TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Education spent NT$85.2 million (US$2.7 million) in 2024 and last year to subsidize universities for adding or upgrading facilities for students with disabilities.
The ministry said the subsidies have been used to improve campus layouts and accessibility, purchase equipment to support learning, and integrate mobile devices into instruction. Some universities also used the funding to create additional spaces for group activities, per CNA.
The ministry said the number of students with disabilities in Taiwan reached 135,598 in 2024. Students with autism, emotional disorders, physical disabilities, and learning disabilities make up the largest groups, it said. Some university departments reserve admission slots for them.
National Kaohsiung Normal University used the subsidies to upgrade its resource classroom and purchase projectors for special education outreach activities. Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology in Tainan redesigned its resource classroom library and converted some storage areas into activity spaces suitable for students with physical disabilities.
The ministry has also set up learning centers for students with disabilities at select universities and high schools and provided assistive devices to support learning. The equipment includes height-adjustable electric desks, wheelchairs, and tablets that can be controlled with eye movements.
National Taitung University Special Education School said it used part of the subsidies to build a rock-climbing facility designed for students with physical disabilities, featuring a lift and a simplified height-difference setup.
The ministry said it has also worked with local governments since last year to upgrade accessibility facilities at 582 elementary and junior high schools, including adding accessible elevators, improving wheelchair ramps, and installing stair handrails. The program has cost NT$530 million.
To support families of children with disabilities, the ministry has introduced tuition subsidies or fee waivers. It also provides vocational skills training and access to small business loan programs.
