As of 2007, there are almost one million people with various levels of physical and mental disabilities in Taiwan. Taiwan adopted a universal healthcare system in 1995 to properly support patient care and provide more transparent access to its people, including those who identify as disabled. Taiwan is a nation that has grown tremendously to support those that are disabled. This includes having a socialized form of medical care that is run by the Executive Yuan. Overall this universal scheme includes the law, public facilities, and educational aspect of healthcare. Taiwan also has different aspects of healthcare to effectively support those that are disadvantaged or disabled, this included subsidies, loans, plans, service guarantee and specific care for medically vulnerable populations. Taiwan's healthcare development and dedication to support its people plays an important role in its transformation of benefits for disabled people.
History
Prior to the 1980s, the term referring to people with disabilities translated to "useless and worthless disability". The government was not responsible for providing supporting or funding those with disabilities. Families and non-profit, private organizations were responsible for supporting disabled people. However, institutions were not regulated, as some were inhumane and the quality of service, questionable. However, as Taiwan underwent industrialization, mothers were forced to enter the work force and could no longer support their children with disabilities. The once-questionable facilities were forced to reform and become suitable for taking care children with disabilities. In addition, in 1975, the United Nations released the "Declaration of the Rights of Disabled Persons" which forced the government to reform their original disability policy. Taiwanese disability policies became heavily influenced by international disability laws and regulations. From the first disability policy reform to 2007, a medical model became the standard for disability evaluation.
Law
In 1980, the Taiwanese Welfare Law for the Handicapped and Disabled was enacted which listed all types off disabilities disabled. In 2006, Taiwan adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to upholds its human rights protection for people with disabilities. Disabilities Rights Protection Act was enacted in July 2007. Taiwan Accessibility Building Code was amended in 2008 for buildings to provide more access for disabled people. Public Officials Election and Recall Law was amended on 26 November 2008 to ensure any polling place is barrier-free venue or equipped with tools or additional facilities if such venue does not exist.
Benefits
Disabled people in Taiwan (excluding disabled people with foreign nationality) are entitled to receive subsidies, benefits, house value-added tax rebate and income tax rebate depending on their level of disability.
Employment
Any employer shall not discriminate against any disabled candidates or refusing employment due to their disability. Private companies must employ at least one person with disability for every 67 person employed. As of September 1998, Lienchiang County has the best performance of meeting this employment quota among all municipalities, cities or counties in Taiwan. Unemployment among disabled people in Taiwan is 14.7%, triple of the amount of those general population which is 4.99%.
Public facilities
Transportation
Air
Airports provide personnel to assist disabled people free of charge throughout the entire journey from check-in until baggage reclaim.
Rail
All of the metro, subway and high speed rail in Taiwan are equipped with accessibility for disabled people.
Road
New public buses in Taipei are equipped with wheelchair access and designated areas. Most of traffic lights are equipped with audible signal for visually impaired people.
Elections
Polling places are fitted with barrier-free access. In the event of unavailability of such facility, then relevant tool are used to help disabled people cast their ballots.