Disability Rights Win: Michael Boyden Is 1st Briton Eligible for Benefits
After being denied help from authorities for years, Michael Boyden has become the first British citizen in Taiwan to be eligible for disability benefits.
Transcript
00:00 After four years of fighting, a win. Taipei resident Katie Ho is picking up a certificate
00:07 of disability for her British husband. He, Michael Boyden, is bedridden and needs constant
00:13 care. But as a foreigner, he's been denied disability benefits here, until now.
00:20 I'm very happy for Michael because he really opened up the path for the people to be able
00:28 to follow up. I wish from the bottom of my heart people don't need to use it. Don't need
00:35 to. But if they need, then there is a path that is opening up.
00:41 Boyden has lived in Taiwan for more than 30 years and was diagnosed with atypical Parkinsonism
00:47 four years ago. His case was one highlighted by campaigners pushing for disability rights
00:54 for foreigners. They've won a change in the rules. British, Canadian and US citizens residing
01:00 in Taiwan are now eligible to apply for a disability certificate, which opens the door
01:06 to subsidised medical care and equipment and respite help for carers. Taiwan's Health and
01:13 Welfare Ministry says disability benefits are being granted to these foreign nationals
01:18 as their countries offer the same to Taiwanese living there.
01:22 But this isn't the end of the issue. Campaigners here say they will keep fighting so all foreigners
01:28 in Taiwan with disabilities can claim equal treatment. And not stopping there, they also
01:34 want to find a way to make it easier to get Taiwanese citizenship.
01:39 Taiwan recognises dual nationality for its own people, but foreigners are required to
01:44 renounce their original citizenship should they want to become Taiwanese. Campaigners
01:49 say this is unfair and makes it harder for Taiwan to attract and retain the international
01:55 talent it seeks.
01:57 The question is why should people come to Taiwan not as just tourists or just passerbyers,
02:03 but why should they choose to invest in Taiwan for the long term without a citizenship pathway.
02:09 You're always going to be treated as pretty much a second class citizen. You're going
02:13 to be a resident, you're a foreigner.
02:15 While citizenship is a longer term goal, campaigners say there's a more urgent need for Taiwan
02:21 to recognise all foreigners with disabilities.
02:24 Sympathetic legislators plan to push this issue in the upcoming new session, giving
02:29 hope to other foreign residents who have become part of Taiwanese society and yet are struggling
02:35 to get the help they need.
02:37 Klein Wong and Louise Watt for Taiwan Plus.
02:40 I love you, Harvey.
02:42 I can't do this anymore.