• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to suggest the potential domestic and international market conditions vehicles for people with disabilities through a review of the literature and internet resources, and to propose a road map developing South Korean vehicles for people with disabilities taking into consideration the current state of domestic and international technology and the usage of the vehicles for people with disabilities depending on the type of disability. The results of the study are as follows: First, vehicles for people with disabilities safety standards of South Korea do not meet the safety standards of developed countries and the technology of development related vehicles for people with disabilities is not as advanced as that of developed countries. Vehicles for people with disabilities installation methods, specifications, features and safety standards should be designed to be more similar to those of Japan and the United States. Second, vehicle modifications for people with disabilities will become more common as measures directed at promoting the welfare of people with disabilities, such as travel and transportation measures, employment opportunities, education, and funding for vehicle modifications, are implemented along with laws, such as The Americans with Disabilities Act, The British Disability Discrimination Act, and Japan's barrier-free transport law, that protect people with disabilities generally. Third, through a comparative analysis of domestic and international market conditions and demands of people with disabilities in vehicle modifications, important things to pay attention by purchasing a modified vehicle for people with disabilities are the employment rate for people with disabilities and monthly income. To enable this, government agencies and industry bodies should work together through the revision of the current Disability Welfare Act or the enactment of the special law for guiding principles of Disability Welfare Act. Through the future changes in vehicles for people with disabilities-related system or society of South Korean, the annual demand of the vehicles is expected to be more than 10,000.