In order to let the public understand the importance of the accessible life, Eden Foundation's 11th Accessible Life Festival in Taipei will be held on the 4th floor of Far Eastern Department Store Xinyi A13. At the press conference held today on 21st, Oct., the Charity Ambassador Mr. Teng-Hui Huang and Eden Joy Choir member Mr. Hao-En Lin were invited to take on a blindfolded dressing challenge to experience the feeling of being “deprivation of choices”. Though they were in a mess, with the help of everyone, Teng-Hui finally completed the challenge successfully and kicked off the Accessible Life Festival.
Our Charity Ambassador Teng-Hui Huang and Eden Joy Choir member Hao-En Lin successfully completed the blindfolded dressing challenge after a moment of confusion.
Mr. Hao-En Lin, 32-year-old, was born prematurely and was nearly blind due to neural atrophy at birth. Even after several surgeries, he was still unable to recover. His parents were conservative and rarely let him out of the house for fear of harm, so he never felt different until he entered preschool, when he realized he was the most “special” one in the eyes of his classmates.
Hao En, 32-year-old, shared his life story on the stage and hoped that the public would give more encouragement and care to persons with disabilities.
His schooling was his darkest period. He was rejected by many schools, and even when he was admitted successfully, he was ostracized by his classmates, leaving him alone until he graduated from elementary school. It was a major turning point in his life until while he is studying junior high school that he enrolled in Taipei School for the Visually impaired, which was his teacher realized that Hao-En had a talent for singing and encouraged him to participate in competitions, but his inability to read and the shadow of ostracism still lingered, so he was extremely lacking in self-confidence.
His teacher trained him to understand and read music through braille, and helped him familiarize himself with the melodies by listening to the songs over and over again. With constant practice, he was able to memorize the lyrics, and with his unique voice, he was a frequent winner in many music competitions and became a popular figure on campus, gaining confidence in himself. After graduating from senior high school, he was fortunate enough to pass the audition and join the Eden Joy Choir to inspire people with his voice.
The melodious sound of the piano and Hao-En's singing voice were applauded by the audience.
Hao-En has been a member of Eden Joy Choir for 8 years, and is now the soul of the group, able to stand on the stage and perform without the slightest bit of nervousness. Although he is nearly blind, music has opened up a wide perspective for him, and he often tours around the world with his bandmates to learn about different cultures. Hao-En said it is a great happiness to sing for people and spread the love of life. He hopes that people will realize that with proper support and friendly treatment, persons with disabilities can have the right to choose how to live their lives just as everyone else. “I am a person with visually impaired, but I am also a musician!“ Hao-En said confidently.
During the tour in Malaysia, Hao-En shared his life story and hoped to encourage more persons with visually impaired to come out from the corner.
Mr. Teng-Hui Huang, an artist who has always brought joy to the community and has been a great actor, was invited to be the charity ambassador of the event and to be the first one to experience the various levels of the game. Teng-Hui said that he grew up in a poor family and understands the “dilemma of choice” faced by persons with disabilities. When he is able to do so, he would like to come forward and call on the public to think differently, believing that “understanding” and “tolerance” will be the driving force for persons with disabilities to move forward in the face of difficulties.
Mr. Mitch Tsao, Vice CEO of Eden, said that we have been organizing the “Accessible Life Festival” throughout Taiwan since 2014, which allows the public to participate in the starting point of change through the experience of an accessible environment. This year's event in Taipei was themed “Travel back in time to 1982”, and designed immersive solving puzzle games to let the public feel the plight of persons with disabilities at that time, who faced a “deprivation of choices” in schooling, medical treatment, employment, and even going out due to the impacts of the information gap, imperfect policies, and environmental barriers.
Eden's 11th Accessible Life Festival has been successfully launched, and the public is welcome to take on the challenge of solving the puzzles.
According to Mitch Tsao, understanding and respecting diversity is the first step to make the society more friendly and equity. We invite everyone to follow in Eden's footsteps, take a ride on the time machine, and use their senses to find the answers hidden in time, so that everyone in need can be supported and move towards an equal right life without barriers. The event will be held at 4th Floor, Far Eastern Department Store Xinyi A13 from today until 7th, Nov. Admission is free and everyone is welcome to visit the exhibition. For details, please search “2024 Accessible Life Festival” or visit Eden's official website.
