On September 19 at the Chueh Sheng International Conference Hall, the Center of Resources for the Blind held a discussion forum for disabled students and their families. The event was hosted by the President of TKU, Dr. Flora Chia-I Chang, who welcomed new freshmen into the TKU family and explained that the TKU system for supporting and counseling disabled students has been refined and improved on consistently for over four decades. She noted that all TKU departments had measures in place to assist such students and that, each year, TKU gradually improves the disabled-friendly environment at the Tamsui Campus.

The forum featured reports on services currently offered to disabled students by TKU academic and administrative departments. The Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Keh Huan-chao, said that classes are now only offered in classrooms with comprehensive disabled-friendly facilities. The Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Ko Chih-en, said that the Office of Student Affairs takes pleasure in assisting blind and disabled students to take part in student activities along with other TKU students. She explained that disabled students may earn compulsory student club credit points by participating in activities organized by the Center of Resources for the Blind.

The status reports were followed by an open Q&A discussion between TKU staff, disabled students and their parents. First year student Liao Yi-ting said that pot plants placed around the campus make it difficult for blind students to get around. She also stated that in pedestrian-priority areas, many cars and motorcycles are still not giving way to pedestrians, making it difficult for blind students to go safely from building to building. Luo Shiaw-Shyan, the Dean of General Affairs, responded to Yi-ting’s first concern by explaining that campus trees and pot plants are pruned regularly. However, he said that in future, TKU will more closely monitor pedestrian-priority areas to ensure the safety of blind and visually-impaired students.