Gyeongnam Disabled Persons' Organizations "Guarantee Our Rights to Mobility, Education, Independence, and Labor"

4.20 Delivery of Policy Demands for the Rights Protection of Persons with Disabilities

On the 18th, two days before Disability Day, the Gyeongnam Disabled Independent Living Center Council held a press conference urging the protection of the rights of people with disabilities.

On that day, 21 disability organizations in the province, including the council, demanded at the provincial government press center, “Accept the 4.20 Disability Policy Demands to ensure that people with disabilities can fully participate in various aspects of life.”

The Gyeongnam Disabled Independent Living Center Council is holding a press conference at the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Press Center.
[Photo by Lee Seryeong]

They claimed, “People with disabilities still do not have sufficient guarantees for the right to mobility, the right to education, the right to deinstitutionalization and independent living, and the right to work.”

“Although the introduction of low-floor buses has been mandated, there is a tendency to designate exception routes to avoid introducing low-floor buses,” they said, adding, “While the legally required number of disabled call taxis is maintained, the actual operation rate is low due to a shortage of drivers, and waiting times are long.”

They also stated, “Voucher taxis can only be used within a limited transportation budget each month and within a certain time frame, and there is a limitation that they cannot leave the designated area. People with developmental disabilities are excluded from applying for use on the grounds that they do not have walking disabilities.”

The council requested better mobility rights for people with disabilities, including guaranteeing one vehicle and two drivers for special transportation, expanding low-floor buses, expanding the scope of voucher taxis, and applying the same time, range, and fare policies to special transportation and voucher taxis.

“Most people with disabilities nationwide have an education level of middle school or below, and there are only about 300 lifelong education institutions for people with disabilities among lifelong education institutions nationwide,” they demanded support for operating expenses for lifelong education institutions for people with disabilities and designation of lifelong learning cities for people with disabilities.

A lifelong learning city for people with disabilities is a project that provides lifelong education programs according to the type and degree of disability and supports conveniences such as transportation to improve accessibility. Namhae is the only such city in Gyeongnam.

The council said, “Many people with disabilities who want to live independently cannot do so because they cannot find housing or receive sufficient activity support,” and emphasized the need to supply public rental housing to guarantee deinstitutionalization and independent living for people with disabilities.

“Proper support for dedicated personnel for people with severe disabilities is necessary, and even those with the most severe disabilities should be able to choose their working hours between 65 and 80 hours according to their conditions,” they raised their voices, saying, “Allow people with disabilities to exercise their rights as dignified subjects of labor.”

Choi Jin-ki, representative of the Gyeongnam Disabled Independent Living Center Council, is speaking about the demands for guaranteeing the rights of disabled people.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

Choi Jin-gi, the council representative, said, “I hope that people with disabilities who use assistive devices can use special transportation, and those who do not use assistive devices can use voucher taxis,” adding, “People with disabilities who use assistive devices can only ride special transportation, but I hope they can be prioritized over non-users in dispatch.”

He continued, “When people with disabilities turn 65, their disability activity support services are discontinued and transferred to long-term care, but I ask for continuous helper services without age restrictions,” and “Although Gyeongnam Province supports lifelong education for people with disabilities better than other regions, I hope support can be further expanded through the selection of lifelong learning cities for people with disabilities.”

Representative Choi appealed, “Please do not forget that going together is more important than going fast, and listen to our voices so that people with disabilities can live ordinary lives, not special treatment.”

After the press conference, the council delivered the ‘2024 4.20 Disability Rights Protection Policy Demands’ to Gyeongnam Province.