By Eden International Affairs Center, Taipei, Taiwan, 14 August 2009

Typhoon Morakot hits southern Taiwan since the night on 8 August 2009. Eden is not only get to the front line of disaster area and temp shlters but also have to bear its own suffer by the flood as two early intervention centers have been heavily damaged.

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A long-term care insurance program has been proposed to cover dementia sufferers, Department of Health (DOH) Deputy Minister Cheng Shou-hsia said.

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan's disabled population is increasing steadily, with the number of physically or mentally challenged women growing faster than the number of males in this category, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) reported Sunday.

WASHINGTON – July 22: The United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD), representing a broad constituency of Americans with disabilities and disability organizations, praises the July 20 announcement of President Barack Obama's intention to sign the international Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Friday, July 24, 2009 at the White House. "President Obama committed to sign the Convention during his campaign and we applaud his leadership.

New regulation of the “Protection Act for Rights and Interests of (Physically and Mentally) Disabled Citizens” has been in operation since 7/11, seeking to increase job opportunities for people with disabilities within the public institutions and private enterprises. Public institutions with more than 34 employees are required to have disabled workforce at least 3 percent of their total staff, while the private enterprises with more than 67 employees must meet a 1 percent threshold, and no less than 1 person. By calculation, more than 4400 job opportunities are created for people with disabilities.

There are many elders and people with disabilities in Taiwan. Because of their residences limited to the elevator facilities, Architecture Law, and Condominium Management Ordinance, independent activities are quite uneasy for them, and they even have to rely on others. Eden Social Welfare Foundation believes that relevant public departments should cooperate with non-profit organizations to discuss and amend the law, removing the barriers of the living space. Responding to aging society, promoting barrier-free and universal-design residence is necessary, and loosening the restrictions on adding elevator facilities to the apartment buildings is better speeding up.

Eden Gas Station opened its door in January 2009, becoming the first gas station in Taipei with physically and mentally challenged employees. Twenty-four employees with disabilities were hired by Eden, they all received intensive training before starting work and approved by their doctors to work at the gas station.

Mr. Ong Wenchyi the Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in New Delhi visited Sir Lanka, and donated 200 wheelchairs to Sir Lankan on behalf of Eden Social Welfare Foundation on 22nd and 23rd this month. Mr. Ong expressed that wheelchair donation brings love and care from Taiwan to Sir Lankan. Eden also wishes to help more people in need and fulfill the dream of Love without Border.

A MINE-FREE WORLD: MISSION POSSIBLE

The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force on 1 March 1999, after the 40 required ratifications were deposited to the UN Secretary General. Ten years since its entry into force the Treaty has clearly made a difference in the lives of individuals and communities living in mine-affected areas.

12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED 2010) will be held in Hong Kong from Wednesday June 2 to Friday June 4, 2010 at the Hong Kong. As one of the co-organizers, Eden arranged a promoting tour in mid-February and paid several courtesy calls to related government departments and private organizations, with the presence of representatives from the main organizer The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation.