Gyeonggi Province to Invest 93.4 Billion Won in 44 'Developmental Disability Support' Projects by 2026

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Kim Gap-dong] Gyeonggi Province will invest a total of 93.4 billion won by 2026 to promote 44 projects, including strengthening care systems for people with the most severe developmental disabilities and developing specialized jobs for people with developmental disabilities, in order to advance the rights and improve the quality of life of people with developmental disabilities.

The province announced on the 18th that it had established the '2024-2026 Gyeonggi Province Basic Plan for Supporting People with Developmental Disabilities' containing these details.

The Gyeonggi Province Basic Plan for Supporting People with Developmental Disabilities is a statutory plan that must be established every three years in accordance with the 'Gyeonggi Province Ordinance on Support for People with Developmental Disabilities.' Its purpose is to provide the administrative and financial support necessary for people with developmental disabilities to choose and decide on their own lives.

Under the vision of 'A Gyeonggi that Takes Responsibility Through Companion Care for People with Developmental Disabilities,' the province plans to promote 44 detailed projects with four policy goals: △establishing a person-centered integrated support system by gathering opinions from relevant institutions △realizing lifelong care services for each life stage △realizing comprehensive support services across all areas of life △implementing technology innovation-based digital welfare.

Among the major projects, the province will strengthen the care system for people with the most severe developmental disabilities as a new initiative this year. People with the most severe developmental disabilities refer to those among people with developmental disabilities—a term encompassing intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders—who refuse to use facilities due to challenging behaviors such as self-harm or harm to others, or who have difficulty in daily life due to extreme developmental reasons such as communication difficulties. For these individuals, the province will promote 24-hour one-on-one support, family care allowances, and the training of specialized personnel.

Specifically, the plan centers on △expanding care services for people with developmental disabilities through programs such as the transition project for the elderly period of people with developmental disabilities and the positive behavior support project △expanding family support for people with developmental disabilities through family and parent respite support projects such as healing camps and theme trips △strengthening independence support for people with developmental disabilities themselves through operating a lifelong learning education support center for people with developmental disabilities to guarantee their right to lifelong learning, supporting after-school activity services for adults and youth, and fostering self-help groups and training peer counselors.

In addition, the province plans to establish an integrated support system that comprehensively provides education, culture, and living support to resolve the difficulties that people with developmental disabilities experience in daily life.

To promote the 44 projects, a total of 93.4 billion won is expected to be invested, including 30.3 billion won this year, 31.2 billion won in 2025, and 31.9 billion won in 2026.

Seo Bong-ja, head of the province's Disability Independence Division, said, "Gyeonggi Province believes that through this basic plan, opportunities for independence and social participation for people with developmental disabilities will be expanded, and it will greatly contribute to improving their quality of life," adding, "Furthermore, we will focus on creating an environment where people with developmental disabilities can live without discrimination, together with the local community."