Program aims to highlight professional skills of people with disabilities and shift public attitudes toward disability employment
The city of Siheung held a massage program by visually impaired therapists at the city hall cafeteria on Monday, seeking to raise awareness of the professional skills and self-reliance of people with disabilities and improve public attitudes toward disability employment.
The event was organized in partnership with the Gyeonggi Province branch of the Korea Massage Therapists Association and its volunteer service unit, and followed a similar initiative held during "Disability Awareness Month" in April as part of the city's second-half programming.
About 40 people took part — 20 cafeteria and cleaning workers at the city hall building and 20 civil servants and public-sector employees who signed up voluntarily — and received professional massage services from visually impaired therapists.
Participants experienced firsthand the skilled techniques and professional capabilities of the visually impaired therapists, deepening their understanding of employment among people with visual impairments and reflecting on the importance of disability employment and independent living.
The program was particularly intended to highlight that visually impaired people work as skilled professionals and to help reduce prejudice against disability. Participants agreed that building an inclusive society where people with and without disabilities live together requires a shift in perspective — one centered on a person's occupation and abilities rather than their disability.
Shim Yun-sik, director of Siheung's welfare bureau, said the event was designed to let citizens and public officials directly experience the professionalism and drive for independence of visually impaired massage therapists. "We will continue to make diverse efforts to foster a correct understanding of people with disabilities and to build broader social consensus around disability employment," he said.
pjh@heraldcorp.com
