As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Department of Social Welfare has once again launched the "Support Disability Welfare Institutions and Groups Mid-Autumn Festival Products Joint Promotion." The campaign encourages the public to purchase products made by individuals with disabilities to support public welfare. The event featured Executive Yuan Minister Chen Shih-chung, who attended in person and brought a video message from President Lai Ching-te, recommending these high-quality products made in sheltered workshops by people with disabilities.
This promotional sales event brings together 15 disability welfare institutions and groups from across Taiwan, offering a wide variety of products, including mooncakes, handmade cookies, coffee, and cultural and creative goods. Chen Shih-chung specifically called on young people to buy mooncakes to "eat something sweet and have children," while encouraging the elderly to "eat something sweet and exercise more," thereby expressing support for disability groups.
Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare, Lü Jiande, urges the public to take concrete actions to support national welfare organizations and groups for people with disabilities. (Photo / Courtesy of the Social and Family Affairs Administration)
Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare, Lu Chien-te, stated that this event aims to assist sheltered workshops for individuals with disabilities, not only promoting their employment but also allowing them to reunite with their families during the Mid-Autumn Festival. He emphasized that these groups continuously innovate, with this year's offerings including new flavors such as canelés, making traditional festival gifts even more appealing.
For those interested in purchasing these festival products, you can call 0800-815-179 for inquiries or join the Line@ customer service (search for the official account @551elhck) for one-on-one service. Additionally, you can visit the Department of Social Welfare's "Priority Procurement Online Mall" at https://ptps.sfaa.gov.tw/mall to make a purchase.
In addition to the festival product promotion, the government also passed the "Disability Resources Development Plan" last year, committing NT$48 billion over five years to cover four major strategies: reducing the burden on family caregivers, expanding community care resources, improving the quality of institutional care, and attracting more workforce into disability care. Lu Chien-te emphasized that while past efforts focused on large institutions, international trends now lean towards deinstitutionalization, with a greater emphasis on home and community placement. He also pointed out that disabilities are not shameful, but simply reflect physical or mental limitations at a given time. In an aging society, dementia could also become a disability, necessitating more resources to support individuals with disabilities and their families.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare's report indicates that the "Disability Care Service Resources Development Plan" will invest over NT$48 billion within five years to enhance support services for families with disabled members. The plan's primary goal is to strengthen the establishment of community and institutional services, supporting family caregivers to fully meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families within five years. Each county and city will also establish disability service centers where social workers will assess needs and proactively reach out to every family in need.
For more information, please visit the Department of Social Welfare's website:Website Link
