Assemblyman Jo O-seop Proposes the "Welfare Act for the Hearing and Visually Impaired" as Lead Sponsor

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[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] On the 20th, Jo Oh-seop, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, introduced a "Partial Amendment to the Welfare of Disabled Persons Act" aimed at strengthening welfare tailored to the needs and demands of persons with disabilities, coinciding with the Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Persons with combined visual and hearing impairments, known as 시청각장애인 (Sicheonggak Jangaein), have simultaneous impairments in vision and hearing, resulting in relatively poor communication and information accessibility compared to other disabled persons, making support in daily life essential.

In South Korea, combined visual and hearing impairment is not classified as a separate disability type, leading to insufficient surveys and support related to their status.

The current law stipulates that the state or local governments must establish and operate dedicated institutions to support 시청각장애인 (Sicheonggak Jangaein) through vocational rehabilitation, communication, walking and mobility training, psychological counseling, participation in cultural and leisure activities, and family and self-help group meetings, and must devise necessary policies.

Accordingly, the proposed amendment includes provisions to accurately assess the status of 시청각장애인 (Sicheonggak Jangaein) and to establish grounds for the formation of self-help organizations and cost support for them.

Representative Jo said, "Advanced countries such as the United States and Japan classify combined visual and hearing impairment as a separate type and provide various welfare services," adding, "We must reform the welfare system centered on the demands of the disabled themselves."

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