This study was investigating the current status and the needs of lifelong education among individuals with hearing impairments in Gwangju. The purpose of this study was providing fundamental data that can be used in developing and distributing appropriate education program for individuals with hearing impairments.
The questionnaires for welfare centers and users were written based on references that related to lifelong educations and lifelong educations for people with disabilities. A total of 8 questionnaires for 7 welfare centers, an association of the deaf and 142 questionnaires for individuals with hearing impairments who registered at association of the deaf in Gwangju were used for the analysis.
Based on the results of the analysis, First, the operation status of lifelong education program for people with disabilities at welfare centers in Gwangju, intellectual disabilities was the most frequently observed disabilities, the age group of people were older than 50-years-old and the program that most interested in was culture and arts education. The difficulty of managing the program was insufficient funds and the program development was autonomously managed. the utilization of lifelong education program for individuals with hearing impairments among the welfare centers, individuals with hearing impairments were participated the program at only two welfare centers, the reason to not participate was the location and the inconvenience of transportation. The type of education which individuals with hearing impairments were most interested in was vocation and work force education, a sign language interpreter required in the place was to lead individuals with hearing impairments to participate in lifelong education program.
Second, looking at the utilization of lifelong education program among individuals with hearing impairments, the most of individuals with hearing impairments never participate the program, the purpose of participation of the program was self-improvement and learning culture, the institution was association of the deaf, the most interest program that wants to learn was culture and arts education.
Third, the demands for lifelong education program, the preferred institution was association of the deaf, the content of program was vocation and work force education, preferred times of the program was once or twice a week and education fee was for free were the most frequently observed in the questionnaires. The most important thing to activate lifelong education program was developing various education programs.
In conclusion, this study will provide the guidances for improving lifelong education program and create more opportunities for individuals with hearing impairments to participate lifelong education program.