Pre- and Post-Conference Workshop ｜會前及會後工作坊報名
Pre-Conference Workshop I:
Asian Self-Advocates Workshop: Learn More about Taiwan and Your Rights
The Asian Self-Advocates Workshop highlights the importance of people with disabilities speaking up for themselves. In this event, self-advocates from Taiwan will take the lead roles — as hosts, presenters, and group discussion leaders. Participants will include self-advocates from across Taiwan and other countries.
Morning:
The opening ceremony will be hosted by self-advocates from the Taichung Autism Association. They will warmly welcome all participants from different countries. Then, self-advocates from various cities in Taiwan will introduce the rights of people with intellectual disabilities in areas such as employment and healthcare. They will also share parts of Taiwanese culture, like night market snacks, local attractions, and popular souvenirs.
Afternoon:
The structure is similar to the morning session, with a focus on the right to work and the right to health for people with intellectual disabilities. Participants will join small group discussions to share their own country’s experiences and challenges. Through using picture cards, creating posters, and other fun activities, self-advocates from different countries will be encouraged to express their thoughts and ideas.
The Asian Self-Advocates Workshop is not only a journey of learning about culture and rights — it is also a special opportunity for self-advocates from different countries to connect, speak out, and proudly represent themselves on the global stage.
Fifteen self-advocates from Taiwan will take key roles in the Asian Self-Advocates Workshop as hosts, speakers, and group discussion leaders. They come from different parts of Taiwan:
All of them are members of local self-advocacy groups. In their groups, they make friends, discuss topics they care about, organize events on their own, and learn about their rights. In self-advocacy groups, they support each other, make their own decisions, and take full responsibility for their decisions. They are not just persons with intellectual disabilities but truly the leading self-advocates in Taiwan.
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Pre-Conference Workshop II:
Communication Without Barriers: A New Inclusive Experience
This workshop aims to raise awareness and practical understanding of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) among professionals and supporters of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Asia. The event is divided into two parts: an inclusive AAC activity session and a hands-on AAC lecture session.
The first segment, held in a public area with high visibility, will feature a large-scale AAC board designed with core and fringe vocabulary. Participants—including AAC users—will engage in interactive games and communication tasks, highlighting real-life AAC usage. AAC users from Taiwan will serve as communication ambassadors, sharing how AAC supports their daily interactions. Booths will showcase AAC tools and devices used in Taiwan, with bilingual content available to facilitate cross-cultural exchange.
The second segment is a practical lecture and discussion held in a classroom setting. Presentations will introduce the current AAC landscape in Taiwan, featuring case videos and success stories, including applications for children, adults, and elderly individuals with disabilities. AAC users will be invited to share their communication journeys. The session will also highlight the use of AAC tools like the Assistant for Positive Behavior and Communication Support. A Q&A session will conclude the workshop.
This workshop is designed to promote inclusion, foster regional collaboration, and bridge academic and practical efforts in AAC development. Simultaneous interpretation, dual-language slides, and accessibility accommodations are planned to ensure full participation.
Secretary General of the Taiwan Shine Assistive Technology Association and AAC Platform Supervisor at The First Social Welfare Foundation. He promotes both high- and low-tech AAC tools in education and clinical practice.
Co-Founder of The First Social Welfare Foundation and ex-project leader of AAC Platform. She advocates for AAC and social welfare policy & practice for persons with developmental disabilities for 45 years.
One to two AAC users will also share their experiences.
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