Children Reaching Adulthood with a Handicap

In Hualian County, the number of handicapped people between the ages of 18 and 64 forms about sixty percent of the total amount of handicapped people. On graduating from Senior High School most mentally handicapped children are incapable of entering into the workplace or make a contribution to society and in all likelihood will end up at home being taken care of by a member of the family, usually becoming the parents and family elder’s biggest worry and concern in life. Hualian County Autism Society is working hard to fulfill their dream of establishing a community center providing facilities for the mentally handicapped. It is hoped that the centre can provide a place for the mentally handicapped to go, give access to vocational training, address emotional problems and improve interpersonal relationships giving those with a handicap back their honor and giving their parents the right to grow old, free of worries and in peace. Unfortunately, with a lack of funds for the project and the relevant government office still processing the application the situation for those suffering with autism remains unresolved and as grim as ever.

Children Reaching Adulthood with a Handicap – A Lifetime of Worry for Parents (by CJ department of communication studies at Tzu Chi university)

URL:http://www.peopo.org/news/61950

(以下為中文對照)

成年障礙兒，父母一輩子的牽掛 (公民記者 慈大傳播站報導)

花蓮縣十八歲至六十四之間的身心障礙者佔花蓮縣身心障礙者總人數之60.04％。其中成年心智障礙者高中職畢業後，大多無法順利進入職場貢獻所長，多半在 家由家屬照顧，成為父母年老體衰時心中最大的不捨。花蓮縣自閉症協會積極希望能在花蓮成立一個專屬於心智障礙者的小型社區化作業設施，提供成年心智障礙者 日間托育、訓練職場能力、改善情緒問題，加強人際關係與人本尊嚴的地方，更讓成年障礙兒的父母能夠安心終老。但在缺乏經費以及計畫案仍在相關單位等待辦理 的情況下，成年心智障礙者的問題目前依舊無法獲得解決。

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