Support for children with disabilities

To tell "a little behind" from "needs support", assessment comes first.

Support available

• Developmental rehabilitation services — vouchers for speech, play, cognitive and behavioural therapy. Income criteria apply.
• Disabled child allowance — for registered disabled children.
• Childcare fees and care support — nurseries and care services. See childcare-support.
• Special education support — special classes, inclusive education, itinerant teaching, via district special education support centres.
• Assistive device support — help buying or renting the equipment needed.
• Family support — parental counselling and respite.

The process

1. Get a diagnosis at a hospital — paediatrics, rehabilitation medicine or child psychiatry.
2. Apply for disability registration at a community centre. See disability-registration.
3. Apply for developmental rehabilitation services on Bokjiro (bokjiro.go.kr) or at the community centre.
4. Ask the district special education support centre about educational support.
5. Check programmes at family centres and disability welfare halls.

Worth knowing

• Some services are available regardless of registration. Take advice first.
• Many supports have income criteria. Check at the community centre.
• The scope can differ with the child's residence status. Ask 129 or 1577-1366.
• Parents burn out easily. Do use family counselling and respite support.

Where to go

• 129 Health and Welfare Call Centre
• Bokjiro www.bokjiro.go.kr
• Community centre (registration, allowances)
• District special education support centre
• 1577-1366 Danuri Call Centre (multilingual)

Questions people ask

Can a foreign national child be registered? It depends on residence status. Explain your situation to the community centre and 129.

I'm afraid of a diagnosis. A diagnosis is not a label but the start of support. Early intervention helps a child most.

The nursery won't take my child. Refusal on the grounds of disability can be a violation. Consult 129 or 1331 (National Human Rights Commission).

I'm worried about treatment costs. Check developmental rehabilitation vouchers and medical cost support. See medical-fee-support.

Take care

Don't lose time to "they'll be fine if we wait". Developmental support is more effective the earlier it starts. A reassuring assessment lets you relax; a concerning one lets you begin sooner. Look after your own exhaustion as a parent too.

Related

disability-support · disability-registration · language-development · psychological-child · childcare-support

Source

Ministry of Health and Welfare www.mohw.go.kr / As of 2026-08