Taiwan Laryngectomees' Association Annual Report 2000
We Just celebrated the 16th anniversary of our association on April 28, 2001. There are 1,193 registered members update. However, active members are 372 only, the active members increases in 10 during this year.
A.Speech Rehabilitation
1. There are speech training centers located in Taipei, Taichung, Kaoshiung and Hwalien. The purpose is for easy access of members living in the northern, central, southern and eastern parts of Taiwan.
2. The instructors of each center are chosen from the members who can speak better at the local area. Under the guidance and instruction by the speech therapists, the new laryngectomees are informed to learn various speech rehabilitation methods such as esophageal speech, tracheoesophageal voice(Singer-Blom)and speech aid voice(pneumatic speech aid and electronic speech aid). The final goal is to train the new member to gain communication skill, whatsoever, the method he or she uses.
3. Speaking and singing are encouraged in the center, in order to make the member's confidence to show the public, that the laryngectomee is a group of handicapped but not disabled people.
B.Social activities
Since there was a terrible earthquake, the 921 in Taiwan in 1999 and the new government was established on May 20, 2000, we faced a very difficult period in the year of 2000. Members of the association spent much effort to teach the new governmental officers to understand what a laryngectomee is. The association is very fortunate to gain some financial assistance from Ministry of Interior of the new government and Labor and Social Bureaus of the Taipei Municipal Government.
However,the association is still no self-own place to carry on activities. We are very appreciate that the Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital to give us a room without charge in the past 15 years.
1.Members and their families were gathering periodically to enhance mutual psychological support and social support as well.
2.There were made many picnics and outdoor activities and were attended by many members and their families.
3.We send many laryngectomee-volunteers to visit the ENT wards of the medical centers where patients with laryngeal or treated. Psychoiogical support and speech rehabilitation methods are provided to the patients before and after surgery. The results gain extremely well.
4.Based on the above-mentioned activities, Mr.Chi-Ching Lee gets a national golden-eagle award, the highest honor of handicapped people, of this year.
To summarize, though we face a very young unexperienced new government and poor economic condition in the year of 2000, people in Taiwan are very energetic and flexible. Currently, our unemployment in about 4%, but our members in working have pledged to be dismissed by laws. We do hope we can continue our activities for the next year.
Reported by Mow-Ming Hsu, MD
Professor
Department of Otolaryngology
National Taiwan University Hospital
Member of the Standing Committee
AFLA
