Going out for a romantic meal is natural for many married couples on Valentine's Day -- but for parents of developmentally challenged children, it's a rare luxury.
Yesterday, with the help of a local welfare foundation, 10 couples had the chance to do just that.
"Because of our son, the family seldom eats out, let alone goes on a trip together," said Hsieh Shu-chen (謝淑珍), mother of four-year-old Ho Chih-liang (何致諒), who suffers from cerebral palsy.
PHOTO: CHANG CHIA-MING, LIBERTY TIMES
Because his mental and physical functions are those of a two-year-old, his mother has to spend an hour bathing him every day and two hours feeding him at meal times.
Until four months ago -- when Hsieh began sending Chih-liang out for professional care a few days per month -- she didn't even have the time to go out for groceries.
Nine other couples in a similar position to the Ho family were yesterday given a chance to go out by the Eden Social Welfare Foundation (伊甸社會福利基金會).
The foundation and the Ritz Landis Hotel treated the couples to lunch yesterday in a private dining room.
Their children were taken care of by the foundation's professional staff in an adjoining room.
When asked if he had anything to say to his wife, Ho Tsong-ling (何宗霖), who works as a taxi driver because the flexible hours give him more time with his son, immediately kissed Hsieh on the cheek.
"If it weren't for the Eden Foundation, I would not be able to celebrate Valentine's Day," he said.
For many couples at yesterday's event, this was the first time they had left their children and had the time to enjoy dinner together, they said.
Wong Wang-ling (翁婉玲) was worried about her five-year-old son, so she left the luncheon room to change his diaper.
The service is called "Take a Break," said Robert Lin (林錦川), managing director of the foundation.
"Such services are important for the welfare of Taiwan's developmentally-challenged children," Lin said.
According to the foundation's research, each family spends an average of NT$7,000 per month on medicine, medical care and facilities.
Few of these families can afford to enjoy simple pleasures such as a coffee out or a night at the movies, Lin said.
According to Lin, Taipei City Government's Bureau of Social Affairs is providing subsidies for one-and-a-half days of nursing care per month.
And for those who attend special schools or private nursing institutes, Lin said, they could apply for one day per month of such subsidized services.
The category of developmentally-challenged children comprises different clinical symptoms such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, attention deficit hyperactive disorder and infantile autism.
According to the foundation's estimates, there are around 150,800 developmentally-challenged children under age six nationwide. Less than 3 percent of those are diagnosed or treated.
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