-Disability Welfare Act-
“Disability” refers to a person who is significantly restricted in their daily life or social life
for a long time due to physical or mental disabilities according to the following classifications
(Article 2, Paragraph 1 and 2 of the “Disability Welfare Act”).

Disability Awareness Newspaper= Choi Bong-hyuk, Columnist (Expert in AI, ESG, and DX Convergence,
Workplace Disability Awareness Education Specialist)

"How was the term 'disabled' created?"

When the 'Mental and Physical Disability Welfare Act' was enacted in 1981, the Ministry of Health and Welfare considered the term 'disabled' from various angles. First, traditional concepts such as 'crippled' were eliminated because they were negative terms for the disabled.

Another term, 'disabled,' was also deemed inappropriate because it emphasized only the damage that had been inflicted. Instead, the term 'disabled' was officially established. It adopted the concept of 'disability' presented by academia and the concept of 'disability' presented by the UN and WHO.

At this time, the concept of 'disability' emphasizes the responsibility of the social environment beyond the meaning of personal damage. In other words, it was a change in perception that saw the disabled state possessed by the disabled person not as their own responsibility, but as a social disadvantage (handicap) created by the social environment.

Therefore, it is believed that the social environment is responsible for removing that disadvantaged state. It also has a philosophical meaning that emphasizes the innate human rights of the disabled. Ultimately, the term 'disabled' has a meaning that emphasizes the national and social responsibility of guaranteeing a human life for the disabled, based on the human rights of the disabled.

In other words, the term 'disabled' should be seen as the most appropriate expression of the human rights of people with disabilities. The term 'disabled,' which was created with this meaning, was changed to 'disabled' in 1989 when the 'Mental and Physical Disability Welfare Act' was renamed the 'Disability Welfare Act.' This was because the character 'person' (人) was emphasized. (Source = Darkness and Dawn)

"How do you think about disability?"

Disability primarily begins with damage.

It refers to a permanent or temporary pathological state that results in the loss of psychological or anatomical structure or function due to physical damage such as amputation or paralysis.

In this sense, damage is merely an attribute, but it has been perceived as 'disability' in specific social environments and conditions.

From a social perspective, the perspective of looking at the disabled person should be changed from one that perceives them as someone who needs help, such as charity, sympathy, service, and overcoming.

In the past, the 'problem of disability' was attributed to an individual with damage, and the goal was to adapt the individual to society through individual treatment and professional support.

It is important to recognize that disability is not the individual's responsibility, but the social environment and structure that turns 'damage' into a state of disability.

What should you call people who are not disabled?

Many people use the terms 'normal person' and 'normal person'.

This means that if you don't belong to that group, you are not normal and you are abnormal, and you are outside the category of normal people. This leads to the error that disabled people are abnormal.

For this reason, calling people who are not disabled 'non-disabled' is the most objective term.

Terms you encounter in everyday life, disabled people and non-disabled people

Disabled people and non-disabled people, using the right terms for a society that respects each other

"Disabled" and "non-disabled" are terms commonly used in our society, but the correct use of these terms is rare. Improper use of terms can deepen prejudice and discrimination against disabled people and hinder the creation of a society that respects each other.

1. Example 1: "Disabled bathroom" vs. "Bathroom for the disabled"

It is common to refer to the bathroom used by disabled people as a "disabled bathroom." However, this can lead to misunderstandings, as if it were a space that only disabled people use. The expression "bathroom for the disabled" clearly shows that it is a bathroom that disabled people can also use, and it shows a more inclusive attitude.

2. Example 2: "Disabled parking space" vs. "Parking space for the disabled"

"Disabled parking space" can also be misunderstood as a space where only disabled people can park. The expression "parking space for the disabled" clearly shows that it is a space for the convenience of the disabled, and its proper use helps to protect the mobility rights of the disabled.

3. Example 3: "Normal person" vs. "Non-disabled person"

The term "normal person" can lead to the error of considering disabled people as abnormal beings. The expression "non-disabled person" is a neutral term that simply means a person without a disability, not a distinction based on whether or not there is a disability.

4. Example 4: "Inconvenience" vs. "Experiencing difficulty"

When disabled people experience difficulty in a situation, the expression "inconvenience" can underestimate the discomfort of disabled people or imply that it is the problem of disabled people. The expression "experiencing difficulty" objectively shows that disabled people experience difficulty in a particular situation, and helps to find solutions.

5. Example 5: "Disabled people can do it if they try hard" vs. "Disabled people can do it if they are given the opportunity"

The expression "Disabled people can do it if they try hard" attributes the success of disabled people only to their personal efforts. For disabled people to be able to exert their abilities, it is important to give them opportunities, such as social awareness improvement and institutional arrangements. The expression "Disabled people can do it if they are given the opportunity" emphasizes social responsibility and contributes to spreading awareness of expanding the participation of disabled people in society.

6. Example 6: "School where disabled people go" vs. "Special school"

"School where disabled people go" can give the impression that disabled people are separated as special beings. "Special school" is a term that clearly indicates that it is an educational institution that provides necessary education for students with disabilities.

7. Example 7: "Disabled athlete" vs. "Para-athlete"

"Disabled athlete" is an expression that clearly indicates that the athlete is an athlete regardless of whether or not they have a disability. "Para-athlete" refers to an athlete participating in the Para games, a sports competition for disabled people, and can be used to refer to an athlete participating in a specific competition.

Using the right terms is the first step towards a society that respects each other.

==Reference Materials==

-Disability Welfare Act-
“Disability” refers to a person who is significantly restricted in their daily life or social life for a long time due to physical or mental disabilities according to the following classifications (Article 2, Paragraph 1 and 2 of the “Disability Welfare Act”).

People with physical or mental disabilities. Legally, as mentioned above, it refers to a person who is significantly restricted in their daily life or social life due to physical or mental disabilities. (Source: Tree)

Disability is a person who is restricted in their daily life due to social discrimination caused by physical or mental damage. (Source: Wikipedia)

Source: [Disability Awareness Column] Terms that disabled people and non-disabled people meet in everyday life: Disability Awareness Newspaper - https://dpi1004.com/4084