Nowon-gu, Establishment of Lifetime Support Center for Adults with Severe Disabilities

Nowon-gu Establishes Lifelong Support Center for Adults with Severe Disabilities... Opening of 'Vision Dream Center' and 'Areumdri Dream Center'

Creation of ‘Vision Dream Center (Brain Lesion Disability Vision Center)’ and ‘Areumdri Dream Center (Daycare Facility for Disabled)’ for Adults with Severe Disabilities, accounting for 20.5% of registered disabled residents in the district

Relocated to Gitan Building (432 Hangulbiseok-ro), formerly the temporary office of Sanggye 5-dong Community Service Center... Vision Dream Center on 1st floor, Areumdri Dream Center on 2nd floor, shared spaces on 4th floor

From health management to education and community activities! Visit the center by appointment for consultation if you wish to use the services

Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it has additionally established a lifelong support center for adults with severe disabilities who have nowhere to go after graduating from school.

As of May this year, the number of registered disabled persons in Nowon-gu is 26,683, the second highest among Seoul’s autonomous districts. Among them, about 5,200 people with developmental disabilities (intellectual, autism) and brain lesion disabilities, who mainly use care facilities, account for 19.5% of the district’s registered disabled population.

In 2015, the district was selected in a Seoul city autonomous district contest to operate a lifelong education center for people with developmental disabilities, becoming the first autonomous district in Seoul to establish the ‘Nowon Lifelong Education Center for Developmental Disabilities.’ Currently, there are a total of 15 disability daycare facilities (corporate) and one lifelong education center for developmental disabilities operating in the area.

Furthermore, the district has additionally established the ‘Vision Dream Center (Brain Lesion Disability Vision Center)’ and ‘Areumdri Dream Center (Daycare Facility for Disabled),’ which are currently in pilot operation. This aims to actively respond to the increasing demand for disability care and create a hub institution that comprehensively manages and supports various information and services for people with severe disabilities.

Both centers are located in the Gitan Building (432 Hangulbiseok-ro), formerly the temporary office of Sanggye 5-dong Community Service Center, with the Vision Dream Center on the 1st floor, Areumdri Dream Center on the 2nd floor, and shared spaces on the 4th floor, covering approximately 1,102㎡.

The Vision Dream Center provides education, health, and care services to adults with severe brain lesion disabilities, aiming to promote independent living for the disabled individuals themselves and alleviate the caregiving burden on their families. It operates with a capacity of 15 people, with a maximum usage period of 5 years, and a monthly user fee of 330,000 KRW (230,000 KRW for service fee and 100,000 KRW for meals).

At the Vision Dream Center, mandatory courses include academic supplementation, vocational skill enhancement, and liberal arts education, while elective courses include social media skills improvement, yoga and meditation, and cooking classes. Additionally, the center checks users’ health status daily to improve their ability to perform daily living activities. Facilities at the Vision Dream Center include a group activity room, Snoezelen room, and nurse’s office.

The Areumdri Dream Center supports individualized customized services, aiming for people with developmental disabilities to take the lead in growing together in solidarity with the local community. It operates with a capacity of 18 people, with a maximum usage period of 5 years, and a monthly user fee of 300,000 KRW (200,000 KRW for service fee and 100,000 KRW for meals).

At the Areumdri Dream Center, in addition to education and health management, community activities for growth as members of society, experiential leisure activities such as cultural arts and sports, and positive behavior support teaching healthy self-expression and communication methods are conducted. Facilities at the Areumdri Dream Center include program rooms, psychological stabilization rooms, shower rooms, and counseling rooms.

The center’s operating hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If interested in applying, prospective users can make a reservation and visit the Vision Dream Center or Areumdri Dream Center for consultation on eligibility and personalized support details.

Meanwhile, the opening ceremony for the Vision Dream Center and Areumdri Dream Center will be held on the 22nd at 4 p.m. in the shared space on the 4th floor. About 50 people, including the district mayor, the chairperson of the district council, local members of the National Assembly and city/district council members, users with disabilities and their guardians, heads of disability organizations, and facility directors, are expected to attend.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “We have established the Vision Dream Center (Brain Lesion Disability Vision Center) and Areumdri Dream Center (Daycare Facility for Disabled) for adults with severe disabilities whose public care services are greatly reduced after graduating from school.” He added, “We will continue to carefully look after the happiness of both people with disabilities and their caregiving families and accelerate efforts toward making Nowon a disability-friendly city.”