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2009 International Study Program: Global Challenges for Youth with Disabilities

1. Background

In recognition of lack of positive social role models for young persons with disabilities, the KSRPD(Korean Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities) began an international study program to empower young persons with disabilities 5 years ago.

The objective of the program is,

to provide youth with disabilities with opportunities to build their capacity, so that they can full-fill their lives, and contribute to the national and global community in the future,

to bridge the gab between disability experts and persons with disability, and the gab between people with disabilities and without, through working together as a team, and

to raise public awareness of โ€˜Abilityโ€™ of young persons with disabilities.

This pioneering project has been running for the last 4 years, and has become popular not only among youth with disabilities, but also youth without disabilities, who participate in the program as assistants.

2. Program 2009

1) When : 10 days between mid August and mid September

2) Where : Seoul, Korea

3) Composition of the Program The number of participants of the program this year will be 50, in 7 teams

4) Composition of Team Korea

-10 Asians with disabilities & 10 Koreans with and without disabilities

- Participating countries: Cambodia, India, Korea, Mongolia, Vietnam and Uzbekistan(2 people from each country)

5) Requirement

- Young people with disabilities, aged between 18~30 years

- English both for speaking and writing an article for the program : English will be an official language during the program

- Independent personal care & living skills : ; Some support with mobility will be available-i.e. help with a wheelchair, but

- Stable health condition (No medical/nursing support available to a person in need of medical intervention during the study program)

- Ability to work in a multi-cultural setting, and good understanding of different culture - Limits:

Type of disability: Despite the fact that the program is open to all types of disabilities, as long as young people can carry their tasks during the program. However, the Team Korea inevitably has to put a limit on the participantsโ€™ type of disability, owing to the different nationalities of the participants. At this stage, it is too difficult to include people who sign, as it requires 2 ways of interpreting. (From ASL sign to Korean speaking language and to English for other participants)

Unlike teams for personal challenge, the Team Korea is a short-term research project and requires a high level of information exchange between countries. Therefore, people with a severe learning disability will not be suitable for the team Korea.

6) Selection: Same way as the last year, as follows,

- 1st selection by each representative organization: approximately 4 candidates

- Final selection by KSRPD: 2 people from each country

7) Study topic of Team Korea: The rights of people with disability in Korea

The study is to look at legal frameworks, ensuring the rights of persons with disability, visiting relevant fields, and meeting influential people (in Poliotics, field or movement). Details need to be decided from education, employment, housing, vocational training, accessibility etc. Cultural experience (including home-stay for 1 or 2 nights) and Information Technology will be also part of the program.

Team Korea only started its pilot project last year, with other Asian young people, whilst the program had been for Korean young people to go abroad to widen their knowledge and skills until last year.

Despite the very first attempt, all participants of 2008 greatly enjoyed the program and maintain contact with other participants and us. There were two main aspects to be further developed from last year, which will be taken into consideration for this yearโ€™s program.

1.to allow more time for the participants to experience Korean culture, apart from learning about disability related issues and environments

2.to reduce language barriers

(We will ensure Korean participantsโ€™ English skills and if necessary, provide sufficient facilitators, who can help with interpretation)

All the participants are expected to work together as a team, with support from disability specialist and facilitators. At the end of the program, each team provides the outcome of their research, i.e. writing an essay or recording their projects.

8) Cost:

All expenses, directly involved in the program will be paid by KSRPD, including the flight ticket and expenses involved in staying in Korea during the program. However, expenses for their carers will not be able to be covered by KSRPD. For the safety or health reason, if a young person needs to travel with his or her own carer, the participant has to pay for the cost for the carer.

Selected youth will be given an opportunity to undertake an in-depth study on a chosen topic area by field trips to different regions of the world. It is anticipated that they will aim to broaden their experiences through โ€˜cross-fertilization of ideasโ€™, which would nurture them to become the future leaders in the disability field.

Contact

Reena Lee & Soyoung Kim

-Tel : 82-2-3472-3709 (Direct line) or 82-2-3472-3556

-Fax : 82-2-3472-3592

-Website: http://rikorea.freeget.net

Email: riksrpd@empal.com

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