Resolving the Learning Support Blind Spot for Borderline Intellectual Disability Individuals Between Intellectual Disability and General Population
Comprehensive Support from Local Education, Welfare, and Employment Resources to Social and Emotional Development
Expanding Support from Children and Adolescents to All Ages through Ordinance Amendment
Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will establish the first lifelong education support center in a Seoul autonomous district for individuals with borderline intellectual functioning in June.
The district plans to enhance the independence capabilities of individuals with borderline intellectual functioning, who are not registered as disabled and thus fall into a blind spot for various education and welfare benefits, by providing lifelong education tailored to their life cycle and establishing a systematic social support network.
The center's main projects include ▲ programs linked with specialized institutions and local communities ▲ support for self-help groups (youth, young adults, families) ▲ vocational competency development courses ▲ customized lifelong education programs by life cycle ▲ management and sharing of growth cases of individuals with borderline intellectual functioning.
Additionally, since individuals with borderline intellectual functioning are not registered as legally disabled, the center will establish a system to identify and select support recipients and will also carry out projects to change community awareness.
The center will utilize the unused after-school space of Yerum Arts School within the dormitory of Duksung Women's University in Sanggye-dong, which is currently leased by the district. This plan aims to reduce construction costs and simplify administrative procedures to start operations quickly. The center will be equipped with offices, classrooms, counseling rooms, and rest areas.
The district expects to achieve a synergy effect in support policies for youth and adult individuals with borderline intellectual functioning and adults with developmental disabilities by establishing the center in the same building where the nation's first alternative arts school for borderline intellectual youth, 'Yerum Arts School,' and the 'Nowon Developmental Disabilities Lifelong Education Center' are operating.
Prior to this, the district expanded the support target to all ages by revising the Nowon-gu Ordinance on Support for Individuals with Borderline Intellectual Functioning, enacted in 2021, last year and began preparing a lifelong education roadmap for individuals with borderline intellectual functioning. Subsequently, it established a 'Comprehensive Plan for Lifelong Education Support for Individuals with Borderline Intellectual Functioning' and has been conducting related parent briefings and collecting opinions.
Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “We have thought deeply and listened to opinions to provide practical help to individuals with borderline intellectual functioning, who have lacked institutional support so far,” adding, “Starting with the establishment of the center, we will spare no effort to support long-term policy development so that individuals with borderline intellectual functioning and the local community can live together without difficulties.”
Nowon-gu Lifelong Learning Division
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