IFDD - About IFDD, Mission, History and Its Planned Activities

About
International Friends for the Developmentally Disabled
(IFDD)

Mission, History and Planned Activities

I. Our Mission

We will try to promote and support the establishments, development and expansion of social, benevolent, charitable and educational programs for developmentally disabled person; the exchange of ideas and information nationally and internationally to these ends and to the purpose of improving the quality o life for the developmentally disabled.

II. History
April, 2003	Incorporated in Illinois
May 15, 2003	Mr. Yoo, Byung Woo (National Chairperson of Korean Parents Association of the Disabled) and Mrs. Kim Myung Sil (Executive Secretary and president of Seoul Chapter of the KPAD) were invited for a week tour of facilities for the developmentally disabled in Chicago area.
October, 2003	IRS approved IFDD’s 501 ( c ) 3 status as a tax exempt charitable organization
April 26, 2004	Ms. Lee, In Young(Team Leader of Korean Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities, KSRPD) and Rev. Yoo, Chang Ho(Korean Anglican Church, President of Living Together in One World, a residential facility) visited Chicago area facilities for the disabled.
October 15, 2004	Participated as a speaker in the symposium on Sexuality and Developmental Disability in Korea, organized by the Living Together in One World and Korean Anglican Church.
August 7-20, 2005	As a joint project with Korean Association of Social Workers, 11 member study tour group visited Chicago area for 2 weeks.
November 2, 2005	Arranged an invitation of Zena Naiditch(president of Equip for Equality in Illinois) to Korea as keynote speaker for RI Korea 2005 and lecture tours at Suwon Parents Association of the Disabled, Research Institute of the Differently Abled Person’s Rights in Korea, and at symposium on sexuality of the developmentally disabled.

III. Description of IFDD’s planned activities

IFDD will attempt to be a facilitator for changes that are deemed necessary to improve the lives of developmentally handicapped individuals and the families in Korea and other Asian countries. We will also act as a conduit of information and technique from U.S. to Asia’s lesser advanced countries in the social welfare system.

Through advertisement in website, trade magazines or other means of discovery, we will make contact with various organizations in Korea and other Asian countries, and discuss their situation and particular area that needs improvement, for example, technical support, education, public acceptance, family support, employment, etc.

IFDD’s activity will be primarily conducted in U.S. Visits to the countries to assess the situation and interview potential recipients will also be made. The communication with recipients organizations will be opened and maintained throughout the year, and arrangement for visit by recipients to U.S. or by experts from U.S. to recipients’ country will be made at least once a year. There is no fee for participation in the activities. All expenses will be paid for by IFDD.

IFDD’s purposes as described in Articles of Incorporation are: To promote and support the establishment, development and expansion of social, benevolent, charitable and educational programs for developmentally disabled persons; to promote the exchange of ideas and information nationally and internationally to these ends and to the purpose of improving the quality of life of the developmentally disabled.

We believe above described activities will further IFDD’s exempt purpose and mission.
IFDD was incorporated this year and had its first major activity. There were certainly some shortcomings and areas to be improved. We are sure our activities will with times evolve and improve its effectiveness and efficiency.