중증장애인 종사자의 자립생활센터 종사경험에 관한 연구

Abstract

This study aims to explore the occupational experience of people with severe disabilities in the center for independent living(CIL). It focuses the personal meaning and feeling in the transition of disability policies and environment in connection with the managerial regulations of CIL. Through employing phenomenological method, it is intended to find out the implicative meaning of the experiences of people with severe disabilities. A total of 8 participants with cerebral palsy, total paralysis, or severe polio, who are currently working in CIL, were interviewed for this qualitative study. There were two focus-group interviews and one personal interview to each participant. The result of this study was summarized that people with severe disabilities got the positive disability identity and at the same time felt continuous social handicap and isolation. At the personal level, people with severe disabilities have developed self-esteem and felt pride in working for their community and other people with disabilities. On the other hand, they were dissatisfied with work condition such as low wage and the lack of infrastructure to help their work. Also, they felt uneasy about the noncooperation of other community centers and the center user (people with disabilities)' lack of understanding about CIL. Moreover, they felt insecure in their jobs as they have had to compete with non-disabled workers or other workers with mild disabilities in CIL. Therefore, this study suggested the following solutions to improve the work environment of people with severe disabilities working in CIL: the development of evaluation tool suitable for CIL, the division of roles between community welfare center and CIL, the revision of managerial regulations of CIL to hire more people with severe disabilities, and the education supports for improving the work ability of people with severe disabilities.