A student in a wheelchair tries to go over a bump during a disability experience program at Noryangjin Elementary school. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

By Shim Hyun-chul

During the morning rush hour, people dash to subway stations to climb onto crowded trains. Inside, people are either looking into mobile phones or staring ahead blankly as music blares from their earphones. When the train jerks, people waddle as they try to balance. When the train stops at their destination, off they go again running. Such is the daily routine of most urbanites.

Such morning competitions however can be joyful for those who cannot walk, see, listen or speak.

The Korea Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities and Dongjak District held a handicap experience program for students and the public at Noryangjin Elementary School in Seoul.

The program aimed to break the prejudice against physically-challenged people and promote the importance of assisted facilities for the disabled.

Participants went across low bumps in wheelchairs, walked on tactile tiles blindfolded and gave and solved quizzes only through body gestures. They also learned about difficulties of the physically-disabled people and the need to exercise proper etiquette for them as well as the necessity for the convenient facilities for the disabled.

"The program is an event of participation and realizing harmony where the disabled and non-disabled become one," a district official said.