ISSUE

Let us stand shoulder to shoulder not through discrimination but through differences

The Seoul Sports Association for the Differently-abled is hosting the 2018 differently-abled perception improvement project event “shoulder to shoulder experience class” for 5 months from July this year.

The shoulder to shoulder experience class directly visits schools, companies, and private organizations targeting middle and high school students, university students, workers etc. for the purpose of positive perception change through ‘differently-abled sports experiences’.

The sport experienced this year was blind soccer, and a current player in the blind soccer national team was invited as a one-day teacher to conduct lectures on theory and to lead practical exercises. The participants put on blindfolds and experienced a new type of soccer using a special ball with a bell inside it. In addition, education on differently-abled rights, sign language, and volunteer work theory was also conducted.

A total of 4 ‘shoulder to shoulder experience classes’ were held this July at Youngwon Middle School, Songgok High School, Sindobong Middle School, and the High School Attached to College of Education, Dongguk University. We expect that after the programs have been conducted, the perception of the students on the differently-abled will improve as they come to understand more about the blind and also learn that the differently-abled can also enjoy sports through the blind soccer experience.