Thank you for participating in the journey with us in 2022! Your continued support has propelled us throughout the year, empowering us with warmth and motivation to assist more visually impaired people in Taiwan. We served 3,964 members (only the visually impaired), provided 748 hours of teaching, and held 52 activities in 2022.
Now, let’s see what we have done in the fourth quarter.
1. Visually Impaired Digital Mathematics Tool Group Course
For visually impaired students, mathematics is one of the most challenging subjects to learn because it requires applying a large number of formulas to calculate. When we tried to survey mathematics software frequently used by junior and senior high school students, we discovered a mathematics learning tool called A8M developed by National Taiwan Normal University. Therefore, TDTB held a group course based on A8M to assist students in quickly understanding the mathematic questions and formula calculation. After class, the students gave us a lot of feedback:” After learning A8M, I found that it is such a helpful tool. I could quickly calculate the answer now. The course is beneficial and practical!”
2. Vocational Training for Persons with Disabilities
Since July of this year, we have started to hold vocational training for people with disabilities. The goal is to promote employment opportunities for them through systematic computer skills courses. In October, we finally ended the training successfully! A total of 10 students completed it, and 8 people successfully entered the workforce, with an employment rate of 80%.
3. Life Rehabilitation Sharing Event
This season, we specially invited a lecturer who was a baseball player and coach in a visually impaired baseball team to share the experiences of growth and life exploration. He not only set up his fan page but continued to promote the activity - people and visually impaired people travel together. In the sharing event, the lecturer used his life experience as a point of departure and conveyed stories about not giving up on life.
4. New online course on the VIP platform - Introduction of Common Google Online Tools with NVDA
For visually impaired people, Google applications and services are the first choices to apply to their assignment because Google matched web content accessibility with NVDA. Visually impaired could utilize the services joyfully. Besides, Google Drive, Gmail, Google Meet, Classroom, Calendar, Google Form, search engines, and other services are essential tools for employment and education. Therefore, TDTB designed a course including 12 units and created E-books in the DAISY library.
5. Annual Visually Impaired Computer Competition
In the fourth quarter of 2022, we held an annual event - the Visually Impaired Computer Competition. We updated 36 practice questions for contestants on our VIP (Visually Impaired People) E-learning Platform for available contestants to practice beforehand. Over 3,700 users practiced typing and keyword searching on the platform. A total of 19 visually impaired registered for the competition. Under the tight race, one of the winners shared his experience of participating in the competition over the years:
I have participated in TDTB's Visually Impaired Computer Competition four times.
It has been a long process from my unsatisfactory grades to challenging my goals and exploring my abilities simultaneously. All of the experiences laid the growth foundation for me. I want to thank TDTB for their support and recognition, which enabled me to apply assistive technology to acquire information.
The experience made me more clear about my goals and the value of life. Besides, I also learned that as long as I never give up and keep the warmth that society has given me in my mind, and always work hard, I will be able to push the envelope and break through the limitations of the visually impaired one day. Eventually, I could give back to society.
It seems to be a long way to overcome the challenges. However, a few weeks ago, the general secretary accepted my advice to remove the obstacle--stone pillars on the campus. As a representative of disabled students, I feel more obligated to safeguard for public interest and serve others.
In addition, after I visited the dormitory environment at National Taiwan Normal University last week, I expected to contribute my public administration knowledge and power to assist my university in planning the barrier-free dormitory to improve the campus-friendly environment.
Even if countless obstacles need to be overwhelmed; however, once I can help others, I will not forget to express warmth and make society a better place.
In addition to the aforementioned, we held other diverse activities this season, such as a beach cleanup in collaboration with the visually impaired. To cope with global warming in recent years, TDTB cooperated with Industrial Technology Research Institute to do our part for the earth. We also held two cultural experience activities, taking the visually impaired to Taiwan New Cultural Movement Memorial Museum and Yat-Sen Park. Through a one-day cultural tour, they can better understand the living environment and increase interaction between the visually impaired and the general public.
[Summary of the Achievements in 2022]
1. One-on-one computer education
A total of 66 cases took one-on-one computer teaching for 748 hours.
2. Computer group courses
A total of 8 group courses were conducted for 36 hours, benefiting 63 people.
3. One-on-one psychological counseling
A total of 4 individual cases received psychological counseling for 33 hours.
