Interdepartmental Cooperation Launched ‘iTaxi Wheelchair-Accessible Taxis Booking System’ A New Convenient and Diverse Option for Physically and Mentally Disabled Students to Go to and from School
Transportation to and from school is an important part of life for physically and mentally disabled students. In the past, it was mostly conducted by means of accessible facilities of public transportation, Dynamic Bus or parents’ pick up. In order to provide a more diverse and convenient means of transportation service, since 2019, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has cooperated with the Institute of Transportation, Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC) to establish the arrangement of the ‘iTaxi Wheelchair-Accessible Taxis Booking System’ (hereinafter referred to as iTaxi), and invited physically and mentally disabled students to participate in the test, thereby enabling this arrangement to be closer to the transportation needs of all users.
The Political Deputy Minister, MOE, Ching-Hwa Tsai attended the opening ceremony of the iTaxi on September 2, 2020, where he affirmed this service, and considered that cooperation of the iTaxi could provide opportunities for physically and mentally disabled students to participate in public affairs, which not only cultivates students' professional abilities in science and technology as well as design, but also enhances the confidence of servicing and contributing others by participating in public affairs.
At present, the iTax has started to operate in four major metropolitan areas (Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan and Taichung), and will be extended to other counties and cities in the future to increase options of transportation services for physically and mentally disabled students or parents, thereby enhancing the autonomy of individual transportation needs and benefit more physically and mentally disabled students.
