A Comparative Study of Disabled People's Welfare and Accessibility Facilities in Korea and Japan

Japanese welfare legislation for the disabled was enacted via Law 283 on December 26. 1956. The push for such legislation at the national level had gown concurrent with development of Japan's post-war economy Korean welfare law for disabled was made 22 years later and was again amended in 1989. The current legislation promotes and supports the legal welfare of the Koran disabled. The following are the results of a comparison between Korean and Japanese accessibility facilities and welfare law; 1) Japan's developement of disabled people's welfare law is inextricably linked to the development of disabled people's advocacy and the human rights movement. In addition, welfare policy has shifts its mandate from rehabilitation to independent living. It follows that local altitudes will play a pivotal role in further policy initiatives. Korean disabled people's welfare policy emerged hand in hand with economic recovery and development following the Korean War. By 1977 a special education law was enacted which-like it Japanese counterpart-promoted the education of disabled children. 2) Accessibility facilities were developed privately movement. The disabled faced constant and systematic disadvantages in public/private buildings and transportation systems. A general lack of cultural awareness and information relating ti these problems prevailed. These included-hut were by no means limited to sign language (for hearing the impaired) and braille(the language of blind). However, new attitudes and improvements have since emerged and new laws have resulted in the publication of Korean 'White Book' outlining the everyday problems faced by the disabled. In addition, mort convenient access facilities have been constructed in public and private buildings. In closing, legal support for the disabled, senior citizens and pregnant women continues to be improved by newer legislation enacted tin April 6, 1977.