Agency helps the disabled find jobs

Kim Myeong-sub, 31, lost his sight three years ago but that doesn`t mean he can`t use a spreadsheet application to construct a financial estimation sheet for a company.

Kim, who has earned a graduate degree in chemistry at a local school before becoming blind, uses a program called the screen reader to get his tasks done.

He has recently passed the written exams for the level-two computer practical ability test and the internet information manager exam.

"After I got out of graduate school, I was about to go study abroad but I suddenly couldn`t see after suffering from an illness," he said.

However, Kim didn`t give up and he is now at the Ilsan Vocational Promotion Agency for the Disabled with an ultimate goal of creating a book that gives step-by-step guidance on how to make an estimation sheet without using a computer mouse.

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"I also want to get hired as a computer assistant at a welfare center by the end of this year," he said.

The promotion agency, established in 1991 and affiliated with the Korea Employment Promotion Agency for the Disabled and the Labor Ministry, currently has 203 students, of which over 70 percent are suffering from mid- to serious-level disabilities, according to its officials.

About 70 percent of the center`s training programs are customized, and as a result, 142 out of a total of 162 students found a job last year, said Kim Jong-sang, head of the agency.

Some of the training programs the center offers are: computer-aided design and manufacturing; product modeling; assistance on how to use computer software and the internet; and manual job training depending on companies` requests.

As we can see, people with intellectual and developmental as well as physical disabilities have been gaining more attention as the nation puts more emphasis on welfare for the vulnerable.

With today being marked as the Day for the Disabled, a variety of festivities are taking place nationwide.

The National Rehabilitation Center will hold a festival starting at 4 p.m. and feature dance and band performances, along with a singing competition.

"I hope the Korean society transforms into one that could give increased support and hope for the disabled, like the theme of our festival, and for a greater number of people to be able to find the reason to go through rehabilitation programs through this event," said Huh Yong, chief of the rehabilitation center.

In a separate event, 600 people, including Health and Welfare Minister Jeon Jae-hee, are expected to gather at the 63 Building in Yeouido today to award five people with disabilities who have set examples for others.

Ten more people, which include Song Young-wook, who is a 40-year lawyer for the disabled and the head of the Korea Foundation for Persons with Disability, will be gifted with medals of merit at the ceremony.

The Day for the Disabled was first designated in 1981 and it has been organized mainly by the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs and related groups to increase the awareness of ordinary citizens and motivate those suffering from disabilities to overcome their barriers.

By Cho Ji-hyun



(sharon@heraldm.com)