Disabled pianist and train buff wins the President’s Educational Award

Disabled pianist and train buff wins the President’s Educational Award

2023-06-30

An elementary student has become the first Keelung native to win the President’s Educational Award. Chang Wen-chu is a fourth grader who loves playing the piano and trainspotting. Having been born with multiple disabilities, he receives various kinds of therapy. His parents have been highly involved in his education and treatment. It’s been especially important for mom and dad to learn how to support Wen-chu with big emotions. We met the Chang family to hear more about their journey.

Chang Wen-chu
President’s Educational Award winner
My name is Chang Wen-chu and I am in fourth grade at Dung-guang Elementary School. I live in Keelung. My interests are train watching, taking the train and playing the piano. I have been learning the piano for five years.

Chang Wen-chu introduces himself to the camera. He’s one of 56 recipients of this year’s President’s Educational Awards, and he’s the only winner from Keelung.

Father of Chang Wen-chu
When we can all help him to increase his skills, including the government, schoolteachers, the principal, and various medical institutions, then he has the skills and the problem is no longer a problem.

Wen-chu was diagnosed with multiple disabilities at the age of two. As a small child, he would have violent tantrums when he encountered challenges. His parents decided to leave behind their international careers to spend more time with him and accompany him in therapy.

Mother of Chang Wen-chu
We have a division of labor to take care of our son. His dad focuses more on his education, the piano, homework. I focus more on play and on emotional regulation.

With the support, patience and presence of his parents, Wen-chu has learned how to manage emotional tensions, and developed a keen interest in trains. Trainspotting is the family’s favorite hobby, for which they travel all over the country.

Wen-chu loves playing the piano, and won third prize in the National Disabled People’s Talent Competition.

With the care and love of his parents and teachers, Wen-chu is developing many skills and talents in his own way and his own time. And he gave his mom and dad a big thank you.

總統教育獎獲獎人張聞竺克服障礙展現琴藝

2023-06-30

今年的總統教育獎，唯一來自基隆的獲獎者，是東光國小四年級的張聞竺。他在兩歲時被診斷出，患有多重身心疾病。父母親放棄海外事業，返台專心陪伴他，一起從手眼協調、生活自理、情緒管理慢慢練習。現在的他不僅喜歡戶外活動，彈得一手好琴。

[[總統教育獎獲獎人張聞竺]]
“我叫張聞竺，我讀東光國小四年級，我住基隆，我的興趣是看火車、坐火車、彈鋼琴，我學鋼琴5年了。”

看著鏡頭自我介紹，談著自己興趣的張聞竺，是今年全國56名總統教育獎獲獎人之一，也是唯一來自基隆的獲獎者。

[[總統教育獎獲獎人張聞竺父親]]
“當他的能力能被我們，不管是政府、學校老師、校長，各種醫療機構幫助他，增強他的能力，當他有能力時，問題就變得不是問題了。”

張聞竺在2歲時，就被診斷患有多重身心障礙疾病。生活中碰到挫折、不如意的事就會發脾氣，摔東西。父母親為了他放棄海外事業，陪伴他一起走過療程。

[[總統教育獎獲獎人張聞竺母親]]
“我們其實都是分工，在照顧這個孩子，爸爸比較在他的教學方面，鋼琴、課業方面，我比較多是在玩樂，還有心情紓壓方面。”

在父母親耐心的陪伴下，張聞竺懂得如何抒發自己的情緒，更培養喜歡搭火車的興趣。一起到處欣賞火車，成了親子間最佳休閒活動。

熱愛彈鋼琴的張聞竺，曾在全國心智障才藝大賽中獲得第三名。

張聞竺在父母親、學校師長們的陪伴下，培養各種能力，他也感謝爸爸媽媽的付出。

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