4. Non-visual mobile phone application group class for the elderly
From April to September, a total of 176 members signed up for the course which was separated into five groups, every group divided into 4 classes.
5. Other diverse activities
A total of 52 events, which include cultural experience activities, life rehabilitation sharing events, beach clean-up activities, web content accessibility promotion, and a visually impaired computer competition were held, benefiting 4,155 people (including the visually impaired and the general public).
If you are interested in our service results in 2022, please refer to other quarterly reports:
Links:
Though the COVIC-19 Pandemicbroke out again in late September, TDTB staff has continuously work very hard to provide visually impaired people with various services. Now let’s take a look at our efforts done in the thirdquarter:
1. Tutoring Services
Teaching the visually impaired computer skill is one of our major services. We believe that visually impaired people have the right and ability to obtain information independently. Therefore, we provide various courses, including NVDA screen reader, Microsoft Office software, and Google online tools to enhance their basic computer skills. TDTB provided more than 20 students computer courses in this season, and one student-Wu was invited to share his life-changing experience after learning about computer assistive technology.
Feed Back from Wu:
Thanks to TDTB and the teacher arranged a series of NVDA courses for me. From the beginning course, I learned the hot keys with NVDA and typing on keyboard in correct way. Then, I learned more about Microsoft systems, browsing the website, and word processing. What I have learned in the courses made my computer skills improve rapidly. Now, I can work things out more independently.
2. Web Content Accessibility Promotion
An accessibility environment, we believe where everyone has the same right to use everything and get the information. TDTB has been holding web accessibility promotions with visually impaired computer teachers to universities and NPOs to give lectures for 12 years. This season, we went to three universities, including Private Chang Jung Girls' Senior High School, National Penghu University, and Chiayi Municipal Min-sheng Public Junior High School, so that professors and students understand more about the concept of web accessibility.
3. Corporate Volunteer
Lenovo Technology B.V. Taiwan Branch employee continued devote their time in our recording volunteer program in this year. We arranged a training session before volunteers started to record the books, including recording, eBook layout, and file conversion. In this way, they could better understand the job scope and the value of e-books for visually impaired people. Afterward, we received the final product with high productivity. We can see that the volunteers are full of enthusiasm and great importance. We would like to express our great appreciation to the volunteers’ contributions, TDTB enabled to provide courses, events, and activities for visually impaired people in Taiwan for them to learn to overcome their obstacles.
4. Volunteer training for visually impaired
In August, TDTB held a volunteer training session in Bopiliao Historic Block. It is happy that the volunteers are fully engaged and enthusiastic in the session. In the end, they shared their reflection with us.
“After participating in the session, I defied my traditional impression of visually impaired people. There are a lot of things they could achieve by themselves such as cooking. In addition, I could put myself in their shoes rather than only lend a hand to them,” the volunteer said.
5. Life Rehabilitation Sharing Event
For the visually impaired, positive sentiment and continuous learning is the way to rehabilitate their life. Not only that but peer counseling and accompanying are necessary. Therefore, TDTB hosted a life rehabilitation sharing event, inviting role models in various fields to share their journey from vision loss to faith recovery.The visually impaired teacher encourages the participants to step out their comfort zone. Finally, we are happy to see that all of the participants are fully engaged in the event.
6. List of donations
CHIEN * HUNG
Cybergrants
HUANG * CHUN
Wang * li
Anonymous
Martin * Griffith
Chi *
JONG * HUANG
Nathan *
Chi *
Links:
The epidemic prevention measures in Taiwan experienced the transition from zero-COVID to coexist with the virus. From April to June, the confirmed cases have reached a peak. Live-in family, relatives, and partners around TDTB had Omicron in succession. Therefore, many events have been canceled or postponed one after another. Despite this, TDTB stays positive and never stops our service to assist the visually impaired in coming out of the darkness.
Let’s see what we have done this season.
1. Life Reconstruction Sharing Session
This season, we held two sharing sessions, inviting Jian Fuxuan, who is studying Sports Science at National Taiwan Sport University, and one of TDTB’s teacher-Yuling Pang, as the session lecturer. They shared how to conquer the fear of becoming visually impaired and adapt to a new social environment. We would like to see the visually impaired could be spurred by the stories and find their way eventually.
