On September 6, 2020, as part of Gifu University technical exchange study programs, Assistant Professor Ryo Horita of the Health Administration Center and Ms. Chihiro Kawakami, a lecturer of the Medical Education Development Center (MEDC) hosted a webinar titled, "What happened to students with disabilities during the pandemic?"

Symposiums on how to assist students with developmental disabilities have been held every year from 2017 and they primarily focused on how to form a partnership between universities and communities, and help students acquire professional skills. But organizers of the September 6 symposium reviewed how students with developmental disabilities felt, thought and spent time during the COVID-19 pandemic from various perspectives and based on the data collected. It was held online through Zoom (online chat services) with approximately 150 participants attending from all across Japan. They were university staffs, people working for education sector, governments and welfare businesses, etc. Nagoya University and the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) also offered support for the symposium.

At the outset of the symposium, Dr. Horita gave an overview of Gifu University's support framework for students with disabilities. It was followed by the first session of speeches by guest speakers. They were:

- Mr. Naoki Tanaka from the Department of Health and Welfare for Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. He spoke about the government responses to COVID-19.

- Specially Appointed Associate Professor Shinpei Kudo, from the Ability Support Center, Nagoya University, Dr. Norikatsu Ikawa, President of Ikawa Clinic, and Ms. Chie Goto, an executive board member of General Incorporated Association, "Sustainable Support" gave their respective speeches regarding students' academic activities, daily lives and job-seeking.

In the second session, speakers and audience actively engaged in discussions over the well-being of students with disabilities.

A wide range of information and opinions were exchanged between speakers and audience which include both the weaknesses and the strengths of students with disabilities, and when they come to surface (during their study activities, daily lives and job-seeking activities, etc.) and also the need for a paradigm shift on the part of supporters. We hope this symposium will help people develop their understanding about the status of students with disabilities, and offer practical and more substantial support to the students for the days when COVID-19 infections wind down and society "co-exists" with COVID-19.