Ailments fail to hinder disabled kids

Wearing a pink cap and a white jumper yesterday, Pan Ying-chu (潘映竹) looked upset when she accepted her diploma and posed in front of a row of cameras.

She had to obtain a doctor's permission to attend yesterday morning's graduation ceremony held at the Ta-an District Office because the wheelchair-bound six-year-old just checked into the hospital after a serious seizure.

"She's not feeling well. That's why she's a little bit upset," said Pan's mother, 47, who preferred to be identified as Mrs Pan.

The younger Pan, born with an underdeveloped brain because of an abnormal chromosome, was one of Taipei City's 18 preschoolers, 12 boys and six girls, graduating from three of the city-owned, privately-run kindergartens managed by the Syin-Lu Foundation.

The non-profit organization, which was founded in 1987, set up its first kindergarten for the physically and mentally challenged, Tatung Children's Development Center, 10 years ago.

One year later, the Syin-Lu Children's Development Center was established, followed by the Wanfang Children's Development Center two years later.

The city currently has about 250,000 preschoolers, about six percent of which, or 15,000, are physically or mentally challenged.

There are 14 kindergartens for the physically and mentally challenged in Taipei, five of which are owned by the city and operated by private charity groups.

Addressing the assembly of parents, children and reporters, Chen Jeaw-mei (陳皎眉), director of the city's Bureau of Social Affairs (社會局), said that the graduation marked a new chapter for the children.

"Now they're in the hands of the Ministry of Education (教育局) since they've graduated from kindergarten and are ready to enter elementary school," she said. "I know there's still a long way to go, but nothing is impossible when you're determined and persistent."

Mrs Pan said that although she was happy that her daughter will study in a special education class at the Chingmei Elementary School, she felt worried about her future.

"The future is full of so much uncertainty," she said.

Another girl who will attend a special education class at the same school is 7-year-old Lu Yi-chun (魯怡君).

Lu also has an underdeveloped brain and is speech impaired. Her mother, who preferred to be identified as Mrs Lu, says that she hopes her only child will be able to study in regular classes.

"I thought it might be better for her to interact with normal children, but I'm afraid that other parents might oppose the idea," she said.