Yeongdeungpo-gu Opens Shelter for Visually Impaired

Opening of a 123㎡ Rest Area in Ace High Tech City 2, Mullae-dong on the 22nd
Leisure spaces, program rooms, healing rooms established... Promoting leisure and activating self-help groups
Opening ceremony held and full operation started... District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon: "We will strive to enhance the rights and quality of life of people with disabilities"

Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced on the 22nd that it has opened and officially started operating a "Rest Area for the Visually Impaired" with a total floor area of 123㎡ inside Ace High Tech City 2 in Mullae-dong.

As of 2023, there are 1,530 visually impaired people in Yeongdeungpo-gu, accounting for 10.4% of the total 14,708 registered disabled individuals. This is the third highest among the 15 types of disabilities. In particular, due to the nature of visual impairment, it is often difficult for visually impaired people to use general welfare facilities, making a dedicated, user-centered space that considers the visually impaired even more necessary.

Accordingly, the district established a dedicated rest area for the visually impaired to provide customized welfare services such as leisure enhancement, activation of self-help groups, and operation of small-scale programs for the visually impaired.

The rest area for the visually impaired was newly created by remodeling the existing Women’s Second Neulpum Center. It provides dedicated spaces for the visually impaired, including ▲ leisure space ▲ program room ▲ healing room ▲ office, among others.

The rest area supports a variety of activities ranging from ▲ Go classes and yoga classes exclusively for the visually impaired to ▲ Braille education, mobility training, and voice smartphone usage education for those with acquired visual impairment. It also offers ▲ job skill enhancement training for those holding massage therapist certifications.

The operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and it is available to any visually impaired person registered in Yeongdeungpo-gu. Since the rest area is designed from the perspective of the visually impaired, it is expected to be safer and more convenient to use than other facilities and to greatly help promote communication and interaction among users.

Meanwhile, on the 22nd, the district held an opening ceremony at the rest area for the visually impaired to celebrate its operation. The ceremony was attended by about 50 people, including Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Choi Ho-kwon, National Assembly member Kim Ye-ji, and visually impaired individuals, and included ▲ facility tours ▲ congratulatory speeches ▲ plaque unveiling ▲ and facility rounds.

Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Choi Ho-kwon said, “The rest area for the visually impaired is significant as a dedicated space where visually impaired people, who face many difficulties using welfare facilities in the region, can use it more safely and conveniently.” He added, “We will continue to listen to the voices of people with disabilities and do our best to promote their rights and improve their quality of life.”