The League of Persons with Disabilities, R.O.C. held its 4th annual disabled diving training event in Taichung for the first time this year. A total of 52 people applied, of whom 20 were accepted. The closing ceremony was held on June 19 at Taichung’s Divecube hotel, with Vice Mayor Lin Yirong presenting the certificates of completion. In September of this year, Taichung city will join with the League of Persons with Disabilities to host an international diving with disabilities conference where international diving organization representatives will be invited to exchange diving techniques. Professional divers from across the globe will also travel to Houbihu in Kenting for a diving session in the hopes of promoting leisure athletics for persons with disabilities.

The 4th annual Diving with Disabilities, Dive into your Dream diving with disabilities training held its closing ceremony today. Vice Mayor Lin, Department of Social Welfare Vice Chair Chen Kunhuang, Director Lu Hongwen of the League of Persons with Disabilities, Divecube Hotel CEO Chen Huaqing, and chief instructor for the diving with disabilities certificate training Chen Kecheng were all in attendance.

Vice Mayor Lin stated that diving training is strenuous, and receiving a certificate of completion is even more difficult for those with disabilities. Despite this, 20 trainees completed their training, not only challenging their own abilities, but also showing society a different way for persons with disabilities to develop. Taichung city established the Bureau of Sport this year, not only hoping to create an active city, but also to provide a better sports environment for persons with disabilities, turning Taichung into a friendly city. She also expressed her hopes that the International Diving with Disabilities Exchange Conference in September will go smoothly.

The Taichung Department of Social Welfare stated that the League of Persons with Disabilities started the diving with disabilities certificate training program in 2014. To date, 264 persons with disabilities have signed up, 73 have participated in training; this year 52 people signed up, and 20 were accepted, including those with severe limb, vision, and hearing disabilities. Intense training took place over the course of 5 days and 4 nights at the Taichung Divecube Hotel, and in the end, trainees overcame their disabilities and received certificates of completion.

The Department of Social Welfare also stated that in addition to this year’s diving with disabilities training program, the city and League of Persons with Disabilities is planning to host the International Diving with Disabilities Exchange Conference from September 23 to 26. International diving organization representatives will come to Taichung, and professional divers will hold a diving session at Houbihu in Kenting to exchange diving techniques and train divers with disabilities. Additionally, the event will promote leisure sports for persons with disabilities, as well as showing the uses of Taichung’s disabled access spaces and support of the recovery busses.

The League of Persons with Disabilities stated, the League will select diving trainers with disabilities from divers who became formally certified in previous sessions. Currently, 11 divers with disabilities have become 4 star diving captains, including 10 people with hearing impairment, and 1 with limb disabilities. These 11 assistant coaches will take on the role of diving with disabilities seed instructors who will transmit their knowledge and experiences personally, empowering divers with disabilities to face different diving environments, learn how to recognize dangers, protect themselves, and help others.

League for Persons with Disabilities assistant diving instructor He Jinwei expressed his thanks to the League for holding diving training courses, and giving him the chance to challenge himself, as well as showing society the hard work of persons with disabilities. He also hopes to draw on his experiences to encourage persons with disabilities to face challenges others may consider impossible for them, to bravely say “no, it is possible”, not give in to what others say, and to believe that they can complete their mission.