Choi Ki-sang Proposes Bill to Strengthen Government Support for Precise Diagnosis Costs of Developmental Disabilities

Support for Precise Diagnosis Fees for Developmental Disabilities Changed from 'Optional Regulation' to 'Necessary Regulation'
Linked with Institutions and Organizations to Provide Information and Counseling Support

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the 7th, Choi Gi-sang, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced that he has taken the lead in proposing the "Partial Amendment to the Act on the Rights Guarantee and Support for Persons with Developmental Disabilities," which strengthens government support such as precise diagnostic costs for developmental disabilities.

The current law has been criticized for being insufficient in early detection and management of infants and toddlers suspected of developmental disabilities at the national level, such as providing differential support for precise diagnostic costs based on the income level of the caregiving parents within a limited budget.

The amendment bill, led by Representative Choi, revises the discretionary provisions regarding support for precise diagnostic costs for developmental disabilities into mandatory provisions, and establishes a legal basis to strengthen necessary government support related to prevention and treatment of developmental disabilities, including information provision and family counseling support.

In our society, tragic choices continue where parents of children with developmental disabilities, trapped in "lifelong care," kill their developmentally disabled children and then take their own lives. It has been reported that more than 30 such cases have been covered by the media in the past five years.

In response, the National Assembly has proposed a resolution urging measures for the developmental disability disaster (with 178 signatories) and a resolution to form a special committee on the developmental disability disaster (with 176 signatories), but the special committee has yet to be formed within the National Assembly.

Representative Choi said, "Support policies for families with developmental disabilities urgently require comprehensive support measures at the government-wide level," and added, "I will do my best together with the members of the National Assembly who attend the parliamentary group meetings regarding the establishment of comprehensive support measures for persons with developmental disabilities and the adjustment and reorganization of the existing support system."

A total of 12 lawmakers, including Kang Min-jung, Kang Seon-woo, Ki Dong-min, Kim Sang-hee, Kim Jeong-ho, Kim Tae-nyeon, Park Sang-hyuk, Lee Dong-joo, Jeon Hae-cheol, Jeong Seong-ho, Heo Young, and Heo Jong-sik, participated as co-sponsors in the bill led by Representative Choi.

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