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 | 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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May 10, 2024
First quarter report of 2024

By Audrey Lin | Project Manager

In 2024, TDTB celebrates its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of empowering the visually impaired towards self-realization. As we commemorate this milestone, we reflect on our journey and reaffirm our commitment to remaining steadfast in our mission. Looking ahead, we are not only focused on maintaining our course but also vigilant in recalibrating our direction when necessary.

During the first quarter, TDTB focused on curating a special 20th-anniversary magazine while also providing essential services to the visually impaired. Additionally, we began preparations for upcoming courses, activities, and workshops. We cordially invite you to join us on this journey as we embark on our next 20 years!

1. General Assembly

In March, TDTB convened its yearly assembly, bringing together members for a pivotal gathering. Beyond regular reports detailing the year's accomplishments, this event fostered vibrant exchanges and camaraderie.

2. Data Empowerment Training Performance Recap

In addition to our core services and strategic executions, we also make efforts to enhance the abilities of TDTB colleagues. Through the "Data Empowerment Training" program of the Ministry of Digital Affairs, we gathered our marketing and service departments for collective upskilling.

With guidance from program coaches, we successfully integrated new tools and concepts into our social media marketing strategy.

Before the program ended, we were honored to attend the final harvest performance, where we presented our methodologies and achievements to an audience of around 100 people. We not only brought us closer to the public but also served as a platform to raise awareness about issues related to the visually impaired.

3. Visit to Chung Tai World Museum

It was a delight to accept an invitation to bring more than 20 visually impaired families to visit the Chung Tai World Museum in collaboration with the Industrial Technology Research Institute. The meticulous flow planning, exhibition setup, and volunteer guidance underscored the museum's dedication to inclusivity and accessibility for the visually impaired. Through image narration, visitors with visual impairments gained enriched insights into the historical context and background stories behind each exhibited product, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the museum's offerings.

4. Annual Volunteer Recruitment and Training

As in previous years, TDTB has once again welcomed a new cohort of volunteers, segmented into two categories: activity-support volunteers and administrative volunteers. To ensure alignment with our future service objectives, comprehensive training sessions are conducted for both groups, enabling them to understand the envisioned direction of TDTB's service initiatives.

5. The Story of Tutoring Services Case-Skyler

Skyler has acquired blindness.Although Skyler still has a little vision in his eyes, he has chosen to preserve his precious eyesight by focusing on more beautiful things. He decided to apply the computer skills tutoring service provided by TDTB.

Hi, I am Skyler. When I was 24 year-old, I was forced to stay in the intensive care unit for several months due to a severe drug allergy. Pain was my constant companion, and it's hard to put into words just how excruciating those days were. Tubes snaked in and out of my body, a tracheotomy, and nasogastric tubes, adding to the discomfort. But the real battle began when my vision started to fade, like thick clouds rolling in, sometimes clear, sometimes blurred. It was a feeling of hopelessness that gripped me tight.

In those darkest moments, my rock was my mom. Her unwavering faith and encouragement were my lifeline. "Skyler, you've got this," she'd say, "I need you here with me. Don't leave me alone!" Her words became my light, urging me to push through. So, I started the journey of rehabilitation, pushing myself to roll over in bed, to stand up, to walk, even when every step felt like a mountain to climb.

Fast forward a few years, and here I am, a lecturer. But it wasn't an easy road. To up my game and better prepare for each lecture, I turned to TDTB for their tutoring service. Their patience and guidance with computer skills were invaluable. Now, armed with my laptop, I travel across Taiwan, sharing my knowledge and experiences.

Now, to anyone out there facing their darkest hour, remember, even in the darkest of nights, there's always a glimmer of hope. Keep pushing forward, keep persevering. You've got this.

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