To enhance the community participation experiences of persons with disabilities and showcase their creative abilities and the value of their lives, the “Hsin-Feng Workshop”, commissioned by the Social Welfare Department of New Taipei City Government and organized by Eden Social Welfare Foundation, adopted the theme “Floral Blossoming”. The program guided service users in creating art using preserved flower and plaster botanical casting, incorporating their observations and ideas from daily life into their works, which were exhibited on the B1 level of the Xinzhuang Xisheng Branch of the New Taipei City Library. On the afternoon of July 14th, 15 service users visited the exhibition to view the works and learn to appreciate their peers’ creative achievements. This experience helped them improve their communication skills, build positive social interactions, and enhance their sense of accomplishment.
 

The theme “Floral Blossoming” symbolizes the service users flourishing like flowers, embodying youthfulness, beauty, and vitality. From preserved flower arrangements to plaster botanical castings, under the guidance of art instructors and educare givers, the service users explored different materials, transformed their personal creativity into artworks, and in the process discovered their own potential while gaining creative experience.

Hsiao-Ju (pseudonym), a service user with autism, was one of those who demonstrated positive change during the creative process. Although he enjoys interacting with others, his difficulty in expressing himself and finding appropriate ways to interact often led him to seek attention through mischievous behavior and pranks. This, in turn, caused misunderstandings among his peers and created difficulties in social interaction, negatively affecting his interpersonal relationships.
 

While participating in the plaster casting project, Hsiao-Ju joined his educare giver and peers on a walk through the community to collect botanical materials. As they explored the natural environment together, he shared his observations of plants with his peers, finding common ground and using the opportunity to practice interacting with others in appropriate ways. Hiao-Ju then created casts of the collected plants on plaster boards and added his own color designs. The beautiful finished pieces not only showcased his artistic potential but also documented his growth and transformation through interactions with his peers.

Ms. Long-Hui Huang, Director of Eden Foundation, indicated that families of persons with disabilities in New Taipei City often face challenges such as daytime support, life adaptation, and future care after their children leave school. How to ensure these youths continue to learn life skills, build interpersonal relationships, and have opportunities to participate in the community is the most urgent and long-term need for many families with disabled members. In addition to providing professional support, the Hsin-Feng Workshop creates opportunities for persons with disabilities to connect with the outside world by organizing diverse activities on an irregular basis. The “Floral Blossoming” art exhibition allows service users to use their own creations as a medium to connect with the community, showcasing their individual abilities and life experiences, while also addressing the need for persons with disabilities to transition from daily living support to social participation.
 

Hsin-Feng Workshop primarily serves persons with disabilities aged 15 and older who are capable of self-care and willing to work but lack the skills required to enter a sheltered workplace. Through diverse services—including work activities, life skills training, artistic creation, and community participation—the workshop supports adults with disabilities in developing their abilities and building self-confidence, while also assisting families alleviate the burden of caregiving. Eden hopes that through diverse opportunities for interaction, the public will come to see persons with disabilities not merely as service users, but as active members of the community who can create, express themselves, and contribute. With empathy and a spirit of common good, we aim to work together to build an inclusive environment.