Gyeonggi-do Support for Disabled People: Policies and Festivals

Gyeonggi-do has been implementing new policies in relation to disabled people as of this year. Various festivals and fairs are held to support them.

Gyeonggi-do has updated provincial disability policies and is working on improving access to job-seeking events, cultural activities, and arts for its disabled residents.

According to the World Report on Disability by the World Health Organization (WHO), many of the barriers faced by disabled people are avoidable. It is up to us as a country, a province, and a society to overcome the disadvantages associated with disabilities. Disability is a condition we are all likely to experience, be it ourselves or a family member, especially with aging.

The WHO recognizes disability as both a global public health issue and a human rights issue, and has created an action plan to help create a world in which people with disabilities can live with dignity, enjoy equal rights and opportunities as members of society, and achieve their full potential.

Gyeonggi-do is working towards the realization of this vision by creating an environment in which its residents with disabilities can thrive; a society that allows everyone to grow without discrimination.

Gyeonggi-do Disabilities-related Policies

The World Report on Disabilities (published in 2011) shows that among developed countries, people with disabilities in Korea had relatively higher risks of poverty and public transportation difficulties, while concurrently having comparatively lower access to occupational therapists.

During the past decade, Korea has been working to reduce the barriers and improve the situation. Gyeonggi-do has also been working on policy development so as to address the issues faced by its residents with disabilities and empower every individual.

Gyeonggi-do’s Disability Policy Changes in 2020

The COVID-19 crisis has increased the range of inconveniences faced by disabled people in their daily lives. To counter this, Gyeonggi-do has implemented a set of new policies to help local residents with disabilities. Some of the support offered includes purchasing masks by proxy, emergency payment of activity fees, monetary support for individuals in self-quarantine, and expansion of the scope of support for family care.

In addition, Gyeonggi-do is increasing the number of low-floor buses in use. These buses have relatively lower floors and come equipped with a bridging plate that allows individuals in wheelchairs access the bus. The percentage of low-floor buses relative to the total number of buses was increased from 26.5% in 2019 to 36% as of January 2020.

Pocheon introduced three low-floor buses to improve the convenience of people with disabilities this September. 
Ⓒ Gyeonggi Province

Concurrently, the province is increasing yearly support for cultural activities offered through the Munhwa Nuri Card, a prepaid card designed to improve individual quality of life and reduce cultural gaps between different societal groups stemming from unequal access to cultural resources. The recipients of Munhwa Nuri Card can use the funds provided to enjoy arts, domestic travel, and sports activities.

One of the outstanding policy improvements is an increase in the number of rehabilitation centers and available beds. This policy improvement has added 9,000 beds so as to ensure that local residents can receive the care they require. Rehabilitation centers help individuals restore some or all of their physical, sensory, and mental capabilities after an injury, illness, or disease. Accordingly, these centers play an important role in helping individuals with disabilities overcome the difficulties they face and find ways to compensate for the irreversible effects of their circumstances.

Another significant change in support for people with disabilities in Gyeonggi-do relates to pension coverage. Compared to 2019, the pension fund for individuals with disabilities will be extended to include all disabled people from lower-income brackets.

In addition, Gyeonggi-do is also planning to increase pregnancy and childbirth support for women with disabilities.

Events and Activities to Support People with Disabilities

Due to accessibility issues, people with disabilities can encounter difficulties participating in some social events or activities. Gyeonggi-do plans to create more events in which residents with disabilities can actively take part, thereby helping them acheive their potential.

Online Job Fair: J.O.Y TO.DAY

J.O.Y TO.DAY is an online job fair held for provincial residents with disabilities. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and overall increase in unemployment, the event had extra significance.

Gyeonggi-do Online Recruitment Fair for disabled people was held online to secure people with disabilities who are struggling to find employment due to COVID-19. 
Ⓒ Gyeonggi Province

The aim of the J.O.Y TO.DAY is to help improve disabled people’s access to the job market. There are various services available such as offering recruitment information for visually impaired job-seekers, real-time welfare counseling, a VR exhibition of assistive devices, and VR job simulations.

As mentioned, this year non-face-to-face methods were used to offer different services and activities. These services, which help connect businesses and job seekers without the risk of COVID-19 exposure for either party, include the recommendation of companies with positions suitable for individuals based on type of disability, matching companies to suitable job seekers, and online video-based job interviews.

Gyeonggi-do Culture and Arts Festival for Residents with Disabilities

Gyeonggi-do also hosted a culture and arts festival to give more visibility to residents with disabilities as creative contributors to art and culture. An important goal for this festival was to create room for active participation by people with disabilities rather than just a festival that targeted them as the audience.

It was also important that Gyeonggi residents with disabilities be able to enjoy activities freely. The festival organizers hoped to create a space in which disabled people and non-disabled people can enjoy different activities together.

The festival was organized by the Federation of Disability Culture & Arts Association of Korea, which was created to advance the cultural and artistic welfare of disabled people. This is achieved by developing and promoting cultural and artistic individuals with disabilities, creating networks that connect the artists, and promoting creative activities.

Gyeonggi-do is implementing more policies to support local residents with disabilities and is launching various programs. There are still many areas that need to be improved to help provincial residents, but Gyeonggi-do embraces this challenge as it works to create a better future for everyone.