Education Taiwan Project #8480

Rehabilitation for The Visually Impaired in Taiwan

by Taiwan Digital Talking Books Association (TDTB)

Rehabilitation for The Visually Impaired in Taiwan

Project Report | Feb 4, 2025
Annual report of 2024

By Audrey Lin | Project Manager

Over the past 20 years, our journey has been marked by dedication. We owe our progress not only to the hard work of our colleagues but also to your unwavering support, and for this, we express our heartfelt gratitude—thank you! In 2024, we provided 468 hours of information education and organized 13 impactful activities for the visually impaired people. Now, we are excited to share the outcomes of our fourth quarter and annual services. Let's take a look!

1. A Learner Became a Helper: People with Disabilities Vocational Training

This year, TDTB was commissioned by Taipei City Foreign and Disabled Labor Office to conduct two vocational training programs for people with disabilities: a four-month course on computer document applications and a 102-hour podcast training class. During this time, we received feedback from Chen, a student in the computer class, who shared his reflections after successfully completing the program.

Hello everyone, I'm Chen. I participated in the computer application course in 2024. As a child, despite my visual impairment, I learned to listen closely to the world around me. Through continuous learning and perseverance, I overcame many challenges and this determination ultimately led me to develop a strong interest in computers.

After receiving information about the course offered by TDTB, I signed up immediately. Following the test and interview, I successfully met the requirements. During the class, I realized that a computer is not just a tool for visually impaired people—it is also a bridge that connects us to the world. Therefore, to master computer skills, I regularly review and practice after each class. Additionally, if there are classmates who need help, I assist them in solving problems to reinforce my understanding and deepen my impression.

I hope to apply my experiences and skills to help more visually impaired individuals overcome obstacles and challenges, just as I have. I firmly believe that with the right support, everyone can shine in their own way and enhance their quality of life. I look forward to making a meaningful contribution and impact alongside TDTB.

2. Sowing the seeds of empathy – Visually Impaired Life Rehabilitation Sharing Tour Across Taiwan

This year, we published an audiobook and e-book featuring the inspiring rehabilitation stories of ten visually impaired individuals. To further connect with the public, we organized sharing sessions at the National Taiwan Library, Taichung Social Innovation Unit, and Kaohsiung Public Zuoxin Library, where these individuals shared their journeys and experiences.

3. From Hopeless to Champion with 100% Typing Accuracy – Annual Information Competition for the Visually Impaired

The annual information competition entered its eighth year in 2024. This year, many participants with low vision have demonstrated remarkable improvements in both confidence and performance, with some even achieving a 100 percent accuracy rate at a specific typing speed.

In recent years, we have observed that, although some competitors have not won awards, they continue to register for the competition each year, driven by the belief that one day they will be the winners standing proudly on the stage.

Today, we would like to share the story of this year's most outstanding winner, Mumu.

My motivation for participating in this competition was to reflect the dedication and effort I had put in over the past few months. Although I usually practice consistently during my free time, the preparation process was challenging due to my need to balance both work and school work. Additionally, while I aimed to enhance my typing speed, I often found that my accuracy rate would decrease, which presented a significant challenge for me.

When I was informed that I had won the award, it was truly an indescribable joy, especially since I had heard that the second-place contestant had a typing speed of 85 words per minute. At that point, I had lost hope of winning. However, I was extremely surprised and delighted when the panel of judges chose accuracy as the key criterion rather than typing speed. Achieving a 100% accuracy rate is not easy for the visually impaired; thus, this award not only serves as proof of my hard work but also as a testament to my perseverance. I am deeply grateful to the judges for recognizing my efforts, and I truly appreciate the growth and encouragement this competition has brought to me.

4. Playback Theatre with Visually Impaired People

This year, TDTB partnered with the Voice Service Club of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and Blindmango Playback Theatre to plan a series of playback theatre courses and performances. Playback Theatre, which emphasizes the emotional essence of each participant's story, enables actors to express these narratives and feelings through their voices. As an improvisational theater form, Playback Theatre does not depend on pre-written lines or scripts; instead, it fosters a deeper emotional connection between the participants and the performance.

5. Summary of Service Results in 2024

(1) Information Education for the Visually Impaired

In 2024, we offered 468 hours of customized and group courses covering topics such as financial management, investment, podcast production, and AI (Artificial Intelligence) applications.

Additionally, TDTB is committed to creating accessible learning resources. We have completed 291 free educational materials available through our DAISY Library, NVDA Skills Blog, and VIP E-learning Platform. By providing these resources, we aim to empower visually impaired individuals to enhance their skills with 3C tools, enabling them to learn freely, regardless of time or location. This year, we have assisted 2,937 visually impaired people learn technology, accessing information, and applying it to their daily lives.

