Opening of Seongdong-gu Daycare Center for People with Developmental Disabilities

Comprehensive Support for Developmental Disabilities: Education and Job Training to Establish Social Integration

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) held an opening ceremony for the ‘Hamkke Daycare Center’ on the 16th, accelerating support for the independence of people with developmental disabilities.

Located in Doseon-dong, the Hamkke Daycare Center spans 360㎡ across two floors. A gymnasium and exercise room where people with developmental disabilities can freely run around have been created and are used as exercise spaces for users.

Another space is set up as the main program room, where classes are conducted according to the degree and characteristics of the disabilities of the center’s users. Here, they learn Hangul and also draw pictures. For friends who occasionally exhibit challenging behaviors, a psychological stabilization room has been prepared inside the classroom.

Seongdong-gu operates a total of 11 institutions to support activities for people with developmental disabilities, including two daycare centers for the disabled, one lifelong education center for people with developmental disabilities, four vocational rehabilitation facilities for the disabled, and four group homes. About 160 people with developmental disabilities receive educational activities, independence training, and vocational training during the daytime at these institutions. However, as the demand for care for people with developmental disabilities continues, the district actively reflected residents’ opinions and newly opened a daycare center for the disabled.

The daycare center provides education and care programs for people with developmental disabilities during the daytime. They arrive at 9 a.m., live together with other friends, learn basic independence training such as eating alone and using the restroom, and leave for home with their guardians or activity support teachers at 4 p.m.

Park, a guardian using the daycare center (resident of Eungbong-dong), said, “No matter how sick I am, I always have to watch my child 24 hours a day. If such care facilities are not available in the community, parents like me would become physically and mentally exhausted.” She added, “The newly opened Hamkke Daycare Center is comfortable and has experienced teachers, so I am grateful that I can trust and leave my child here.”

Seongdong-gu is also working to improve the treatment of center staff. Starting next year, additional support will be provided for the wages of existing daycare center staff, welfare points will be offered, and working conditions for rehabilitation teachers will be improved. Furthermore, a comprehensive support plan for people with developmental disabilities is being prepared to provide systematic support services.

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “Seongdong-gu will provide wholehearted support so that people with developmental disabilities can independently participate in society.” He added, “We will strive to ensure that people with developmental disabilities firmly establish themselves as members of society and that their families can also be happy together.”