairments and their families. We aim to create a future where the possibilities and strengths of people with hearing impairments spread throughout society and are recognized as new value. To Companies and Partners We invite companies who resonate with this vision and are interested in initiatives that transform the possibilities of hearing impairment into societal value to contact us. We sincerely look forward to meeting partners who will help us realize this future together.