(2) Visually Impaired Support Services

This year, we organized 13 activities spanning a total of 597.5 hours. These events aimed to help participants discover their potential and explore personal interests. The activities covered themes such as physical and mental health and art workshops. We were delighted to engage 1,413 visually impaired people, fostering growth and supporting them on their journey toward self-realization.

Besides, to support visually impaired individuals who have recently lost their sight in taking a significant step forward, TDTB provided 74 hours of individual psychological counseling, enabling 36 participants to express their emotions and overcome challenges.

(3) Initiative on Visually Impaired Issues

TDTB organized 11 advocacy activities, including sessions on creating accessible websites and apps, and invited visually impaired individuals to share their experiences of rebuilding their lives after losing their sight with the public.

In addition to these in-person events, we invited visually impaired hosts to lead our podcast, offering unique perspectives on the challenges they face. This year, we released 24 episodes, exploring various topics related to visual impairment in depth.

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Nov 19, 2024
Third quarter report of 2024

By Audrey Lin | Project Manager

"Vision" is the primary sense we rely on to process information in our daily lives. However, for visually impaired people, other senses play a vital role in experiencing and navigating the world. This quarter, under the theme "Walking into the Creative World of the Visually Impaired," we aim to explore how they use their other senses to engage with and interpret their surroundings.

Now, let’s delve into the inspiring journey of creativity beyond sight!

1. Embarking on a Digital Journey: Empowering the Visually Impaired with Technology

This year, we launched theme-based courses designed to enhance visually impaired individuals’ digital skills. From April to August, we offered group classes covering topics such as NVDA screen readers, practical Google tools, audiobook listening, and sound editing.

One participant, Lingling, shared, "The course is incredibly helpful! Thank you, teacher, for teaching us sound editing. Traveling from Yilan to Taipei was absolutely worth it."

2. Advancing Web Accessibility in Financial Institutions

Over the past 15 years, TDTB has championed web accessibility in educational institutions, helping teachers, students, and aspiring web designers understand its vital importance.

In recent years, awareness has grown regarding the challenges disabled individuals face in accessing digital financial services. For instance, ATMs often lack voice guidance for visually impaired users, and while banking apps have designated sections for disabled users, they still offer limited accessibility. These services typically only provide basic functions, such as checking account balances, leaving more complex features out of reach.

In response, we continue to uphold one of our visions "information equality," striving to promote accessible digital services within financial institutions. We have partnered with Mega Bank, Chang Hwa Commercial Bank, Hua Nan Commercial Bank, and Yuanta Commercial Bank. We are grateful for their collaboration in creating a more inclusive and user-friendly digital world.

3. The Art Explore: A Visit to the Exhibition “Who’s in the Landscape?”

We took visually impaired individuals to the Taipei Fine Arts Museum to explore both the inner and outer landscapes portrayed by the artists.

Throughout the tour, the tour guides shared the background of each artwork, while the visually impaired participants carefully explored tactile painting samples provided by the museum.

A highlight of the visit was a creative DIY workshop, where participants had the opportunity to craft their own landscapes using materials such as leaves, flowers, stones, and plants, allowing them to bring their inner visions to life.

Many participants infused their emotions and life stories into their creations.

Vincent shared, "My work is like my life. I want to live a fulfilling life, and I am very satisfied with where I am now."

Amy added, "My work starts from a small point and gradually spreads out. These points represent every scene I've encountered in life. At the bottom, I used leaves to form wings, allowing the points to soar."

4. Creating Your Own Story: A DIY Accessory Design Workshop

In August, we continued our partnership with the Voice Service Club of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to host a DIY accessory design workshop. This event brought together visually impaired participants and volunteers to collaborate on creating unique accessory artwork.

Volunteers provided visual guidance, while the participants used their keen sense of touch to skillfully thread needles and string beads into beautiful bracelets.

One participant shared, “The teacher explained the meaning behind each bead, so I selected several agates, which symbolize strong friendships, to represent my desire to strengthen the bond with my friends.”

Another participant, Li, expressed, “Although I have lost my vision and the activity posed some challenges, I felt the unwavering support of my teacher and the volunteers. Their encouragement empowered me to complete the bracelet. I’m so happy to meet so many new friends today.”

