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Taipei offers free sign language services amid budget cuts

Reporter TVBS News Staff
Release time:2025/01/24 13:18
Last update time:2025/01/24 14:15
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Taipei offers free sign language services amid budget cuts (TVBS News) Taipei offers free sign language services amid budget cuts
Taipei offers free sign language services amid budget cuts (TVBS News)

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei's Department of Social Welfare (社會局) announced Friday (Jan. 24) that the central government can reallocate budget items to prioritize services for the hearing impaired. If the central government deems these services necessary, it can adjust funding accordingly; otherwise, Taipei's city government stands ready to assist.

Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) held his fourth press conference on Thursday to explain the impact of budget cuts. Notably, the sign language interpreter's seat remained empty. The live broadcast replaced the interpreter with a card stating, "The opposition party entirely cut the media department's budget, preventing the hiring of sign language interpreters."

 

Executive Yuan Spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) apologized to the hearing-impaired community, stating they cannot afford Sign language interpreters, which sparked public concern. Ling Tao (凌濤), a Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) Taoyuan City Councilor, criticized the Executive Yuan's claim as a "lie". He pointed out that the Executive Yuan could apply for free sign language interpretation services from Taipei's city government.

Taipei's communication service program for the hearing and speech impaired offers free interpretation services for government agency meetings, transactions, petitions, or complaints, available 24 hours a day. The typing service operates primarily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and covers a range of activities, including judicial proceedings and social participation events.