Making Life Easier for those with Disiblities

The UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a human rights convention of the United Nations to protect the rights of persons with disabilities across all spheres of life. The Convention has been acceded to and ratified by 177 countries worldwide (January 2019). In Korea, the Convention entered into force in January 2019 after ratification by the National Assembly in December 2008."

The following summary was listed in the Catholic Peace Weekly's pastoral ministry column by a priest member of the bishops' committee on welfare.  
 
The important contents of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities list:  First, the disabled should not be discriminated against. Second, the diversity of the disabled should be recognized. (Disability type) Third, it guarantees the freedom of the disabled to choose for themselves. Fourth, they must be protected by the state. Fifth is the need to live an integrated life within the community. (Consideration in satisfying the needs required)

Among the facilities for the disabled in the country, those for the developmentally disabled account for 80%. Other facilities include visual, hearing, and physical disabilities. Wherever you go in Europe, the physically handicapped are treated just like everybody else. They are free to express their intention and there is no problem with social activities. If you look at any of the country's facilities, you can see that they consist of facilities for those with developmental disabilities.

The reality facing people with developmental disabilities in Korea is very urgent. Of the total developmental disabilities, only about 10% are in a facility, and the remaining 90% are staying at home. Some people have mild disabilities, and others have severe disabilities, the parents of the most severely disabled are in desperate straits.

As in Europe the diversity of choice is not present and the fewness of facilities makes the problems difficult to overcome and this needs to be acknowledged. Nevertheless, elderly parents are worried. Also, the judgment of a legal guardian is very important because after the death of the parents they will be making the choices. The writer believes that the standards of judgment of doctors such as in Europe are important. That's because it's the basis for how people with disabilities can receive various services.

We must recognize the diversity of disabled people and not deprive them of the right to choose for themselves, as suggested by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The state will have to exclude third-party groups and gather the families with developmental disabilities and help them to pool their wisdom to solve this problem. Europe's welfare system was not implemented overnight.