Busan is good

A Strong Pillar of Support for Children with Disabilities and Persons with Developmental Disabilities... Busan Support Center for Children with Disabilities and Persons with Developmental Disabilities Opens

내용

Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, will hold an opening ceremony today, August 14, at 2:00 p.m. for the Busan Support Center for Children with Disabilities and Persons with Developmental Disabilities, located in Beomcheon-dong, Busanjin-gu. The center will serve as a support hub for children with disabilities, persons with developmental disabilities, and their families, while strengthening early disability detection and tailored integrated support.

Representatives from the Korea Disabled People's Development Institute, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Busan Metropolitan City, the Busan Metropolitan Council, and disability welfare organizations will attend the opening ceremony to mark the center's new beginning.

The center was established following an amendment to the Act on Welfare Support for Children with Disabilities, which made the establishment of support centers for children with disabilities mandatory, as the Ministry of Health and Welfare moved forward with a plan to establish one center in each city and province.

Since early this year, Busan Metropolitan City has been preparing for the center's opening by leasing office space and recruiting staff, and completed remodeling and interior work in May.

The center will connect children with disabilities and their families with the services they need and provide support in areas including the development of individualized support plans, developmental counseling and early intervention for infants and young children, the establishment of support networks for children with disabilities, parent education, and family support.

An individualized support plan takes into comprehensive consideration a child's disability characteristics, developmental level, environmental factors, and family needs in order to plan services appropriate for the child. After the plan is established, welfare service coordination and monitoring are provided to ensure that the needs and interests of the child and family are given the highest priority.

Registered children with disabilities under the age of 18 may apply for an individualized support plan at their local eup, myeon, or dong community service center or at the Busan Support Center for Children with Disabilities and Persons with Developmental Disabilities. Children under the age of nine may also apply even if they are not registered as having a disability by submitting either a determination of eligibility for developmental rehabilitation services or a physician's opinion stating that a disability is suspected.

The center will also provide early intervention services for infants and young children to promote the development of those at risk of developmental delays and strengthen their families' caregiving capacity.

In particular, family-centered parenting coaching is a service in which an early intervention specialist visits the family's home and directly coaches parents on interaction methods and parenting skills that can promote their child's development in everyday family life.

Early intervention services are available to infants and young children under the age of six who are registered as having a disability, have a physician's opinion stating that a disability is suspected, or have been recommended for an in-depth evaluation or identified as requiring continued follow-up based on the developmental screening results of the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children. Applications may be submitted by visiting the center or via email.

Busan Metropolitan City expects the opening of the center to strengthen the developmental support system for children with disabilities, ease families' caregiving burden, and help establish a community-based support system.

In particular, by integrating operations with the existing Busan Developmental Disabilities Support Center, the new center is expected to provide tailored services for persons with developmental disabilities throughout their life cycle, from childhood through adulthood.

For more information, including how to apply for services, contact the Busan Support Center for Children with Disabilities and Persons with Developmental Disabilities at 051-714-7241 or visit the center's website at https://www.broso.or.kr/busan.

Hwang Soon-gil, Director General of the Social Welfare Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, said, "We expect the Busan Support Center for Children with Disabilities and Persons with Developmental Disabilities to serve as the starting point for integrated community-based support by quickly connecting children with disabilities and their families to the essential services they need. We will continue to do our utmost to provide policy support that makes a tangible difference in people's lives."