Region: Asia
Disability Definition
“People with disabilities” refer to those who with a deviation or loss resulting from physical or mental impairments, are limited or restricted to be engaged in the ordinary living activities and participation in the society; and they, after processes of evaluation & assessment by the committee composed of professionals from medicine, social work, special education and employment counseling and evaluation, can be regarded as suffering one of the following malfunction categories and issued a disability identification:
1. Mental Functions & Structures of the Nervous System;
2. Sensory Functions & Pain；The Eye, Ear and Related Structures;
3. Functions & Structures of or involved in Voice and Speech;
4. Functions & Structures of or related to the Cardiovascular, Haematological, Immunological and Respiratory Systems;
5. Functions & Structures of or related to the Digestive, Metabolic and Endocrine Systems;
6. Functions & Structures of orrelated to the Genitourinary and Reproductive Systems;
7. Neuromusculoskeletal and Movement related Functions & Structures;
8. Functions & Related Structures of the Skin.
Legislation
Taiwan People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act of 2013
Taiwan Accessibility Building Code (2008)
As a non-member state of the United Nations, Taiwan is not eligible to become a state party to the major human rights treaties. This, however, did not prevent the Taiwanese government from giving effect to the human rights treaties through domestic legislation. In 2014 the Legislative Yuan passed the Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons Implementation Law (“Implementation Law”). Article 2 provides that the CRPD provisions “shall have domestic legal status”. CRPD Website of the Taiwan Government: https://www.humanrights.moj.gov.tw/17998/17999/18017/18021/
Employer Legal Requirements
1% quota for companies of 67 or more employees. Any employer shall not discriminate against any disabled candidates or refusing employment due to his/her disability. In accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 2 of Article 38 in the“People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act” , any private schools, entities and private institutions whose total number of employees is no less than 67 shall employ people with disabilities at numbers no less than 1 percent of the total number of the employees and shall not be less than one (1) person.
The employer is not required to report the recruitment of employee with disabilities to the government. The government will obtain such information from the enrollment of social insurances for such employees.
Failure to do so will subject the employer to contribution to the Disabled Employment Funds. The contribution amount is based on the required number of unemployed disabled multiplied by the statutory monthly minimum wage (currently, NT$22,000).
“Ask for Disaiblity Information Status during Application stage, After Offer has been made and After employment commences:
• yes pursuant to the People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act (“”PDRA””), assuming employee has been given PIPA compliant notice of the data collection.”
In accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 1 of Article 38 in the “People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act” , any given government department (agency／organization), public school, or public business agency／organization／institution whose total number of employees is no less than 34 shall employ people with disabilities and the number shall be no less than 3 percent of the total number of the employees.
Accessibility Requirements
In 2017, Taiwan adopted a derivative of the WCAG 2.0 web accessibility guidelines for the public sector. Access the details on the National Communications Commission website: https://www.handicap-free.nat.gov.tw/Download/Detail/1418?Category=28
Cultural Norms
Prior to the 1980s, the term referring to people with disabilities translated to “useless and worthless disability.”
People still see accessibility as a charity issue, and a goal they should work toward out of pity for the disabled, not because disabled people have a right to access.
Business Practices/Examples
Additional content coming soon.
Insights
About one million people with various levels of physical and mental disabilities.
Taiwan’s universal healthcare system plays an important role in its transformation of benefits for the disabled.
There are 20 special schools in Taiwan dedicated for the blind, deaf, handicapped and students with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
At least 16 different central-government agencies have powers and responsibilities relating to accessibility,. The lack of coordination among different agencies can be frustrating.
Supplier Diversity
Certification is in place for women-owned business enterprises (WeConnect).
Identified for expansion phase of the Out and Equal Global Network
Talent Sourcing Resources
Comprehensive Government Employment Services Site: https://www.wda.gov.tw/en/Content_List.aspx?n=FDF63428463757B9
Taipei City Foreign and Disabled Labor Office Provides preparation for employment and assistance with supported and sheltered employment models https://english.bola.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=985BFD868364D2CE&sms=E6EE26B94159F4D3&s=616F411D99C67EB7
Additional Resources
Taiwan Access for All Association is a cross-disability organization in Taipei, Taiwan https://twaccess4all.wordpress.com/
Blind Union http://www.worldblindunion.org/en/
References
Taiwan Access for All Association is a cross-disability organization in Taipei, Taiwan https://twaccess4all.wordpress.com/
Blind Union http://www.worldblindunion.org/en/