THETAIPEIBENEVOLENT EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY FOR BLIND

Introduction ：

TheTaipeiBenevolent Educational Society for The Blind

1. Purpose：

To research and facilitate the education, culture, welfare and the reconstruction carrier for blind, as well as upgrade the blind's knowledge, skill level and cause mental and physical health and related service for the blind.

2. History：

This Society was founded on june 21, 1975. The founder Mr. Chin-Chih graduated form Department of Education of Taiwan Seminary. He is a blind experiencing the difficulty and no choice for the blind's living,and deeply understand the rush need of occ- upation reconstruction education for the blind people, thus he tri- es his best helping all blind who are unemployed and unedcucated and expexts to give the education training for occupation reconstruction and employment guidance.

Through continuous efforts by Mr. Chi Chin-Chih,finally it aroused people in various circle and government officers to focus the welfare for the blind and established the Society on June 21, 1975. The original location for this Society was at Lane 42,Sec. 2, Chungshan N.Rd.,Taipeicity in a rented small office.And in 1981, through three councilmen Mr.kang Shui-Mu, Mr. Hsu Ming-Te and Mr.Lin Wen-lang of Taipei City Council motioned the 'Special project for appropriating funds to establish the blind building'. In 1982, The Bureaau of Social Affairs of Taipei City Government approved to donate NT$2 million for purchasing the building with 35 pings, located at4F,No. 8,Lane 135, Sec. 2,Yenping N.Rd.,Taipei(Tel No.886-2-25528848) so as to serve for all blind people.

3. Organization：

Director and Supervisor Board, Standing Directors Board,Chairman,General Manager, Vice General Manager, Secretary and Accountant.

4. Subject served:

（1） The blind people in the society;

（2） The blind institution and group;

（3） The blind students in various schools;

5. Task:The Tasks for this Society are as follows:

（1）Research and facilitation of education for the blind;

（2）Research and facilitation of culture for the blind;

（3）Research and facilitation of Braille and symbol;

（4）Research and facilitation of the blind's mind and body as well as occupation reconstruction;

（5）Research and facilitation of leisured activities for the blind;

（6）Research and facilitation of the movement loving the blind and helping the blind;

（7）Research and facilitation of other welfare for the blind;

（8）Facilitating contact to foreign and local blind welfare institution, group and social charity group in order to increase the welfare for the blind.

6. Service items:

(1) service type

Ａ. To guide the blind attending the skill authorized examination for national massage skilled person;

Ｂ. To guide the blind going abroad to attend the exchange training of massage skill;

Ｃ. To set up the fellowship for the blind student, as to the regulations will be enacted additionally.

Ｄ. To donate the blind stick.

(2) Skill type

Ａ. The braille and touch-reading training;

Ｂ. Japanese conversation class;

Ｃ. English conversation class;

Ｄ. Computer training for the blind;

Ｅ. Music braille notation training class;

Ｆ. Mobility training class. evening

(3) Occupation type

Ａ. The blind massage occupation class;

Ｂ. The blind piano tuning training class;

Ｃ. Western massage occupation training class;

Ｄ. Musical instruments training class（piano,electronic organ etc.）

Ｅ. Chinese and Taiwanese songs singing training class;

Ｆ. Handicraft class（Chinese knots and weaving ）;

Ｇ. International trading business training class;

Ｈ. Business administration class;

Ｉ. Chinese and English writing training class;

Ｊ. English tutor training class;

7. Activities:

Speech contest, singing contest, traveling and leisured activities, and academic research.

8.Prospect:

Over 25 years, the Society has served for a lot of blind people to bring them learning, employment and joy, also saved them from hopelessness and disappointment that they could self-rely to serve for the society. We help and take care of the blind who originally had not the ability to make living and always’ were considered as encumbrance in their families, or the burden of society not only could self-rely without help, but also establish families and businesses to become the tax payers.

Unfortunately, since speedy development of society and economy as well as various aspects in Taiwan that the massage job, which is deemed as the golden job for the blind and specially for the blind protected by government legally and persons other than the blind could not engage, has been replaced by hairdressing and Chinese traditional folk therapy that few blind peoples could compete them continuously. Most blind people's living are very hard. Therefore, many blind peoples need to accept the 2nd occupational training （other than traditional and old occupation, massage or fortune-telling）,or accept upgraded massage skill training in order to transfer the job or continue competing to make living. This Society always concerns about the occupational education, welfare and living conditions for the blind, to see the living of the blind inTaipeiCityis bunkered that massage and fortune-telling are not the golden job for the blind anymore, who are hard to make living. Therefore, new occupation and training must be given.

Since 1945,there is not any institution that specially establishes the blind’s occupation reconstruction center for the blind. In order to let all blind have a brighter future and change living environment and have self-relied ability to learn the skill for making living, the Society deeply hope various agencies of government and the enterprises could employ the blind and give the encouragement, support and the opportunity of employment for the blind. Then the blind could devote themselves to the country without depending on the resources from family and government.Therefore, the Society is planning to establish a “The Blind’s Occupation Reconstruction Center” with more complete equipment in Taipei district occupying about 990 square meters （three floors）and the total expenditure required is about US$3.7 Million （including the land expenses about US$3.0 Million, and equipment about US$0.5 million, annual business expenses about US$0.13 million）. It specially receives the blind people （including inborn blind and acquired blind to provide them better occupational skill type to recover their opportunity of employment and protect their living.

After the project completed and started to operation, in long-term training,it’s predicted to train many tens blind to make living in the society. And in short-term training is divided into 2 months, 3 months or 6 months etc. according to different occupations and features hereof for more blinds needs to help them self-relying.

The Society welcomes people from different circles to visit and give instruction And deeply hope cares and support from kind people so as to complete the blind occupation reconstruction center more smoothly. We look forward more blind could accept the training and could self-rely.