Mayor Donghwan Lee: "Expanding Mobility for People with Disabilities Through Operation of the Dream Bus"

Goyang City Enacts New Ordinance for Disabled Persons Day
"Stronger Together with People with Disabilities"... Full Implementation of Integrated Welfare Ordinance
Comprehensive Welfare Ordinance for People with Disabilities Integrates Seven Existing Ordinances
Dream Bus Serves Over 22,000 Users to Date... Service Resumes

Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province has announced new welfare policies for people with disabilities to mark Disabled Persons Day (April 20), aiming to bring tangible improvements to the lives of people with disabilities and their families. On April 18, the city promulgated and enacted the 'Goyang City Welfare Ordinance for Persons with Disabilities,' officially declaring the start of a comprehensive initiative for an inclusive 'Goyang City for All.'

Donghwan Lee, Mayor of Goyang Special City. Provided by Goyang Special City

According to Goyang Special City on April 21, as of last year, there were 42,067 registered persons with disabilities in Goyang, accounting for 4% of the city’s 1.08 million population. To become a city that lives alongside people with disabilities, Goyang is strengthening institutional frameworks, providing tailored services through welfare facilities, improving accessibility, and operating the Dream Bus to enhance mobility rights, ensuring comprehensive support in daily life.

The newly enacted 'Goyang City Welfare Ordinance for Persons with Disabilities' integrates overlapping provisions from seven existing disability-related ordinances and focuses on ensuring policy consistency. It encompasses a wide range of policies, including: ▲guaranteeing the rights of persons with disabilities and expanding social participation ▲establishing and implementing a comprehensive welfare plan for persons with disabilities ▲establishing a Welfare Committee for Persons with Disabilities ▲establishing and operating support centers for people with developmental disabilities and their families ▲expanding lifelong education ▲providing disability awareness education and incentives, among others.

In particular, to address gaps in the welfare system, the ordinance clearly specifies the legal grounds for support programs for people with disabilities, including the protection of human rights, awareness improvement, and various types of disabilities, which were previously scattered across different ordinances. Additionally, regulations for establishing support plans, previously dispersed among individual ordinances, have been consolidated into a comprehensive plan, enabling clearer and more systematic policy direction and goal-setting.

The composition of the committee has also been reorganized. The previously ad hoc 'Goyang City Developmental Disabilities Support Committee' has been integrated into the legally mandated 'Welfare Committee for Persons with Disabilities' under the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act, and a subcommittee system has been introduced to enhance policy expertise and implementation through practical discussions.

The city plans to accelerate the realization of practical welfare services that can be felt by families of people with disabilities through follow-up measures such as establishing enforcement rules and expanding the Welfare Committee for Persons with Disabilities.

Scenes from the 2024 Goyang Special City Disabled Harmony Sports Festival. Provided by Goyang Special City

This year, Goyang is providing a total of 40 billion KRW in support for welfare facilities for people with disabilities, building a close cooperation system among facilities and delivering services tailored to specific needs quickly and effectively. There are currently 50 welfare facilities for people with disabilities operating in Goyang, including comprehensive welfare centers, sports facilities, vocational rehabilitation centers, sign language interpretation centers, and mobility support centers.

In particular, the comprehensive welfare center for people with disabilities, which manages employment programs, provided job training and employment support services to 241 people with disabilities last year, and plans to support the social participation of 243 people with disabilities this year. The 'Job Clicks' program, a shared mobility device management training course for people with severe disabilities, won the grand prize at the 2024 Gyeonggi Province Social Services Program Competition for Persons with Disabilities.

In addition, post-inspections of accessibility facilities for people with disabilities are underway to ensure safe and convenient movement for mobility-impaired individuals, including people with disabilities, seniors, and pregnant women. Accessibility facilities include not only commonly seen features such as tactile paving, accessible restrooms, designated parking spaces, and elevators for people with disabilities, but also accessible routes to main entrances and both interior and exterior doors.

To prevent mobility-impaired individuals from experiencing inconvenience due to high curbs or steep ramps, the city thoroughly inspects the installation standards and suitability of each type of accessibility facility from the building permit stage, through the Goyang City Accessibility Facilities Support Center.

This year, using 41 newly constructed buildings completed in 2023 as a sample, the city will invest a total of 190 million KRW to inspect the suitability of 221 detailed items per building and provide technical guidance. Minor issues will be addressed on-site, while unresolved matters will be subject to corrective and improvement orders.

Dream Bus. Provided by Goyang Special City

Starting April 21, Goyang will operate the Dream Bus to provide special and joyful travel experiences for people with disabilities and their families in the city.

The Dream Bus program supports people with disabilities and their families who face mobility challenges, enabling them to enjoy travel and cultural experiences freely and comfortably. The service is available not only to disability facilities and organizations but also to individuals with disabilities living at home.

To date, the Dream Bus has served more than 22,000 people with disabilities and their families nationwide. Last year, it operated 212 times, serving 4,200 users, with a 95% satisfaction rate, reflecting its popularity. This year, the Goyang Association of Persons with Disabilities has been newly selected as the operating agency, aiming to provide safe and unique travel opportunities.

For disability organizations, institutions, and self-help groups, the city provides vehicles, drivers, and tolls to support outings and cultural experiences. For families of people with disabilities, a monthly themed travel program is offered, covering all expenses for sightseeing, experiences, and accommodations.

Two buses, with 33 and 45 seats respectively, are in operation, each equipped with 4 and 6 wheelchair spaces, making them accessible for wheelchair users. Applications and detailed usage information can be found on the Goyang Dream Bus website (www.gydreambus.or.kr).

Donghwan Lee, Mayor of Goyang Special City, stated, "This ordinance is not simply a formal integration, but a foundational framework that embodies the direction and effectiveness of Goyang’s welfare for people with disabilities. We will meticulously manage welfare and accessibility facilities to ensure that people with disabilities can enjoy daily life without inconvenience, and expand their mobility through the operation of the Dream Bus."

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