Welfare measures for the handicapped currently include physical therapy and rehabilitation, health insurance, and subsidies for necessary equipment, living expenses, and institutional care. Measures aimed at allowing the handicapped to live productive and independent lives include vocational training, employment services, affirmative action quotas, employment safeguards, and loans and assistance for startup businesses. In addition, the handicapped are also eligible for such benefits as tax reductions or exemptions, reduced-fee public transportation, preferential parking privileges, and priority in purchasing public housing. Living allowances for the handicapped is the government's way of assisting those handicapped citizens who live in impoverished circumstances. All handicapped individuals whose income is less than a certain standard are provided a monthly allowance from the government budget. Table of Standards for Issuing Handicapped Persons' Living Allowances Economic status Degree of handicap Monthly allowance Notes Low-income household Extreme, severe, moderate NT$6000 Low-income household Mild NT$3000 Middle-lower income household Extreme, severe, moderate NT$3000 Middle-lower income household Mild NT$2000 Note "Middle-lower income households" means that average monthly income per person is from one to 2.5 times the minimum cost of living for that year. (Taiwan Province and Kaohsiung calculate this as from NT$5,400 to NT$13,500; Taipei calculates this as from NT$6,600 to NT$16,500) Creating a Barrier-Free Living Environment for the Handicapped In order to enable handicapped citizens to participate normally in social activities, the government is committed to improving facilities including transportation, communities, educational institutions, and the workplace so as to eliminate barriers and provide safe and convenient access and use for citizens with disabilities. In the case of mildly and moderately handicapped individuals who have the potential to participate in productive work, the government has enacted legislation facilitating employment by means of occupational safeguards and free vocational training. Those handicapped persons who have the desire and ability to start their own businesses can take advantage of startup loans and subsidized equipment and facilities. The following table lists vocational training and employment assistance measures currently provided for various categories of handicapped individuals: Area of handicap Types of vocational training and employment assistance available Vision Massage, computer applications, piano tuning Mental Agricultural processing, baking, restaurant service, supermarket service, handicrafts, packaging, janitorial, horticulture, electronic components assembly, printing Limbs Watch repair, word processing, software design, computer assisted circuit design, clothing design, wood carving, beautician, audio-visual electronics, sewing and knitting, shoe manufacturing, printing Hearing/speaking/facial injury Watch repair, word processing, software design, computer-assisted circuit design, clothing design, wood carving, beautician, audio-visual electronics, hydroponic farming, shoe manufacturing, household appliance repair, auto repair.

Providing Source : Ministry of Interior File Last Revised:Feb. 8 .1996 Contact Phone : 886-2-3565516

           

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