Guro-gu Developmental Disabilities Lifelong Education Center to Open in March

Seoul's First Rehabilitation Space for Developmentally Disabled in Autonomous District, Dubitnarae Culture and Sports Center, Greatly Expanded... Expanded from 753.41㎡ to 1341.45㎡ with Gym, Classrooms, Snoezelen Room, Offering Regular and Specialized Programs

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Guro-gu (Mayor Lee Sung) will open the ‘Lifelong Education Center for People with Developmental Disabilities’ in March to support the social adaptation and independence of people with developmental disabilities.

Guro-gu announced on the 25th that it will open the ‘Lifelong Education Center for People with Developmental Disabilities,’ which operates lifelong education programs by significantly expanding the ‘Dubinnarae Culture and Sports Center,’ a rehabilitation space for people with developmental disabilities that was first operated by a Seoul autonomous district since 2015.

The existing Dubinnarae Culture and Sports Center, located on the 4th floor of Gaebong 2 Rainwater Pump Station, 552 Anyangcheon-ro, was expanded (part of the 4th and 5th floors) to increase the size from 753.41㎡ to 1341.45㎡. The official name is ‘Guro-gu Lifelong Education Center for People with Developmental Disabilities.’

Guro-gu invested a total of 1.28 billion KRW for this, starting the expansion construction in September two years ago and recently completing it. The Lifelong Education Center for People with Developmental Disabilities is equipped with a gymnasium, five classrooms, a Snoezelen room (psychological stabilization room), a cafeteria, and other facilities.

Guro-gu will also greatly expand the operating staff and programs. Fourteen professionals, including special education teachers, special physical education teachers, and social workers (previously 5), will work full-time and operate regular and single-subject classes for people with developmental disabilities.

The regular classes are a five-year educational program for adults. They help social adaptation through communication and daily life training, health management, vocational transition education, and more. There are five classes in total, operating from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The single-subject programs target children, adolescents, and adults and run from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., offering cultural and physical activities such as badminton, table tennis, basketball, pottery, music, Nanta, and barista training.

Along with the space renovation, Guro-gu has established and operates the Guro Disabled Family Support Center within the Lifelong Education Center for People with Developmental Disabilities. This is to support the resolution of complex and diverse needs of families with disabilities and improve their quality of life. The center is staffed by a director and three employees.

A Guro-gu official said, “We expect that the opening of the Lifelong Education Center for People with Developmental Disabilities will help with social advancement and independence,” and added, “We will do our best to improve the welfare of families with developmental disabilities.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.