Seoul to Open Nation's First Comprehensive Care 'Vision Center' for Brain-Injured Disabled in November

Comprehensive Education, Care, and Health Services Provided at No.1 Center in Mapo-gu Welfare Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government will open the nation's first dedicated facility for adult brain lesion disability patients who have nowhere to go after school age, called the 'Brain Lesion Disability Vision Center,' this November.

On the 18th, Seoul announced that Mapo-gu was selected as the location for the first Vision Center through a public contest among autonomous districts in the first half of the year. The Vision Center, located within a welfare center in Mapo-gu, will begin construction in August and open in November.

Brain lesion disability patients suffer from significant restrictions in basic daily activities such as walking, moving, and speaking due to organic brain damage caused by stroke, brain injury, cerebral palsy, etc., which also affects their economic activities. Although there are 13 dedicated facilities such as day care centers and welfare centers, these focus mainly on care or education, and there is no dedicated facility providing comprehensive care services, increasing the caregiving burden on families.

Last year, the city established and announced the 'Brain Lesion Disability Support Master Plan,' committing a total of 60.4 billion KRW over five years to implement 26 projects in four major areas: infrastructure, health management, care, social participation, and communication for brain lesion disability patients.

Considering that many brain lesion disability patients use wheelchairs due to being bedridden or having paralysis of limbs and find it difficult to move independently, the city secured a dedicated center area of over 400㎡ (404.49㎡), taking into account smooth passage, movement, and turning radius. The size allows simultaneous use by more than 15 people.

The interior of the center will be designed as a barrier-free space by eliminating floor level differences and installing automatic doors and elevators. It will also be equipped with special facilities such as nursing benches for changing incontinence products, shower trolleys for disabled bathing, and ceiling-mounted hoists for transfers.

The center will provide customized lifelong education programs to help brain lesion disability patients become confident members of the local community. Essential education includes social adaptation training such as banking and shopping, and vocational skill enhancement, alongside elective education reflecting the characteristics of brain lesion disability patients, such as sensory activities and special activities by life cycle.

Doctors and nurses will be assigned to support health management. Since brain lesion disability patients often suffer from complex and chronic diseases such as epilepsy and rare incurable diseases, or have multiple disabilities including speech and vision impairments requiring lifelong rehabilitation and treatment, the center aims to prevent physical health deterioration and maintain health.

Seoul will also hold a second public contest for establishing another Vision Center until the 17th of next month. Excluding Mapo-gu, one autonomous district among the remaining 24 will be selected and designated to install a Vision Center. Furthermore, the city plans to designate two Vision Centers annually, expanding to a total of eight centers by 2023, with a total investment of 9.6 billion KRW.

This year, 1.025 billion KRW will be invested to designate and operate two centers. Each center will receive 300 million KRW for facility costs and 212.5 million KRW for five months of operating expenses, with an annual operating budget of 450 million KRW to be supported thereafter.

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