V) Equality and Non-Discrimination for Persons with Disabilities

(V) Equality and Non-Discrimination for Persons with Disabilities 1. Make reasonable accommodations to regulations and concept advocacy

To ensure that government personnel at all levels understand the meaning behind reasonable accommodations, first-stage guides and teaching materials for reasonable accommodation as a reference for entities in all fields were completed in 2020. In terms of laws and regulations, the spirit of reasonable accommodation is a part of laws like the Educational Fundamental Act, the Special Education Act, the Regulations Governing National Examination Rights for Persons with Disabilities, the Guidelines for the Implementation of and Subsidies for Job Accommodation for Persons with Disabilities, the Prison Act, and the Detention Act. Drawn up in 2020, the draft amendment to the People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act states that when handling a case, government agencies, schools, institutions, juridical persons, and organizations shall provide necessary and appropriate reasonable accommodations that do not impose a disproportionate or undue burden and accords with the needs of persons with disabilities on the grounds of their individual conditions. The draft will be submitted to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation according to proper procedures. At the same time, there are discussions to clearly stipulate the obligation of reasonable accommodations and that the denial of reasonable accommodations constitutes discrimination in the Special Education Act.

2. Promote accessible environments

To facilitate the independent living of persons with disabilities in the community, accessibility is a basic necessity, especially important to enable persons with disabilities to have equal access to buildings, transportation (including tourist routes), and medical facilities. To promote the accessibility of existing public buildings, inspections and improvement projects have been carried out since 2004. As of 2021, there are 62,063 recorded and managed cases. 34% of the cases have yet to be improved. As for transportation, there are accessibility regulations in place for all mass transit vehicles and stations. The HSR, MRT, and aviation sector all comply with relevant regulations, and improvements are being made with other transportation systems. With regard to medical facilities, accessibility regulations have been put in place in medical institutions (including partially medical institutions) establishment standards, hospital assessment standards, and public buildings under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior. Relevant incentive measures have also been promoted. In 2020, 620 Chinese medicine and dental clinics had been given incentives from the health insurance quality assurance fund to improve accessibility

to medical treatment. These incentives encourage hospitals and clinics to build accessible environments and establish inclusive communication services. Disability-friendly medical treatment procedures were also planned, with public resources and benchmark case studies made available for medical institutions to reference.

3. Improve information accessibility

Access to information is a prerequisite for freedom of expression. In addition to signing language interpreting, real-time translation, Braille, audiobooks and other accessibility methods, the production of easy-to-ready versions of materials ensure persons with disabilities understand the content and promote information equality. However, principles regarding the production of easy-to-read versions have yet to be developed.

No. Action Competent Authority Timetable Key Performance Indicator

65 1. Incorporate reasonable accommodations into laws and regulations and promote relevant concepts: Promote the concept of reasonable accommodations and incorporate it into the People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act and discuss the stipulation of such obligations regarding special education in the Special Education Act. Ministry of Health and Welfare 2022-2024 Send the amendment proposal for the People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation.

Ministry of Education 2020-2024 Send the amendment proposal for the Special Education Act to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation.

No. Action Competent Authority Timetable Key Performance Indicator

66 2. Promote accessible environments:

(1) Promote accessibility improvements for existing public buildings to accommodate persons with disabilities. Ministry of the Interior 2022-2024 Increase completion rate of existing public buildings improvements by 2% year by year.

67 (2) Strengthen common accessibility service facilities for land, sea, and air transportation to establish a disabilities-friend ly transportation environment.

Ministry of Transportation and Communications 2021-2024 1. Subsidize local governments to purchase accessible buses and improve station facilities to provide accessible bus stations. Ensure that at least 72% of buses in urban areas (six municipalities) are accessible vehicles.

2. Replace a total of 25 slope boarding aids across 11 airports including Taipei

International Airport, providing a safer, more comfortable and disabilities-friendly boarding environment for persons with physical and mental disabilities.

3. Handle the improvement project of the waiting rooms of Taoyuan

No. Action Competent Authority Timetable Key Performance Indicator

68 (3) Promote benchmark case studies of accessible healthcare for persons with disabilities. International Airport Terminal 1 to create a disabilities-friendly environment.

4. Complete the replacement of at least five passenger ships and boats that provide accessibility services and facilities.

5. Complete at least three accessible landings. 6. Complete accessible facilities at Kaohsiung

Port Cruise Terminal, including accessible parking spaces, elevators, restrooms, check-in counters, and outdoor accessibility ramps. 7. Complete accessible facilities at Budai Port

Visitor Service Center, including accessible parking spaces, restrooms, and outdoor accessibility ramps.

Ministry of Health and Welfare 2022-2024 Increase the number of cities and counties that establish benchmark learning facilities by 10% year on year.