Directives Governing the Coordination of Special Education Student Assistants of National Taiwan Normal University

Approved at the Special Education Center meeting on July 23, 2025

1. In accordance with the Directives Governing the Implementation of the Subsidies to Colleges and Universities for the Assistance of Students with Disabilities by the Ministry of Education, the Directives Governing the Coordination of Special Education Student Assistants of National Taiwan Normal University (hereinafter referred to as “the Directives”) are hereby established.
2. The purpose of the Directives is to provide students with special educational needs with the necessary assistance in their daily lives and academic activities with a view to facilitating their gradual adaptation to the campus and the development of independent living skills.
3. The scope of services provided by the Special Education Student Assistants includes assisting students with their learning and adjustment to college life in a manner that meets the needs of the students with disabilities.
4. Eligibility: Students must meet the following criteria (1) and (2).
   1. Students who are currently enrolled in the University.
   2. Students who have been identified as students with special educational needs by the Ministry of Education's Special Education Student Identification and Placement Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Identification and Placement Committee), whose disabilities have resulted in a need for assistance from a special education student assistant (hereinafter referred to as the assistant), and whose certificate of special education student identification is within the validity period or the applicable stage of the certificate.
5. The term “assistants” in the Directives shall mean the following:
   1. Visual assistants.
   2. Simultaneous transcriber
   3. Personal care assistants.
   4. Other assistants.

6. Application and approval procedures for the requests for assistants
   1. Application criteria and necessary documents to be submitted:
      1. Applicants shall complete an “Application Form for Assistants” (Appendix 1).
      2. Applicants for visual assistants, simultaneous transcribers or other assistants shall attach a copy of the course timetable of the current semester.
      3. Applicants for personal care assistants shall attach a copy of the course timetable of the current semester and a personal care planning form (Appendix 2), and a certificate of completion of pre-service training for personal care assistants shall be attached for those who have references for selection. However, applicants should undergo a needs assessment arranged by the Special Education Resource Office to facilitate the provision of appropriate services by the Special Education Resource Office in the current semester.
      4. Applicants are encouraged to re-apply for services should their needs change.
   2. Initial review: The counselor of the Special Education Resource Office will confirm the applicant's special education needs based on the applicant's individualized support plan and the information to be submitted, and then send the application to the Special Education Resource Office for review after approval. In case of incomplete information, applicants are required to submit supplementary documents within the specified period of time, after which the application shall not be processed.
   3. Second review: The Director of the Special Education Center, the Director of the Special Education Resource Office, and counselors from the Special Education Resource Office will hold a review meeting (if necessary, relevant professionals, faculty, or students may be invited to attend) to discuss and review the application, and the applicant will be notified of the results of the review by email.
7. Principles concerning the employment of assistants

1. Visual assistants, simultaneous transcribers or other assistants
   1. Simultaneous transcribers shall be hired only if they have completed internal and external transcriber training; visual assistants and other assistants shall be hired on a preferential basis based on their ability to provide services for the special needs of students.
   2. They are required to attend a pre-service orientation session organized by the Special Education Resource Office of the University. Assistants providing services shall fill out and submit attendance records, receipts, and service records as stipulated in applicable rules and regulations.
2. Personal care assistants
   1. The personal care assistants employed by the University shall meet one of the following qualifications as stipulated in Article 9 of the Regulations Governing the Establishment of Specialized Units and Resource Classrooms for Special Education in Tertiary Education Institutions and the Employment of Specialized Personnel by the Ministry of Education:
      1. Qualified individuals who meet the requirements set forth in the Amendments to the Regulations on Selection and Training of Professional Workers Providing Welfare Services for People with Disabilities.
      2. Individuals who have been certified by the competent authorities at all levels as teaching assistants or assistants to students with disabilities, and who have worked as teaching assistants or assistants to students with disabilities in institutions of senior high school or above for at least two years.

Among them, the “qualified individuals who meet the requirements set forth in the Amendments to the Regulations on Selection and Training of Professional Workers Providing Welfare Services for People with Disabilities” are those who should have one of the following qualifications in accordance with Article 5 of the Amendments to the Regulations on Selection and Training of Professional Workers Providing Welfare Services for People with Disabilities of the Ministry of Health and Welfare:

1. Holder of certificate of completion of training related to caregiving services.
2. Qualified as a preschool educators, trainer or caregiver.
3. Holder of the Certificate of Technical Skill for Caregiver or the Certificate of Technical Skill for Nursing Care Worker.
4. Graduates from a recognized institution of senior high school (or vocational high school) or above in the field of nursing, caregiving or related disciplines.
   2. Based on the educational goal that university students should gradually learn to be independent and become socialized, assistants employed by the University should not be linked by kinship with the applicant, thus facilitating students to learn to cooperate with others and promote interpersonal relationships in order to accomplish the goal of integration.

3. In case the applicant does not have any recommendation regarding the above-mentioned assistants, the Special Education Resource Office may assist the student in consulting with relevant organizations or personnel and linking to relevant resources.
4. The above-mentioned assistants shall be employed by the Center for the purpose of hiring, dismissal, and job assignment; and the number of assistants' working hours shall be reasonably distributed according to the annual budget.

8. Provisions on the number of service hours for assistants

The number of service hours approved for payment to assistants for the current semester shall be in accordance with the following regulations:

1. Visual assistants: up to one-third of the number of credits taken in a week.
2. Simultaneous transcribers: limited to the actual classes in accordance with the attached course timetable.
3. Personal care assistants: 30 hours a week.
4. Other assistants: to be paid according to the students' actual needs.

9. Any outstanding matters in the Directives shall be handled in accordance with the regulations of the Special Education Center of the University.

10. The Directives shall be implemented upon approval at the Special Education Center meeting, and the same shall apply to any amendments.