5. Gratitude and Blessing to TDTB: Teacher Candy’s one-on-one class

Candy is a teacher at Kinmen Kincheng Junior High School in Kinmen County where is an outlying island of Taiwan. She noticed that the school lacked resources to support students with low vision in learning assistive technology. To address this gap, she enrolled in TDTB’s one-on-one classes, hoping to gain the skills needed to better assist her students. Now, let’s take a closer look at Candy’s journey and her experience with TDTB.

Candy:

I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Lu, and Mr. Yan, who have generously shared their expertise and supported my growth. I am especially grateful to Mr. Yan. During our discussions about the course syllabus, he consistently customized the arrangements to meet my needs. Throughout the classes, his attentiveness stood out. Although I thought I was completely focused during the class, I was amazed by the teacher’s sensitivity in noticing even the smallest sounds or movements.

Finally, I want to thank TDTB for offering a wide range of assistive technology learning opportunities. Though we have only communicated through text messages and online meetings, I deeply value their dedication. TDTB and other social welfare resources empower visually impaired people to explore the world, embrace new experiences, and enjoy continuing learning to become their best selves.

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Aug 19, 2024
Second quarter report of 2024

By Audrey Lin | Project Manager

The second quarter has always been our busiest time of year, but this year has been especially packed with unique projects and activities that set it apart from previous ones. For TDTB, it’s been an incredibly fulfilling quarter! In this report, we’re excited to share the highlights of what we’ve achieved and the feedback from our participants. As you read through, you might discover that visually impaired people are capable of more than you ever imagined!

1. Plant Handicraft Workshop

In May, we organized a special workshop with our valued partner, the Voice Service Club of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). We invited visually impaired individuals, their families, and friends to participate in creating plant-themed handicrafts. These handmade crafts were later presented as heartfelt Mother's Day gifts.

Everyone was able to follow the teacher's instructions, and the teacher frequently praised their efforts, saying, "Wow! Your potted plants are so beautiful! Let's take pictures together later."

After the workshop, the participants headed home with pride, carrying their beautiful masterpieces and a sense of satisfaction.

As the sisters approached the subway ticket gate, they turned back and said, "Thank you so much for organizing this event. My visually impaired sister had a fantastic time today. We really appreciate it!"

2. Indoor Physical Fitness Courses for the Visually Impaired

The fitness course is our second collaboration with ITRI this year. This time, several ITRI clubs and nonprofit organizations joined us as volunteers. Their participation brought a fresh energy and made the atmosphere more vibrant and enjoyable!

To ensure that visually impaired participants could follow every movement, the coaches practiced extensively beforehand. They even had a volunteer wear a blindfold to simulate the experience and follow verbal instructions while practicing the exercises. On the day of the event, everyone was fully engaged! Despite some participants experiencing an indoor fitness course for the first time, they still successfully completed every move with the support of the coaches and volunteers!

3. Financial Management Course for the Visually Impaired

This year's financial management classes were divided into beginner and advanced levels. The beginner course ran six times in April and May, focusing on basic financial management concepts. The sessions were led by visually impaired lecturers who are full of financial experience and shared their insights. Many familiar faces returned, including students who were first financial management course the previous year.

Financial knowledge needs to evolve with the times. By understanding your current situation, discussing it, and making adjustments, you can find solutions that truly work for you. The goal of the course is to assist everyone, including individuals with visual impairments, in discovering innovative ways to overcome life's challenges.

4. Internship Experience from a College Student

Shih, one of our interns, completed her internship in May. Here's the feedback she wanted to share with us:

These past few months have not only made me grow professionally but also taught me valuable lessons that can't be learned in school, like navigating the workplace environment and building relationships with colleagues. My time here has been incredibly rewarding.

I'm really thankful to my internship partner and mentors at TDTB for their guidance, which allowed me to gain so much knowledge in just four months!

To myself and my fellow interns, I'd say this: Don't be too afraid of challenges. We all have our own pace. As long as the sun doesn’t explode, it will rise in every time zone.

5. The Story of Tutoring Services Case-Mr. Shen

Mr. Shen works as a clerk at a university while studying Business Administration. He used to rely on his vision to read a lot of literature, but his deteriorating eyesight has made this difficult. Now, he wants to learn how to use voice assistant tools to access information and get his work done.

Based on his needs, we arranged for professional instructors who specialize in teaching visually impaired individuals to instruct Mr. Shen on how to use the tools. During each class, Mr. Shen was consistently eager to ask questions and actively engage with the teacher. Additionally, he shared his experiences of practicing at home and brought up any new questions for discussion in subsequent classes.

Mr. Shen is still mastering new tools but is already using voice assistance for daily tasks like making calls, sending messages, and browsing for information. He aims to become fully proficient with these tools and apply them at work to enhance his efficiency and learning capabilities.

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