Shining Light into Dark Corners currently, the main problem for the disabled is that The coronavirus has spread around the world their needs have not been considered in terms of since it first emerged in late 2019. The Committee preventative disease measures, such that disabled on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the workers are not able to retire earlier, even with their UN and a special envoy who is in charge of the disabilities and physical circumstances. The other physically and mentally disabled and accessibility problem is the improvement and enhancement of issues of the secretary-general announced in a joint public awareness. declaration to appeal to each state to implement CRPD, which could ensure the personal safety The red and yellow cards are prepared in the meetings. The participants in the meeting could hold up the cards to signal to the host that either someone is speaking too fast or that the content is too difficult to understand. discussions and interviews over the months, the effectively. staff and two commissioners of the NHRC found With the Pandemic Worsening in Taiwan, there is the Emergence of the Disabled in Various Underprivileged Situations. of the disabled in an emergency situation. The With pandemic worsening in Taiwan after mid- to highlight that the disabled are at higher risk of May, the Central Epidemic Command Center contracting the coronavirus with a higher chance of has announced that the nationwide alert for becoming critical patients. Considerations during the COVID-19 Outbreak’’ COVID-19 will rise to Level 3. Many groups for the disabled have lodged a complaint with The ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the world of work the National Human Rights Commission. The published by the International Labor Organization successive outbreak in healthcare-associated described that the worldwide pandemic leads to organizations, illustrates that health care providers the disabled falling victim to circumstances of rising many shortcomings. For example, the optimal In addition, we specifically prepared red and are at high risk of contracting the coronavirus. For inequality. Moreover, if disease prevention measures heights for electric wheelchairs and manual yellow cards for the meetings. The participants in disease prevention, the government implements taken by each country such as lockdowns and wheelchairs are different. If conference rooms the meeting could hold up the cards to signal to essential preventative measures, including telecommuting are not in accordance with reasonable are only equipped with tables of the same the host that either someone is speaking too fast suspending social support services and community accommodation under the CRPD, implementing height without height adjusting capabilities, this or that the content is too difficult to understand. support programs, without providing the necessary social security measures will further negatively impact becomes physically taxing for people who attend Regarding written documents, apar t from assistance to the disabled at home. Furthermore, physically and mentally disabled workers and their conferences for long periods of time and have translating content into formats that are accessible the needs of those with chronic diseases were families who have insufficient incomes. physical disabilities. to the disabled, whether or not the standards overlooked and psychological counseling services of discussion topics need to be changed into a were also suspended, all of which significantly Therefore, the measures taken by the government Furthermore, the sign language interpretation format that is easy to read is also an essential impacted the sur vivability and safety of the during the pandemic should be in accordance with service provided in general meetings is primarily element of preparation. disabled. public demand, with disability inclusion, to ensure ‘‘oral interpretation’’ that places emphasis on that persons with disabilities can access assistance translating the spoken message delivered by the Commissioner Wang Yu-ling has emphasized, and protection with fair treatment instead of being speakers into sign language. However, since these accumulated experiences from current neglected, or even quarantined because of their the majority of people in the focus group of studies could be utilized in the future in related disability. For instance, information, brochures and hearing impaired people were proficient at sign conferences and activities held by the National other printed materials related to the COVID-19 language, the National Human Rights Commission Human Rights Commission. Additionally, we pandemic should be produced in various formats intentionally arranged two groups of sign hope to promote such insight and experiences that are accessible to persons with disabilities. language interpreters. One of the groups focused to conferences and activities held by other In addition, the procedure of coronavirus testing, on oral interpretation while the other group which government agencies and groups. transportation and quarantine locations should had microphones were responsible for ‘‘sign 34 World Health Organization proposed “Disability be implemented with the principle of accessibility language interpretation’’ which were responsible Owing to the wide range of CRPD, through for translating sign language into the spoken these focus groups, we collected the opinions language, to ensure that both sides communicated of the disabled. In the process, we found that During the epidemic prevention period, the NHRC Chairperson Chen Chu along with Commissioners Wang Jung-chang and Wang Yu-ling wore transparent face masks to facilitate lipreading by the hearing-impaired. in accordance with CRPD, while offering the necessary facilities to safeguard the fundamental rights of persons with disabilities. 35