Assemblyman Yoon Young-deok Receives 'Appreciation Plaque' from National Disabled Parents Solidarity

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Yoon Young-deok, a member of the National Assembly (Democratic Party of Korea·Gwangju Dongnam-gap), received a plaque of appreciation from the National Alliance of Parents of Disabled Persons on the 18th.

The National Alliance of Parents of Disabled Persons highly valued Yoon’s efforts during the recent National Assembly audit, where he raised in-depth questions and proposed policy alternatives to resolve issues related to the care of disabled students in special education.

In August, Yoon conducted an urgent two-week survey across 17 cities and provinces to assess the status of emergency care for disabled students during the COVID-19 situation, based on the first semester.

The survey confirmed that about 70 elementary schools did not provide emergency care for disabled students, revealing that disabled students were being neglected in emergency care.

Accordingly, during the National Assembly audit, Yoon summoned parents of disabled students as witnesses to highlight the reality that disabled students are being excluded rather than accommodated in educational settings.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Eun-hye also promised swift measures from the Ministry of Education, stating that “emergency care for disabled students was not properly provided during the first semester.”

Thanks to Yoon’s efforts, the Ministry of Education immediately entered into consultations with the 17 city and provincial education offices to support the education of students with special needs. Starting with the Chungnam Office of Education, a pilot project will be launched to strengthen educational support for special classes in general schools in cooperation with universities that have established special education departments.

The remaining 16 city and provincial education offices have also expressed positive stances on forming consultative bodies. The National Institute of Special Education will also begin policy research related to special education care.

Yoon said, “Although I only did what I was supposed to do, I received this precious plaque of appreciation,” adding, “As the saying goes, ‘We cannot talk about us without us,’ disabled people are not only the subjects of special education policies but also the agents of these policies. I will always listen and work together to create policies and legislation.”

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