In terms of the welfare of the disabled, it is fortunate that limited services provided through the model independent living program for the severely handicapped in the past has been changed into a system of universal service and local community servi...
In terms of the welfare of the disabled, it is fortunate that limited services provided through the model independent living program for the severely handicapped in the past has been changed into a system of universal service and local community service innovation. These recent efforts may solve to a degree the blind spots in the provision of social services. It is PAS that makes it possible to require a fundamental review and innovation on the limits of welfare policy based on existing rehabilitation programs.
The research is about the effects on life through PAS, which was enforced in May 2007 for the disabled who are unable to support themselves due to their physical condition. Basic data survey on the PAS system was carried out.
Targeting the severely disabled of the welfare center providing PAS in Seoul, this study surveyed 102 disabled people who were provided or are currently recipients of social service.
A new questionnaire, which is developed by the synthesis of several earlier documents and surveys, is used as a research tool to determine the effects and the PAS use of the severely handicapped. Of the distributed 160 questionnaires, 102 were returned (62% percent rate).
The study surveyed the use of PAS, population-sociology, the usage rate in the subcategory of PAS, the user's satisfaction ranking and the effects on life after using PAS. The study also investigated how the disabled feel about the assistant's attitude and the skills. In addition, the survey determined what causes conflicts between the patient and the care assistant and how conflicts between the two parties are resolved.
The literature research was performed to gather the theoretical background of PAS and IL movement, aid program for the support of the disabled from the government, one of social service, and the details of PAS in Korea. The writer researched the background of PAS in other countries to determine the current relative status of PAS in Korea and studied the overview of the disabled voucher project and the changes compared with the previous year's PAS.
To organize this research:
First, it is known that levels of service satisfaction were raised higher than those of the previous year. Of the related items, sanitation status and surroundings seem to have positively improved. However, the lack of communication except with the daily routine work shows that the communication between the user and the assistant is difficult.
Secondly, only 61 percent answered positively to the question, "Does the assistant have a good understanding about the disabled?" It means that there is a great need for education on the characteristics of the disabled. The assistants should give the careful service to help disabled people's physical activities so that they don't feel any barrier from participating in society and can independently live. For them to live independently, the disabled should have the right to choose and decide for themselves. The relationship between the disabled and the assistant must be one that is mutually equal.
Thirdly, to the question on how to resolve the friction, replacing the assistant ranked the highest (31.4%), followed by a direct discussion with the assistant (28.4%), and the settlement of the problems through the center coordinator (23.5%). Comparing with the results of the investigation (2006) by Shin Kyung Sook, which to settle the problems through the center coordinator was 61.5%, it shows that disabled people are trying to take responsibility for their own lives. As disabled people's self-consciousness develops, they want to get high?quality service. PAS has enabled the handicapped to express themselves socially and live independently in society, going beyond the common thinking that the disabled have no choice but to rely on people without handicap. Resolving the frequent conflict by replacing the assistant or having the patient and assistant discuss their issues shows the aforementioned fact. In past studies, the center used to play the role of negotiator.
In Korea, the society of the handicapped asserts that our society makes the disabled more handicapped than what physical disabilities they already have. Demolishing environmental and social barriers is more needed than establishing new laws, as clearly indicated in the results of this research. Numerous people with disabilities are still unemployed and suffer from a low social position. Their poverty has been passed down to their children. IL paradigm is meant to allow the handicapped to go beyond environmental and social barriers. The success of PAS means the success of disabled people in overcoming those barriers.