ohgrbyte@comcast.net wrote:
 > Hi I'm from America, and I'm gearing up to visit Japan for the first
 > time. I plan to bring along a few close friends. One is handicapped
 > though. Well sort of. He was born with a Cleft Palette, and has a
 > slight speech impediment. Plus the hairlip is still visable.
 >
 > I was wondering what the Japanese attitude was towards handicapped
 > people? Would my friend have to worry? Or is the attitude no
 > different than he would suffer in the States? Any feed back would be
 > much appreciated. Thankyou.
 >
In all honesty I'd refrain from calling that a handicap. As such it 
won't be a problem. Most people I've known who have had hairlips (or 
disabilities in general) long ago got used to the feeling that people 
are looking at them all the time. So they should do fine in Japan.

John W.