This intensive training process is shared by instructor Chien Hung-sheng (簡宏生) at the Sunshine gas station (陽光加油站) near the intersection of Heping East Road (和平東路) and Jianguo South Road (建國南路) that employs 35 disabled individuals, many of whom are suffering from moderate to severe physical or mental disabilities.
"The gas station work is what we call a high-level functional vocation since the employees need to have many work skills, such as the ability to calculate, communicate, organize and comprehend with a relatively high level of agility," Chien said, "the most important aspect of our job is to put ourselves into their position and break the work process into many simple steps."
For the mentally challenged, the work is simplified using diagrams, key words and cues as they have weaker language ability, comprehension and memory. "For example, we teach them to take one certain act [step] as a cue to the next to help them establish the connection with what they should do and say," Chien explained.
To the physically challenged, the most important thing is to learn how to navigate through the station safely without tripping over pipes and other obstacles or bump into cars. As the labor-intensive work poses more challenges to their weakened bodily functions, the gas station offers their staff daily rehabilitation exercise and annual medical checkups.
When those acquiring job skills and social adjustment feel ready to step out of the relatively isolated environment of the sheltered store, the last step of the employment instructors' work is to help them with the transition into the often unfriendly and sometimes frightening outside world. "It's not as simple as finding them jobs. They are the minority with very limited resources. You have to teach them how to go online, to job-hunt, to prepare themselves and arm themselves with basic self-learning skills," Chien said.
While the Department of Labor encourages sheltered workshops to transfer their employees to normal workplaces, Chen Hsuan-chia thinks pushing the disabled into the outside world doesn't necessarily mean success in practical terms, as many may be frustrated by their low-degree of acceptance at work and retreat into isolation again.
Vocational training aside, the key function of sheltered workshops is to offer a social setting where the disabled can gain dignity, self-worth and socialization with their peers. Because of these projects, people like Lin can visit with friends, go out for dinners or have fun on company outings.
"To have a normal social life is a great pleasure to them. They can now save money, buy pretty clothes, fall in love with coworkers, think of the future and have worries like others," said TMRA's Chen, adding that the disabled staff cherish their work more than the able-bodied since they understand that their opportunities are hard-won.
To the parents of the disabled, knowing their children can learn to live independently, have paid jobs and are able to make friends, is like having a heavy burden lifted from their shoulders. "When employees' families come to the store and watch them work, they often have tears of joy in their eyes. It's the most satisfying part of my job," Chien of the Sunshine gas station said. "There is also a bright side to what we do. I enjoy working with them because here you don't have company intrigues and mind games. They are simply happy to help each other."
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