2. Web Accessibility Promotion
Web accessibility is one of the elements for people with disability to have information equality. TDTB expects the general public could understand that web accessibility design is a prerequisite for disabled people to browse the website. Therefore, we held promotion activities with the cooperation of three universities. They are—the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Chaoyang University of Technology, and Chung Chou University of Science and Technology. Besides, through the conversation with the general public, web designers can take the web accessibility design into account in the future to achieve everyone have the same right to acquire information on the internet.
3. Seven Diversity Group Classes
TDTB held seven group classes this season, including four courses for the elderly-operating mobile phones with non-visual, two online application courses, and an e-book appliance course.
With the increase of age and the ever-changing technology, vision blurred, and degeneration happened rapidly. To reduce the burden on the eyes when the elderly are using electronic products and prevent vision loss, we designed a course to teach them to operate the mobile phone by listening instead.
Word processing is the most common skill in paperwork or presentation. However, this teaching model has become a hindrance and caused the progress of coursework to lag for visually impaired students. Therefore, we taught them Google online tools, Gmail, and reading documents through a screen reader. The online application course is the door to resolving the technical problems and assisting them in keeping up with the schedule.
Since listening is the most important sensory system for the visually impaired, audiobooks and e-books are the primary sources to obtain information. The E-Book instruction course is to teach visually impaired people familiar with exploiting screen readers to listen to e-books and browse e-book websites. Longing for visually impaired people to build up their ability by reading and getting to know more about diverse knowledge.
4. New Column on the Journey of Voice No.57
The Journey of Voice is our quarterly publication. Every season, we invite the visually impaired, volunteer partners, and interns to share their opinion on our activities and related issues. Starting from the no.57 quarterly journal, TDTB will select three featured DAISY audiobooks. Readers could find the resource from our DAISY Library. Welcome to subscribe to our digital journal or read the articles on our website to brighten up your day!
5. Little by Little Fundraising Program
The funding for teaching the visually impaired using computer learning aids islimited. However, the risk of vision loss is unlimited. Thanks to GlobalGiving and all the donors who participated in the fundraising event-Little by Little. Because of your passion, we could serve more visually impaired people. This season, TDTB assisted 52 cases in overcoming the hurdle of psychological shadow and computer skills. Last but not least, they could continue writing their life script.
Links:
At the beginning of 2022, TDTB never stops. We are still actively carrying out new types of activities and courses. Looking forward to more people understanding and supporting visually impaired services through these activities so that TDTB can serve more visually impaired friends. The following are the results of our first season:
1. General Meeting
TDTB comprises a group of people with the same philosophy. In March, we held the annual general meeting to re-elect the chairman, present our last year’s work, report the uses of funds and upcoming events. In addition, we aimed at the future direction in a heated discussion and consensus-building.
2. Community Cooperation
For the connection of the local service, client contact expanding and understanding the community service situation in Wanhua. On February 17th, TDTB participated in a meeting was held by Wanhua Community Cooperation Alliance (WanhuaCCA). We discussed whether there is an opportunity that could further promote the cooperation between our service and WanhuaCCA. Fortunately, we found our courses for the elderly have the possibility of combination with local senior units.
3. Cultural Trip
This season, we took the visually impaired to Songshan--a city full of historical traces in Taipei. In this way, participants could not only
understand the background story through immersive visiting experience but increase interaction between the visually impaired. We expected that they come out of the closed environment and enrich their spiritual health.
4. Le Midi Hotel Lecture
TDTB took directors, supervisors, consultants, and employees to Nature Education Area in Nantou. Through the company trip, to enhance the friendship between the participants. This time, we stayed at Le Midi Hotel. The supervisor also invited TDTB’s ex-chairman—Jian Li Wang, to share the story of blindness rebuilding to the hotel’s staff as an employee training. After the lecture, we discussed the future cooperation to create job opportunities for visually impaired people.
5. Wealth Management Course for the Visually Impaired
Through the talent cultivation project, we worked alongside National Taiwan University students to investigate wealth management demands and levels of knowledge with the visually impaired. After that, we started to design a series of courses according to the analysis result. On March 12nd, TDTB held a course orientation for visually impaired friends and family members who were interested in the financial field could get a better understanding of it. The course will divide into a beginner class and an advanced class. Longing for visually impaired people could refine the skill of acquiring financial information, having more possibilities for developing their career.
