Rehabilitation for The Visually Impaired in Taiwan

It’s a hot summer in Taiwan, the temperature is very high. The heat and thundershowers in the afternoon are parts of our daily life. For people with visual impairment, it’s inconvenient to travel to TDTB and take courses for rehabilitation, especially under such weather condition. But they simply refuse to take weather condition as excuses.

With your support, we have provided many computer courses as we can. From May to July 2019, major activities/events in this Association are listed as followed:

1. Assistive Technology (AT) Training Course

• Computer and Smart-Phone

We have offered 123.5 hours of computer courses and smartphone courses for 28 visually impaired people (VIP) from May to July. The computer courses aim to obtain C Class License so that they will have more opportunities in employment. Besides, it is quite common for visually impaired people to use smart-phones, so we provided some courses to VIP and tried to solve their problems.

• Computer Skill certificate

TDTB provides two activities related to the assessment of computer literacy in July, not only to cultivate the information literacy of visually impaired elementary and middle school students but also to strengthen their computer skill so that they will not fall behind other students due to lack of information. Through the examination and learning guidance from professional instructors, we hope that what we have done today will help improve the information literacy of visually impaired students.

• NVDA in Computer Application

In July, TDTB provided the “NVDA in Computer Application” course to introduce the keyboard application in operating Windows Calculator basic functions and engineering calculation. Through NVDA, help students learn reading math-related software, so that students can understand symbols and equations, formulas and symbols, making calculations more efficient.

2. Psychological Consultation and Support Group

During this period of time, TDTB has provided more than 30 hours of psychological counseling, as well as 4 peer support group for more than 40 visually impaired people and their families. At these gatherings, they can communicate their needs, and encourage each other so that they will overcome difficulties and gain the motivation in learning to live independently.

3. Web Financial Management Course

In order to make up the “digital gap” between blind and visual people, so that the blind can handle all kinds of needs through the Internet at home. TDTB launched 2 “Web Financial Management Basic Course” in May. The courses will assist the VIP students to manage their own finances via the relevant websites and APP.

4. Visiting the Lin Yutang House

We hosted one outdoor activity of visiting The Lin Yutang House on 18^th May and invited 34 visually impaired people and volunteers participated in the activity. The Lin Yutang House is designed by the Master Lin Yutang after he returning Taiwan from the United States, this building combines Chinese and Western styles, providing a quiet corner for Taipei which is a busy and fast-paced city. Through the company and the introduction of the tour guide, all participators had a deeper understanding of the story of Master Lin Yutang.

5. Rehabilitation experience Sharing

There were two seminars held during this period by TDTB; Dr. Andrew Lai was invited on May 25, Ms. Diana Fu was invited on July 27, and they shared their life experiences on overcoming visual disabilities.

The topic of the first honorable invited guest Dr. Lai is “More brilliant life after becoming blind”. Dr. Lai has made outstanding contributions in the field of pharmacy.

The topic of the second honorable invited guest Ms. Diana Fu is “Nine years after getting blindness with a more fantastic life.”  Ms. Diana Fu, the former vice president of United Information Technology Taiwan Branch, she shared her process of emotional reconstruction 9 years ago, this time, she shared the growth of the past nine years.

Two speakers shared how they have crossed the barriers of disease and made their lives happier and more dignified. Over 40 visually impaired people benefit from this sharing.

Links:

• Official website of the TDTB

It is rainy season in Taiwan. The raindrops fall all the time. However, for the visually impaired people, when they walk with the white canes on the roads, they feel cheerful because they are on the roads toward TDTB.

The services offered by TDTB are designed to improve quality of life for visually impaired people through the development and enhancement of their skills and capabilities. All workers in TDTB assist them in access to services and training.

TDTB has set up for 15 years. After reviewing the services of these years, we published a report called "Retrospect and Prospect" in April. With the report, readers can understand what TDTB has done in the past 15 years.

We appreciate all the supports and encouragements, which make all these services in TDTB keep going and bring the sunshine to these visually impaired people and their family members. Here are the services and activities in TDTB from Mid- Feb. to Mid-May in 2019:

1. Computer Courses:

(1) In March and April 2019, TDTB offered Level C courses for computer software application to improve the skills of visually impaired people. The courses include Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and File Management with the screen reader of NVDA. The students participated these courses could familiarize the types of questions by practicing exams. After taking the courses, they had competitive computer skills and became more confident.

(2) In addition, TDTB offered “Internet Explore for a Better Life” computer courses. The courses introduced the basic computer skills of booking tickets or making an online reservations with NVDA to visually impaired people. After taking the courses, the students could access information from the website easily.  

2. Case management: Two direct service projects for people acquired blindness and their families are taken by social workers this year. The services include computer training, psychological consultation, peer support group and life experiences sharing. 16 clients have received 100 hours of the computer courses and other services. They have learned how to send an email with NVDA, how to use iPhone and LINE to communicate with their acquaintances. With these assistive technology, visually impaired people can live more independently.

3. Outdoor Activity: We organized one outdoor activity in March 2019, and invited more than 30 visually impaired people and volunteers to visit Taipei Fine Arts Museum. All participants explored the modern art by museum audio guide and they were encouraged to know few of works by the sense of touch. The activity allowed them to develop cultural and aesthetic sense.

4. Rehab Life Sharing Gathering: During the period of time, we held a rehab life sharing gathering. In March, we invited a young music teacher as the lecturer. After a car accident, she had vision impaired unfortunately. She shared her experiences on overcoming the difficulties by the supports of her family and friends. The warm power led her still kept chasing dream ofbring the love and hope in music to more and more students. All participants were moved by listening to her story and violin performance deeply.

5. Recording of Digital Talking Books: TDTB undertook a project from The Ministry of Health and Welfare. It is about recording the digital talking books of “Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child’’ in Chinese and in English. We have completed the recording books and sent all the finished digital talking books (1,000 copies) to the universities, libraries and all government agencies in Taiwan.

We appreciate that your understandings of vision of TDTB and give us the strengths all the time. We are looking forward to keep the passion for the visually impaired people and make them smile in every day.