2020-07-10
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the disadvantaged! In order to promote equality for the disadvantaged and develop various inspection and auditing indicators, personnel has been sent to inspect the barrier-free facilities, transport services and other needed services for the hearing and visually impaired before big events to allow for a barrier-free environment so that everyone can take part in the events. According to the Social Affairs Bureau, these development indicators are recognized by the Central Government and serve as implementation reference for other cities and counties around Taiwan.
Director General of the Social Affairs Bureau, Peng Hui-chen, said the goal is to allow equal access and participation for each citizen of Taichung. For example, for the events of the Taiwan Lantern Festival, the Taichung City Government first consulted with commissioners of rights of the disadvantaged and gender equality about their on-site inspections to ensure that the barrier-free environment of the lantern festival met the demands of the disadvantaged.
Director General Peng pointed out that for the participatory program promoted by the Bureau, each year scholars and experts on the rights of the disadvantaged are invited to form the evaluation team. Various agents are encouraged to report on their implementation measures. Besides awards given to outstanding organizations, each year, indicators are modified from the perspective of the disadvantaged, for example, considerations of route planning of low-floor buses to and from the venue, delivery services of rehabilitation buses and assistance wheelchairs required for events.
The Bureau said that since 2018, the Labor Affairs Bureau referred relevant mechanisms as the operating procedure for planning various events to actively inform job seekers on information about rehabilitation bus reservations; the Local Tax Bureau offered guided services at the voluntary desk for the visually impaired. Agencies demonstrated outstanding performance in 2019 that included the Labor Affairs Bureau, the Local Tax Bureau, the Legal Affairs Bureau, the Social Affairs Bureau, the Fire Department and Research, Development and Evaluation Commission of the Taichung City Government.
The Social Affairs Bureau explained that since May 19th this year, the Taichung City Government led other five metropolises to provide sign language interpretation for its council meetings to promote information equality. Additionally, the Legal Affairs Bureau offers reservation services for sign language interpretation of legal counselling. The Local Tax Bureau actively informs the eligible disadvantaged of tax exemptions while the Social Affairs Bureau lists the innovative subsidy initiative of revenue distribution funds of charity lotteries as one of its key programs. Through various encouragement methods, the private and public sectors work hand in hand to realize the goal for the disadvantaged to equally participate in society.
unit:綜合企劃科
