Mon, Jan 21, 2002 page2

• Blind man sees chance for change

  A LESSON IN TRIUMPH Ko Ming-chi, who lost his sight aged 26, triumphed over his despair to go on to graduate from college and work in social services. Ko says much can be done to create more employment opportunities for those who are visually impaired

  • By Sandy Huang / STAFF REPORTER
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  Looking at Ko Ming-chi's (柯明期) life now, one would say that Ko leads a good life with a steady job, a happy marriage and a healthy child.

  However, it wasn't luck, but relentless effort and determination that brought Ko to where he is today.

  

  Ko Ming-chi, who lost his sight at age 26, poses with his guide dog Yachi during a press conference yesterday announcing the release of his new book It's Never Too Late to Learn.

  PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

  Twenty years ago, Ko lost his eyesight at the age of 26 after an accident on the basketball court.

  "I was totally devastated and I thought of committing suicide and ending my life," Ko said, adding that the fateful accident came just when he was ready to enjoy life after completing his military service, having landed a good job with a Japanese company.

  "Then again," he said, "I told myself that I was only 26. I wanted to go on living."

  As he gradually went completely blind over the next three days, Ko said that he felt his life had come to an end. "I lost my job, I lost the ability to read and even the basic ability to walk around."

  "But," Ko said, "I kept telling myself that I must not be defeated."

  Ko says today that a decision to go to the Institute for the Blind in Taiwan "was a turning point for the rest of my life."

  The Institute for the Blind in Taiwan (台灣盲人重建院), situated in Taipei County, is a rehabilitation agency which works to teach, train and enhance the independence and well-being of people with impaired vision.

  "At the institute, along with other 40-something people who were just like me, I acquired basic skills that enabled me, as a blind man, to care for my own life by myself," Ko said.

  Ko said that it was at the institute where he learned to read Braille and use a walking stick. He also mastered tasks such as ironing, cooking, doing laundry, shopping and taking buses.

  Meanwhile, despite the loss of his eyesight, Ko has never given up on himself and has strived to continue his education.

  "By pushing myself to excel, I've come to appreciate life much more," he said.

  After being the valedictorian of his graduating class from National Open University two years ago, Ko is currently pursuing a master's degree in Special Education at National Taiwan Normal University.

  "It is never too late to learn," he said. "After obtaining my master's, I hope to contribute what I've learned to help those who are disadvantaged in our society," Ko said.

  Now a supervisor of the Administrative Affairs at the Institute for the Blind in Taiwan, Ko is one of the first blind people in Taiwan who has successfully developed a career in something other than what has long been deemed one of the few choices for the blind -- the massage industry.

  Ko is the first blind person to be a supervisor at the institute and has now written a book about his life experiences called It's Never Too Late to Learn.

  Ko said one of the biggest challenges faced by the blind community is a lack of employment opportunities.

  Saying that Taiwanese society has long forced visually impaired individuals into careers as masseurs and masseuses, Ko said the government should offer them broader career options.

  "A position such as a [telephone] operator is an option that worth consideration and encouraging," said Ko, acknowledging that there are currently 19 blind people holding such jobs at the Ministry of the Interior.

  According to Chen Chiao-hua (陳巧華), section head of social affairs department at the Ministry of Interior, "as of last year, there were 40,773 blind people in Taiwan."

  Tseng Wen-hsiung (曾文雄), head of the Institute for the Blind in Taiwan, said that of those 40,773 people, "about 40 percent are completely blind while the rest suffer from different levels of visual impairment."

  Chen Cheng-hsiung (陳正雄), section head from the Central Office of the Council of Labor Affairs, said that the government has set up an employment fund for the physically and mentally disabled.

  Under the program, Chen said that organizations can submit proposals to ask for funding to help enhancing the employment skills of visually impaired individuals.

  "We of course would like to see each blind person have a job so they can live independently," Chen said.

  Ko said mobility is another difficulty that the blind face in Taiwan

  "It often troubles us that public buses often do not stop by in front of the designated bus stops and that there is no broadcasting on the bus to inform us of the destinations," Ko said.

  Tseng said that in general, "society at large still sees individuals who are visually impaired with a sense of prejudice."

  Tseng stressed that the public should offer more respect and patience to the group.

  Ko echoed Tseng's remarks.

  "I hope that people would not marginalize but be more sensitive to individuals who are visually impaired," Ko said.

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