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Mayor Park Heong-joon Announces Major Initiative for Individualized Communication Support for Persons with Disabilities: A Step Toward a Barrier-Free Communication City

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will fully implement the “2026 Busan Metropolitan City Communication Rights Support Project for Persons with Disabilities” to ensure that persons with disabilities can express their intentions smoothly anywhere.

This project aims to guarantee the right to expression and communication for persons with disabilities who face difficulties due to brain lesions, developmental disabilities, or speech impairments, thereby promoting independence and expanding opportunities for social participation.

In particular, following the revision of the Busan Metropolitan City Ordinance on the Promotion of Communication Rights for Persons with Disabilities last February, a strong legal foundation has been established. The project will go beyond simple distribution of assistive devices and be upgraded into an integrated, individualized support system tailored to each person, focusing on building a communication infrastructure that operates immediately in the field.

To achieve this, the project will be implemented based on three core strategies: individualized consulting centered on each person, strengthening the capacity of support personnel, and creating a barrier-free communication environment.

First, individualized consulting for persons with disabilities experiencing communication difficulties will be strengthened. After conducting in-depth counseling and assessment reflecting the type of disability and individual characteristics, the service will identify key communication needs and provide an optimal package of services. These include customized communication education, rental of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) assistive devices, and linkage to government-supported and private-sector resources.

In particular, individualized education conducted directly by speech-language pathologists will be operated in two formats: up to 20 sessions per visit for in-center education and up to 6 sessions per visit for home-based education for persons with physical or brain lesion disabilities who have difficulty traveling. If necessary, education may be extended through multidisciplinary expert review.

In addition, basic and advanced training will be provided to guardians, activity support workers, and staff of related institutions who communicate most closely with persons with disabilities in daily life. By providing guidance on effective support methods tailored to individual characteristics and practical know-how for field application, the City will strengthen the human infrastructure to ensure high-quality communication services in all aspects of daily life.

Busan Metropolitan City will also accelerate efforts to build a barrier-free communication environment in everyday life, which has been underway since 2023.

Following the distribution of AAC kits to administrative, welfare, and medical institutions, the City will, in partnership with KB Kookmin Bank’s social contribution program, distribute specialized AAC kits to 68 day-use facilities for persons with disabilities within the city this year. These kits are expected to alleviate communication difficulties experienced by users with developmental disabilities and improve both service quality and user satisfaction.

Furthermore, the City will operate an AAC assistive device experience center at the Busan Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities on a continuous basis and provide video content on the use of assistive devices. This will establish an environment where citizens can access AAC devices without constraints of time and place.

Notable cases have also emerged in which individuals have experienced meaningful changes in their lives through the project’s core component, individualized consulting.

One parent of a child with developmental disabilities stated that after receiving picture-symbol-based AAC education, the child was able to accurately express needs such as requesting water or emotions such as happiness. The parent added that it was the first time they were able to fully understand the child’s feelings, and as communication became possible, the child’s confidence and quality of life improved significantly.

Based on these outcomes, the City plans to further strengthen pre- and post-assessment through individualized consulting this year and expand “impact-oriented policies” that bring tangible changes to the lives of persons with disabilities.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “AAC-based services are not optional but essential to guarantee the fundamental rights of persons with disabilities.” He added, “Through the revision of the ordinance and the individualized consulting project, we will break down communication barriers and do our utmost to create Busan as a true communication city where all citizens can freely express their intentions and be respected.”