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. Self-advocates from various cities in Taiwan will introduce the rights of people with intellectual disabilities in areas such as employment and healthcare, and also share Taiwanese culture—like night market snacks, local attractions, and popular souvenirs.
Afternoon:
The afternoon session focuses on the right to work and the right to health. Participants will join small group discussions to share their country’s experiences and challenges. Through picture cards, posters, and other interactive activities, self-advocates from different countries will express their ideas. This workshop is not only a journey of learning about culture and rights—it is also a unique 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 workshop as hosts, speakers, and group leaders. They come from:
All of them are members of local self-advocacy groups. In their groups, they make friends, discuss issues, organize events, and learn about their rights. They support each other, make their own decisions, and take responsibility. They are not just persons with intellectual disabilities, but leading self-advocates in Taiwan.
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Pre-Conference Workshop II:
Communication Without Barriers: A New Inclusive Experience
This workshop raises 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 has two parts: an inclusive AAC activity session and a hands-on AAC lecture session.
The first segment, held in a public area, features a large-scale AAC board with core and fringe vocabulary. Participants—including AAC users—will engage in interactive games and tasks, highlighting real-life AAC usage. AAC users from Taiwan will serve as communication ambassadors, sharing how AAC supports daily life. Booths will showcase AAC tools and devices from Taiwan, with bilingual content for cross-cultural exchange.
The second segment is a lecture and discussion in a classroom setting. Presentations will introduce Taiwan’s AAC landscape, with case videos and success stories across age groups. AAC users will share their journeys. Tools like the Assistant for Positive Behavior and Communication Support will also be introduced. A Q&A will conclude the session.
The workshop promotes inclusion, fosters regional collaboration, and bridges academic and practical efforts in AAC development. Simultaneous interpretation, dual-language slides, and accessibility accommodations will ensure 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 has advocated for AAC and social welfare policy & practice for persons with developmental disabilities for 45 years.
M.Ed. in Special Education, National Taipei University of Education, and a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at Chung-he Development Center.
One to two AAC users will also share their experiences.
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