disabilities in ordinary schools. As of April 2010, a total of 2,742 students (458 in
kindergartens; 1,157 in elementary schools; 628 in middle schools; and 499 in high
schools) were participating in the programs, which was 908 persons more than in 2009.
Still, significant number of children with disabilities has not received the programs and
the number of children with disabilities in ordinary schools increases by 1,700 per year.
63. The 2008 Survey on the Status of Persons with Disabilities by the Ministry
of Health and Welfare reveals that 74.5% of children with disabilities aged 9 or below
did not use any day care facility and 80.5% of them did not go to a kindergarten.
Namely, a large majority of children with disabilities aged 9 or below just stayed home,
not using a day care center or kindergarten. According to the 2011 data released by the
Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of 2010, there were 166 childcare facilities
specifically for disabled children (with 6,137 users) while there were 810 integrated
childcare facilities (with 3,487 children with disabilities). These figures tell us that a
much larger number of disabled children used specialized facilities. Meanwhile, it is
reported that 45% of the children with disabilities using childcare service are placed in
ordinary childcare facilities, not special or integrated facilities.
64. First of all, the Government should work out measures to provide all
children with disabilities with integrated education and caregiving in step with
their stage of development. Second, it should develop and provide the policy of
special education for children with disabilities and the specific program of
integrated education, taking their life-cycle into consideration. Third, the
Government should expand the training and placement of special education
teachers and the conveniences for students with disabilities at the earliest possible
time, to improve the general quality of special education.
Rehabilitation Programs for Children with Disabilities and Assistances for Their
Families (CRC/C/KOR/3-4, para. 312~317; CRC/C/KOR/Q/3-4, para. 56, 58~59 and
78~81)
65. The Government, in the Five-Year Plan on the Development of Policies on
the Disabled (2008~2012), announced that it would provide assistance for the families
with disabled children and expand rehabilitation treatment services for the disabled
children younger than 18 with a brain disorder, language disorder or autism. In 2009,
however, about 60,000~70,000 of the children with disabilities were in need of
rehabilitation services but these services were given only to 18,000 of them. Although
the number of service users increased to 37,000, the supply of services is still far short
of the demand. Furthermore, in a requirement for eligibility, the services are accessible
only to the families whose monthly income is 100% or lower of the national average,
and the out-of-pocket expense for the service was raised from 40,000 won in 2009 to
60,000 won in 2010, increasing the financial burden on the families. The Government
subsidies for the families with disabled children are given in three ways: disabled child
allowance (4.5%); the support for educational expenses (4.9%); and the support for
medical expenses (7.0%). It is encouraging that the Government recently formulated the
Disabled Children Welfare Support Act which includes the establishment of the service
delivery system and the provision of welfare services, including medical support.
66. The Government should take detailed and practical measures to
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