Young woo kang
Encyclopedia
Young Woo Kang is a disability rights advocate, author, and speaker. He is known for his work in developing a braille alphabet for the Korean language. He is the current Vice Chair of the World Committee on Disability. Kang is a former policy advisor of the National Council on Disability
to the United States White House, serving under former president George W. Bush
. In 2001, Kang received the Asian American
Society's Outstanding Contribution and Achievement Award.
Kang is the former dean of South Korea's Taegu University, Supervisor of Special Education in Indiana, and is currently an adjunct professor at Northeastern Illinois University
in Chicago.
In 1995, Kang's autobiography
was made into a television and motion picture movie entitled, Bicheun nae gaseume (English: Light in My Heart). The film dramatized Kang's life as the first visually impaired
Korean man to earn a Ph.D.
In addition to film, the autobiography has been translated into seven languages and is a U.S. Library of Congress talking book. The film was honored with the Korean equivalent of the Emmy Award for the best drama in television.
against disabled individuals. It was a common belief that seeing a blind person would bring bad luck. Blind individuals were literally spit upon and treated as outcasts. When Kang's mother learned that her son would be permanently blind, she died of a heart attack that same day, while walking home from the hospital. At that time, Kang's 17-year-old sister dropped out of high school and took a sewing job to support her younger brother. The pressure was too great for her, and she died 16 months later. In the span of just four years, Kang lost his eyesight, his parents, and his sister.
Kang is married to Kyoung, also known as Kay. Together, they have two sons, Paul and Christopher. Kyoung was a teacher for almost 30 years, working with visually impaired students in Gary, Indiana
public schools. Kang's older son, Paul, is a ophthalmologist in Washington, D.C.
, while his younger son, Christopher, serves as Special Assistant to President Obama
for Legislative Affairs. Christopher Kang formerly served as Senate Floor Counsel to Assistant U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Richard Durbin, overseeing constitutional, criminal justice, and labor issues.
in Seoul
, from which, he graduated with honors. He then went on to the University of Pittsburgh School of Education
in Pennsylvania
. In 1976, he became the first blind Korean to earn both a Masters degree and a doctorate
. A Rotary Foundation Scholar while at the University of Pittsburgh, he earned his master’s degree in special education and rehabilitation counseling and his doctorate in education.
' World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons.
National Council on Disability
In 2002, President George W. Bush
nominated Kang to serve as a policy adviser on the National Council on Disability
, an independent federal agency that makes recommendations to the President and Congress in pursuit of enhancing the quality of life for Americans with disabilities and their families. After confirmation by the Senate, Kang worked on issues ranging from the inclusion of people with disabilities in emergency planning to cultural differences and attitudes in empowering people with disabilities. He also supported the research and development of six kinds of electronic devices for the disabled, including mobile phone
s and automatic teller machines.
National Council on Disability
The National Council on Disability was initially established in 1978 as an advisory board within the United States Department of Education to guarantee equal opportunity for people with disabilities. NCD is composed of 15 members, appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by...
to the United States White House, serving under former president George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. In 2001, Kang received the Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
Society's Outstanding Contribution and Achievement Award.
Kang is the former dean of South Korea's Taegu University, Supervisor of Special Education in Indiana, and is currently an adjunct professor at Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University is a public state university located in Chicago, Illinois. The main campus is located in the community area of North Park with three additional campuses in the metropolitan area. Tracing its founding to 1867, it was first established as a separate branch of a...
in Chicago.
In 1995, Kang's autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
was made into a television and motion picture movie entitled, Bicheun nae gaseume (English: Light in My Heart). The film dramatized Kang's life as the first visually impaired
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
Korean man to earn a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
In addition to film, the autobiography has been translated into seven languages and is a U.S. Library of Congress talking book. The film was honored with the Korean equivalent of the Emmy Award for the best drama in television.
Personal background
Young Woo Kang was born in a small village near Seoul in South Korea. Kang's father died when he was 13 years old. The following year, Kang lost his eyesight in a sporting accident. At the time, there was wide-spread discriminationDiscrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
against disabled individuals. It was a common belief that seeing a blind person would bring bad luck. Blind individuals were literally spit upon and treated as outcasts. When Kang's mother learned that her son would be permanently blind, she died of a heart attack that same day, while walking home from the hospital. At that time, Kang's 17-year-old sister dropped out of high school and took a sewing job to support her younger brother. The pressure was too great for her, and she died 16 months later. In the span of just four years, Kang lost his eyesight, his parents, and his sister.
Kang is married to Kyoung, also known as Kay. Together, they have two sons, Paul and Christopher. Kyoung was a teacher for almost 30 years, working with visually impaired students in Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
public schools. Kang's older son, Paul, is a ophthalmologist in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, while his younger son, Christopher, serves as Special Assistant to President Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
for Legislative Affairs. Christopher Kang formerly served as Senate Floor Counsel to Assistant U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Richard Durbin, overseeing constitutional, criminal justice, and labor issues.
Educational background
Kang was the first blind person to be admitted to Yonsei UniversityYonsei University
Yonsei University is a Christian private research university, located in Seoul, South Korea. Established in 1885, it is one of the oldest universities in South Korea, the top private comprehensive universities in South Korea, and is widely regarded as one of the top three comprehensive...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, from which, he graduated with honors. He then went on to the University of Pittsburgh School of Education
University of Pittsburgh School of Education
The University of Pittsburgh School of Education consists of four academic departments Administrative and Policy Studies, Health and Physical Activity, Instruction and Learning, and Psychology in Education. The school is primarily located in Wesley W...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. In 1976, he became the first blind Korean to earn both a Masters degree and a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
. A Rotary Foundation Scholar while at the University of Pittsburgh, he earned his master’s degree in special education and rehabilitation counseling and his doctorate in education.
Professional background
Kang is the current Vice Chairman of the World Committee on Disability, working in this capacity, he was a driving force behind the establishment of the Franklin D. Roosevelt International Disability Award. Established in 1995, this award recognizes and encourages progress by nations in expanding the participation of people with disabilities, in fulfillment of the goals of the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
' World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons.
National Council on Disability
In 2002, President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
nominated Kang to serve as a policy adviser on the National Council on Disability
National Council on Disability
The National Council on Disability was initially established in 1978 as an advisory board within the United States Department of Education to guarantee equal opportunity for people with disabilities. NCD is composed of 15 members, appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by...
, an independent federal agency that makes recommendations to the President and Congress in pursuit of enhancing the quality of life for Americans with disabilities and their families. After confirmation by the Senate, Kang worked on issues ranging from the inclusion of people with disabilities in emergency planning to cultural differences and attitudes in empowering people with disabilities. He also supported the research and development of six kinds of electronic devices for the disabled, including mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
s and automatic teller machines.
Honors and awards
- Honorary Doctorate in Literature from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea
- Rotary Foundation's Distinguished Service Award
- Human Rights Award from Fairfax County (Virginia) Human Rights Commission
Published works
- Kang, Young Woo. My Disability--God's Ability: 7 Principles of Triumphant Life, Abingdon Press, 2004. ISBN 978-0687339211
- Kang, Young Woo. The Wisdom Driven Life Korean: Seven Keys to a Successful Life, Abingdon Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0687642458
- Kang, Young Woo. A Light in My Heart: Faith and Hope and the Handicapped, Word of Life Press, 2003. ISBN 978-8904154456