Controversy rising over limiting disabled person to take dog-groomer exam

By Lee Hyo-jin

Controversy is rising after a hearing-impaired person was not allowed to take an exam for a state-certified dog groomer license, as the test organizer stated that disabled people are not qualified to take the test.

During a practical skills test for a groomer license held on Feb. 7, a 43-year-old woman with hearing disabilities was ordered to leave the testing site after the proctor found out about her condition.

“I showed my disability registration card to the exam supervisor to ask for understanding in case I miss any audio announcements, but I was told to leave the testing site as 'disabled people cannot undergo the exam,'” she said.

The woman, who acquired the hearing disability while giving birth, stated that it is unfair to bar her from taking the exam when she has no problem communicating and her disability does not affect her performance or capabilities as a groomer.

She had passed the written test last November, and took several months of training courses to prepare for the skills test.

The notice for test application issued by the Korea Kennel Club (KKC), which hosts the exam, does not stipulate that any disabled people are disqualified from taking the exam.

“As the test organizer did not properly share information on qualifications for test applicants, my time and effort spent preparing for the test have been in vain and my dream of becoming a groomer has been dashed,” she said, adding that she has filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK).

However, the KKC claimed that although the information on applicant qualification is not included in the notice, related information can be found in other sections of its website.

“It is mentioned in our website that disabled people cannot apply for the exam,” the organization said.

The association also explained that the measure was not aimed at discriminating against the disabled, but it was for the protection of both pet groomers and animals.

A KKC official said, “Before the measure was implemented, there had been several accidents involving pet groomers with disabilities due to poor communication between the pet owner and the groomer.”