6. New course uploaded - Introduction to LINE for Beginner
In an era of sending messages at all times and places, “LINE” has become an indispensable communication tool in our lives, even for the visually impaired. Therefore, TDTB provided a “LINE” introductory course with Screen Reader. Visually impaired could send messages on mobile phones or computers without restriction.
Links:
Taiwan Digital Talking Book Association (TDTB) is an NPO dedicated to serving visually impaired with technology. Since Covid-19 attacked the world this year, Ministry of Education (MOE) announced the policy “Never Stop Learning”, transformed our life from offline to online. For visually impaired people, it is a challenge to study remotely without any assistance. However, we continuously provide information education to build an equal education and work environment.
Over the past year, we have done…
1. Teaching Visually Impaired to Use Information Aids
TDTB hires a group of excellent visually impaired computer teachers to assist visually impaired people understand how to operate information aids, including screen reader—NVDA, Microsoft Windows systems, Office Suites, smartphone and Daisy Player so that they could collect information and produce documents with computer and have the same rights in education and work as others. With your support, TDTB has trained 53 visually impaired people and 563 hours on teaching this year.
2. Psychological Support Service for the Visually Impaired and their Families
In the process of rehabilitation, not only self-reliance and orientation and mobility (O&M) are essential, but also psychological support is the key element to rehabilitate. Besides, there is another group who needs to be cared about—vision impairment’s family. They accompany the visually impaired every day and need more empathy to support their family members. TDTB provides one-to-one service for them to make visually impaired people and psychological counselors could have a deep conversation with each other. With your support, a total of 15 visually impaired people and their family were provided 165 counseling hours this year.
3. Support Growth Group for VIP and their Families
For visually impaired, no matter they are born blind or acquired blindness, it is imperative to have family and psychological support when they are on the way to life reconstruction. Therefore, TDTB invited vision impaired and their family to attend a series of group courses. In the group, psychological counselor will lead the participants through the discussion and bring the positive energy. A total of 8 sessions were held in 2021, serving 33 members.
4. Vocational Training for the Disabled
For those who are acquired blindness, the next step after rehabilitation is career. This year, there are 15 disabled people attend the training for five months. At the end, there are 13 students complete the courses and obtain the certificate of completion.
5. Information Education for 1-12 grade Visually Impaired Students
In Taiwan, most of the visually impaired students receive integrated education in school. However, the lack of information education leads to their learning situation lags behind general students. TDTB provides the related information and courses. A total of 17 visually impaired students have been taught for 320 hours.
6. Promotion of NVDA and Visually Impaired People E-learning Platform
In order to promote the use of NVDA and VIP E-learning platform, TDTB has been to Hsinchu, Miaoliand invited visually impaired, their parents and special education teachers from different cities and countries to attend 3 promotion seminars, 7 online promotion seminars and 2 teachers training sessions.
7. Visually Impaired Information Competition
To encourage the visually impaired to learn computers and NVDA through VIP platform, TDTB organized the annual information competition. At the end of the competition, the winners will be awarded bonuses and certificates. There are 26 participants in the typing and data searching at National Taiwan Normal University. Compared to the past few years, the participants are the largest number this year.
8. NVDA Education Seminar
In order to investigate visually impaired students’ demands and difficulties with learning NVDA and provide a better teaching environment, we invited visually impaired teachers shared the teaching experiences, a total of 2 sessions were conducted for 6 hours, and the number of participants was 19.
9. Taipei Cultural Travel
TDTB led visually impaired people to experience the cultural customs of Taipei. Through the professional barrier-free guided tours and volunteer groups’ assistance, they visited HONG-GAH Art Museum, Taipei Artist Village, and Taipei Youth Rental House.
10. Promotion and Volunteer Connection
In 2021, TDTB was interviewed by Good News Broadcasting Association. Besides, we also cooperated with On the Road to Xnowledge Co., Industrial Technology Research Institute, Chunghwa Telecom Foundation, AESOP Taiwan, Lenovo Taiwan, KGI Securities Co., Logitech , Cathay Securities Investment Trust, Yunta Foundation and other volunteer groups to hold volunteer training and visually impaired related activities.
Links:
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