Being both a person with a disability and engaging in a helping profession, “DEI” and “disability equal rights” is not just someone else's business to me; it is part of my daily life. For the past 6 years, I have been working in the current college's resource room, commuting daily for 3 hours to support students with disabilities.

In my current workplace, where special education students mainly with invisible disabilities, such as mental-social disabilities, learning disabilities and autism, there are many challenges and opportunities of reflecting on my own disability experiences and the expertise in special education to turn barriers into opportunities for creating DEI value in campus. As a college special education coordinator, I have been supporting students with disabilities by conducting special education needs assessments, empathizing with students’ subtle characteristics and needs, networking among professional team and campus faculty to conduct ISP (Individualized Support Program) and ITP (Individualized Transition Program), and organizing disability awareness activities to train supporters for students with disabilities.

Since my university days, I have been participating in DPO (Disabled persons' organization) and various disability-related organizations. As a board member in local CIL (Taipei New Vitality Association) & DPO (Taiwan Association of Disability Rights), I have been working with my group partner to provide peer support in local community, introduce foreign information to raise awareness, empower people and youth with disabilities, advocate PwD rights through social networking, and furthermore, organize international exchange activities among Taiwan, Japan and other countries’ PwD communities. I also cooperate with other local NPOs and have been enjoying in the advocate activities in diverse ways, such as being a mystery customer for inclusive financial services and experiencing a wheelchair-friendly river rafting activities.

In 2024, I am taking an DET online course held by APCD (Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability). With the knowledge and skills attained from this training, I aspire to play a pivotal role in promoting equal opportunities and creating positive change for individuals with disabilities.

For career development and furthermore contribute to the field of helping profession and advocacy activities for PwD, I have been continuing to pursue postgraduate education. Starting in 2021, I got the license of Certified Technician for Employment Service, Employment Service Specialist, and Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist. In 2022, I was accepted in the Rehabilitation Counselling Institute at National Taiwan Normal University to enhance my professional knowledge in vocational rehabilitation services for people with disabilities. And in 2023, I have successively obtained professional licenses in NCDA career counsellors, which allows me conducting career counselling and career-related services to people with and without disabilities. And I have been guest lecturer and consultant on disabilities-related issues, such as special education, career counselling, CRPD and disability-inclusion, for various educational institution and social welfare organizations in Taiwan.

I have been in helping profession, DPO advocate, and a lecturer and consultant on disabilities-related issues in Taiwan these six years thanks to empowerment that I received in Japan during DUSKIN training.

I anticipate to combining my own disability experiences and the expertise in various professions to provide user-centered services for PwDs, embody empowerment and values of DEI for holistic support in the future.