New Taipei Community Housing Insufficient Space for Barrier-Free Rooms, Councilman Says People with Disabilities Report Being Rejected

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Youyi went to the New Taipei City Council today to accept the general municipal inquiry.

Renting a house in Shuangbei is not easy. In order to protect the living rights of people with disabilities, New Taipei City social housing has accessible rooms for rent. City Councilor Chen Naiyu mentioned in the general inquiry today (11th) that a patient with severe spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) rented an accessible room, but his electric wheelchair could not rotate at all. There was also a visually impaired person with a guide dog who often tripped over the dog in the room. Two people reported to the city government, but were told to find a solution themselves. Mayor Hou Youyi and Director of Urban and Rural Development Huang Guofeng emphasized that the barrier-free room type is universal, so the needs of various ethnic groups must be taken into consideration, and the city government will assist with on-site space adjustments.

Chen Naiyu pointed out that this SMA patient relied on an electric wheelchair, a lift and caregiver services for daily living. However, due to insufficient indoor space, the lift could not operate normally. When he needed to take a bath, the caregiver had to support the patient with bare hands, causing the patient to fall. Another visually impaired person reported that the indoor space was narrow and the dog's range of activities was limited, so he was often tripped by the dog.

However, Chen Naiyu said helplessly that after the two people reported it to the city government, the SMA patient received a response that asked him to provide the lift specifications, construction drawings and other information to the city center for review; the visually impaired person was told that the accessibility design was mainly based on "lower limb wheelchair users" and that the range of activities of the guide dog was not within the original design range. The relevant response was really "a bit cold-blooded."

Hou Youyi and Huang Guofeng said that the SMA patient had lived there for more than four years and had renewed his contract. The residential center and the social worker had paid close attention to the case. They found that there were a lot of items piled up on site and the city government would help adjust the space and interior furniture and furnishings. They also emphasized that the universal barrier-free room type should be people-oriented and all inconveniences should be taken into account.