Opening of Seoul Guro Lifelong Education Center and Family Support Center for People with Developmental Disabilities

Additional Establishment in Geumcheon and Yeongdeungpo Districts, Aiming for Installation in All Autonomous Districts This Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Seoul City announced on the 11th that it will open the 18th Lifelong Education Center for Adults with Developmental Disabilities in Seoul in Guro-gu on the 12th (photo).

The Guro-gu Lifelong Education Center for Adults with Developmental Disabilities expanded its size from the existing 753.41㎡ to 1341.41㎡ by adding an entire 5th floor to the space of the Dubitnarae Culture and Sports Center, which was located on the 4th floor of Gaebong 2 Rainwater Pump Station at 552 Anyangcheon-ro. The 4th floor houses five classrooms, a cafe, a psychological stabilization room, and a gymnasium, while the 5th floor includes a cafeteria and the Guro Disabled Family Support Center.

In addition to 12 teachers, the center has two special physical education teachers and offers specialized classes for families of adults with developmental disabilities in addition to regular classes.

The Guro Disabled Family Support Center, which had been operating temporarily since October last year, will officially open with an inauguration ceremony on the 12th.

The Lifelong Education Center for Adults with Developmental Disabilities provides social adaptation training and vocational skill enhancement programs for adults aged 18 and over with developmental disabilities who wish to continue their education. The Disabled Family Support Center is a space designed to support the resolution of complex and diverse needs of families with disabilities and to improve their quality of life.

Seoul currently operates a total of 18 Lifelong Education Centers for Adults with Developmental Disabilities: in 2016, centers opened in Nowon and Eunpyeong; in 2017, in Dongjak, Mapo, and Seongdong; in 2018, in Jongno, Gwanak, Seongbuk, Dobong, and Gangdong; in 2019, in Yangcheon, Gwangjin, Gangbuk, Jungnang, Songpa, and Seodaemun; in January 2020, Gangnam; and in May 2020, Guro.

About 39.9% of adult individuals with developmental disabilities spend their daytime only at home, often isolated from the local community. To address this issue, Seoul City aims to establish one Lifelong Education Center in each of the 25 autonomous districts by the end of this year to support community adaptation and independence for adults with developmental disabilities.

In the second half of the year, two additional centers will open in Geumcheon-gu and Yeongdeungpo-gu. This year alone, approximately 9.8 billion KRW will be invested to operate 20 centers, with plans to designate the remaining five centers by the end of the year.

Jung Jin-woo, Seoul City Welfare Planning Officer, said, "Consistent lifelong education is essential to help adults with developmental disabilities maintain what they learned up to high school, such as daily living skills training, and to enjoy their own hobbies and leisure activities. We will actively support them so that they can develop themselves at lifelong education centers near their homes and live together with the local community."

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