Ulsan Superintendent Chun Changsoo Vows to Create Schools Free from Discrimination and Prejudice

15th 'Superintendent Meets with Citizens' Held

Discussion on Adults with Developmental Disabilities and Disability Awareness Improvement

Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Cheon Changsu met with adults with developmental disabilities to discuss improving disability awareness in educational settings and enhancing facility accessibility.

The Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education (Superintendent Cheon Changsu) held the 15th “Superintendent Meets with Citizens” event on the 16th at the Jiphyeonsil Hall of the Office, inviting around 20 adult participants with developmental disabilities who use the Ulsan Association of Parents of the Disabled’s daytime activity service.

The daytime activity service for people with disabilities is a program that provides various activities for adults with developmental disabilities (intellectual or autism spectrum disorders) aged 18 to under 65, enabling them to engage in meaningful activities during the day.

This program supports self-reliance activities, walks, exercise, cooking, art, music, movie and performance viewing, depending on the applicant’s wishes and circumstances. Applicants can choose between the basic type (132 hours per month) and the extended type (176 hours per month).

On this day, Superintendent Cheon Changsu said in his greeting, “If we create peaceful and warm schools without discrimination or prejudice between students with and without disabilities in the educational field, and if the natural rights of people with disabilities are guaranteed, our children can be even happier.”

First, participants requested facility improvements, expressing regret that they could not watch a video due to a broken screen during their tour of the Dokdo Hall at the Ulsan Student Education and Culture Center in Jung-gu.

In response, Superintendent Cheon said, “We plan to carry out improvements to the Dokdo Experience Center this September,” adding, “We will work to provide better convenience for visitors by completely replacing the Dokdo video hall projector, improving the real-time video monitor, and producing and installing a Dokdo model.”

Another participant asked whether the Ulsan Office of Education provides disability awareness training for its staff.

Superintendent Cheon replied, “The Ulsan Office of Education is an institution required to provide disability awareness training, and all employees must receive at least one hour of training per year,” and added, “We also make it mandatory to conduct at least one in-person training session to prevent discrimination and prejudice against people with disabilities.”

Regarding the request to expand facility use for adults with developmental disabilities, he responded, “Although Ulsan Office of Education’s experiential facilities are operated for students, we will actively consider allowing adults with developmental disabilities to use them during times when students are not using them.”

Finally, Superintendent Cheon urged, “Let us acknowledge the differences between people with and without disabilities as they are, and work together to create a healthy world without discrimination against disabilities.”

The Ulsan Office of Education operates the “Superintendent Meets with Citizens” program every month, where the superintendent meets directly with citizens to explain Ulsan’s education policies and communicate about various education issues.

Those wishing to participate in the “Superintendent Meets with Citizens” event can fill out the application form on the Ulsan Office of Education website and submit it via email.