Highly Praised for Efforts to Expand Facilities for Disabled and Address Welfare Blind Spots
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangdong-gu (District Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) was selected as the best autonomous district in the 2020 National Regional Welfare Project Disability Policy Evaluation conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
This year, the Ministry of Health and Welfare conducted the 'Regional Welfare Project Disability Policy Evaluation' to review the achievements of local governments nationwide striving to advance disability welfare and to discover and spread best practices.
The evaluation consisted of quantitative assessments across three areas?support for disabled persons' independence, support for disabled persons' services, and the disability welfare delivery system?comprising 10 items, as well as qualitative evaluations of outstanding policy projects.
Additionally, the evaluation quantified and assessed overall disability welfare matters, including support and response systems for vulnerable groups who experienced difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gangdong-gu was recognized for its efforts to actively promote broader and pioneering disability welfare policies by establishing the Disability Welfare Division through an organizational restructuring in 2018.
In this evaluation, Gangdong-gu was highly praised for its efforts to expand facilities for the disabled, such as promoting the construction of the district-run Comprehensive Welfare Center for the Disabled to provide comprehensive welfare services, opening independent living housing for disabled persons to support their independence, establishing the Career Plus Center for vocational training of persons with developmental disabilities, and opening the Disability Family Support Center to improve the quality of life for families of disabled persons.
Furthermore, through public-private cooperation such as welfare committees and meetings with facility and organization heads, the district gathered opinions from various social groups, discovered private resources, and made thorough efforts to eliminate welfare blind spots.
Notably, efforts to block infections among vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis, including 'visiting disinfection' and the production and distribution of handmade cotton masks, were also recognized as remarkable achievements.
Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, said, “Being selected as the best district in the first-ever ‘Regional Welfare Project Disability Policy Evaluation’ conducted nationwide is a precious result achieved through the joint efforts of residents and staff,” adding, “We will continue to aim for a Gangdong where disabled and non-disabled people live together happily without discrimination.”
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