The movie "Flying Against the Light", which became a sensation a few years ago, is based on the true story of a visually impaired musician, Wong Yu-cheung. It tells the story of the youthful years of a totally blind pianist who left home for the first time to go to school in the north and played the piano very well, but insisted on not taking part in any competitions because he didn't want to be sympathized with, and he wanted to be the same as everyone else. "He just wanted to live like everyone else." This is the most ordinary but unattainable expectation of all physically and mentally challenged people. The physical and mental disabilities, whether congenital or acquired, make them different in their daily life, especially the discrimination brought by some inconvenience, which makes them frustrated in the society. Life is already not easy for them and it is even more difficult for them to find employment.
Starting from the beautiful example of Huang Yu-cheung, the most common employment opportunity for the visually impaired in Taiwan society is in fact quite single, that is, "massage". This employment option is not so much a safeguard as a label that cannot be removed, limiting the recognition and acceptance of the visually impaired, their families and the community at large. However, being physically and mentally handicapped is not the same as being "incapacitated". Can they really only work in certain specific trades? For the visually impaired, even though they lack the important sense of sight, their other senses of hearing and touch have become sharper. Many visually impaired people are gifted in music, and their performances are full of great poise, composure and virtuosity, but there are often no channels and opportunities for them to display their talents.
Ziyi is one such example. He lost his eyesight in both eyes due to an illness when he was less than 6 years old before school. However, apart from his "blindness", Ziyi was an excellent student and excelled in his academic performance, and his parents allowed him to take care of all of his life skills from a young age, leading an almost normal life, or even an even better one. Ziyi's parents are both "sighted". After Ziyi lost his eyesight, his mother quit her job and devoted herself to taking care of him. In addition to learning how to help her child from professional teachers, she also actively participates in various courses or therapies, and even makes her own sound and light props to fit Ziyi's needs. The reason for this dedication is that Ziyi will not only be able to live independently when he grows up, but will also be able to make choices and give full play to his strengths.
However, after Ziyi made it all the way to college, he began to face the worry of not being able to imagine his future. "Do I have no other job opportunities besides massage?" "I'm good with my hands and feet, and I've learned a lot, so why do I have to work as a massage therapist?" Ziyi, who had never been defeated by the visual impairment, was severely impacted by the uncertainty and lack of opportunities in the future. When his mother, who has always been proud of Ziyi, sees her disheartened child, she is saddened and sighs, "Is it possible that the family's hard work over the past years has failed to open the door of opportunity?
In the "Employment Zone for the Physically and Mentally Handicapped" of the Department of Labor's Workforce Development Administration, the Ministry of Labor has planned a series of vocational trainings with the aim of helping physically and mentally handicapped people with different attributes and levels of disabilities to confuse and connect to more diversified vocational choices. Coordinated by the Ministry of Labor, free vocational training classes and multi-channel vocational training are offered to enhance the vocational skills of individuals with physical and mental disabilities. Meanwhile, during the training period, in order to protect the quality of life of the trainees, the government also provides subsidies for vocational training and living expenses. In the post-epidemic era, the program has also kept abreast of the times by setting up a digital learning website to provide online learning courses.
The vocational courses for the physically and mentally handicapped can be found on the "Accessible e-Net". Under the framework of "Basic Concepts and Digital Life", "Good Helpers for Office Applications", "Innovative Website Design", "Advanced Applications and License Examination" and "Core Competencies for the Workplace", the courses can help physically and mentally handicapped people lay a foundation for employment.
People with disabilities like Ziyi, who already have certain abilities, can even inquire about job openings directly through the Taiwan Employment Service, and can even be screened directly according to the type of physical or mental disability, so that they can quickly and clearly grasp their options. There are many employment organizations and programs for individuals with disabilities, but due to resource constraints, not all of them are able to provide complete vocational training and related protection, nor are they able to link up with more enterprises to provide more diversified possibilities. The Department of Labor's special section can be an excellent starting point to guide people with physical and mental disabilities to understand the importance of work.
Although he had not yet graduated, Ziyi couldn't help searching for jobs that were friendly to the visually impaired, and immediately came up with a list of professional opportunities, such as financial officers and even blockchain architects, which had potential for future development. He was disheartened and lost his motivation to learn, but he realized once again that opportunities are left to those who are prepared, and that a person's visual impairment can be compensated by professional skills. He rekindled his fighting spirit and prepared for his future with more confidence.
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