1. The Beginning of Supported Employment at Ewha in January 2009

   The Supported Employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities(IDD) at Ewha Womans University officially began

on January 1, 2009. At a time when the idea of individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorders working at a university was

not widely accepted in Korea, Ewha recorded history as the first domestic university to hire individuals with IDD through a supported employment

model. 

   This initiative was sparked by a pilot study conducted by Professor Seung Hee Park from July to November 2008, titled "Implementation and

Outcomes of Supported Employment Programs for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities within Universities" (supported by the Employment

Development Institute of the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities). This study pioneered the development of the university

campus as a valued and inclusive vocational environment for individuals with severe disabilities. Following this, the university pioneered the

direct hiring of five individuals with IDD as employees. 

   The Office of General Administration managed the administrative personnel tasks for these five contract employees, and a graduate assistant

was assigned as a Job Coach. The positive perception and cooperation of supervisors(coworkers without disability) in each work site and Professor

Park’s strong commitment have been crucial factors in sustaining this supported employment to the present day. 

   Since January 2009, Professor Seung Hee Park has provided professional service and direct support without any compensation throughout

the entire process—including job development within the university, selection of work sites, job analysis, recruitment and evaluation of candidates,

job matching, placement, on-site job training, and diverse ongoing supports (training and guidance for employees with disabilities, supervisors,

parents, and job coaches, as well as crisis management). All records regarding this supported employment initiative have been meticulously

documented and preserved. 

   This program, initiated in 2009, serves as a pioneering model that has directly influenced the inception and expansion of employment for

individuals with IDD at the National Assembly of Korea, various daycare centers, and other universities. It is recognized as a representative best

practice for the advancement of supported and inclusive employment of persons with developmental disabilities in Korea. Furthermore, it has

helped Ewha Womans University and the Ewha Hakdang Foundation meet mandatory employment quotas for individuals with disabilities. 

   In August 2021, the program expanded to the Ewha University-Industry Collaboration Foundation(EUICF). Above all, it continue as a "hidden

curriculum," significantly contributing to improving disability awareness and fostering a positive culture of employment inclusion among the Ewha community. 

2. Current Status of Supported Employment at Ewha as of Feb. 2026

<Work Places within Ewha Womans University >

• Total Employees: 10 (Female: 7, Male: 3)

•  Disability Types: Intellectual Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders

•  Education:

   Graduated from special classes in general high schools or high school divisions of special schools; most received post-secondary education,

   including college-based programs for students with developmental disabilities.

• Current Workplaces (7 sites 10 employees): 

   Central Library(1 employee), ECC Fitness Center(2), Gymnasium(2) Ewha Career Development Center(1), Support Center for Students with Disabilities(2),

   Ewha Center for Child Development & Disability(1), Global School of Continuing Eudcation(1) 

• Key Duties:

   Document shredding, organizing pantries, folding towels, sanitizing mats and exercise equipment, cleaning locker rooms and showers,

   collecting returned books, sorting books, organizing and sanitizing toys, delivering mail, organizing classrooms, charging electric wheelchairs,

   organizing equipment rooms, etc.

• Job Coaches: 2 Graduate Assistants from the Office of General Administration (majoring in Special Education).

<Work Places within the Ewha University-Industry Collaboration Foundation(EUICF)>

• Total Employees: 5 (Female)

• Disability Types:  Intellectual Disabilities

• Education:

   Graduated from special classes in general high schools or high school divisions of special schools; most received post-secondary education,

   including college- based programs for students with developmental disabilities.

• Current Workplaces (2 sites 5 employees):

    Research Promotion Team - Main Hall Room 309 (3), Startup Support Team - Ewha Startup Open Space (2) 

• Key Duties: 

   Document shredding, organizing pantries, collecting and delivering mail, preparing meeting and seminar rooms, sorting bills alphabetically,

   folding, mailing envelopes, etc.

• Disability Employment Manager at EUICF:  1 Specialist in Disability Employment

• Job Coaches: 3 Job coaches/Work support assistants dispatched from the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

3. Articles and Videos Related to Ewha Supported Employment 

<Articles>

•  [이화뉴스] 2008.12.31. 본교, 대학 최초로 지적장애인 채용 (https://www.ewha.ac.kr/ewha/news/ewha-news.do?mode=view&articleNo=265521)

•  [에이블뉴스] 2009.1.3. 이화여대, 발달장애인 5명 계약직 직원 채용 (https://www.ablenews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=18966)

•  [국민일보] 2009.1.27. 이화여대 고용된 지적장애인 5인 “매일매일 출근길이 축복이죠” (https://www.kmib.co.kr/article/view.asp?arcid=0921172009)

•  [기독교TV] 2009.2.11. 장애넘어 당당히 일해요! -이화여대 ‘대학최초’로 지적장애인 취업 (https://www.cts.tv/news/view?dpid=87219)

•  [이대학보] 2009.3.1. 장애를 넘어 미래를 향해 날갯짓 하는 5명의 이화가족 (https://inews.ewha.ac.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=14531)

•  [한국대학신문] 2010.5.14. “총장님 ‘아름다운 고용’ 감사해요!” (https://news.unn.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=61463)

•  [뉴스1] 2018.12.26. 국내 최초 발달장애인 고용 이화여대, 10주년 기념 모임 (https://www.news1.kr/society/education/3509702)

•  [뉴스핌] 2018.12.26. 이화여대, 발달장애인 지원고용 10주년 기념 모임 개최 (https://www.newspim.com/news/view/20181226000602)

•  [베리타스알파] 2018.12.26. 이화여대, 발달장애인 지원고용 10주년 기념 모임 (https://www.veritas-a.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=139103)

•  [파이낸셜뉴스] 2018.12.26. 이화여대, 발달장애인 고용 10주년 기념 모임 개최 (https://www.fnnews.com/news/201812261437514745)

•  [한국대학신문] 2018.12.26. 이화여대, 발달장애인 고용 10주년 행사 개최 (https://news.unn.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=205085)

•  [E동아] 2018.12.26. 이화여대, 발달장애인 지원고용 10주년 맞아 기념 모임 개최 (https://edu.donga.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=39717)

•  [연합뉴스] 2018.12.27. 이화여대, 발달장애인 고용 10년… “임무 아직 미완수” (https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20181227166600004?input=copy)

•  [이대학보] 2019.3.25. 본교 발달장애인 고용 10년째, 그들의 이야기가 궁금하다면 (https://inews.ewha.ac.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=30816)

•  [이대학보] 2023.2.27. 성장과 경험의 10년… 본교 떠나는 두 명의 발달장애인 직원을 만나다 (https://inews.ewha.ac.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=70766)

<Video>

• 이화여대 방송국EUBS기획: 이화의 발달장애인 직원을 만나다 (2021.7.1.)