ABSTRACT
The chapter applied empowerment theory and identified three paths explored by WISEs in Taipei to empower disabled persons. Three levels of empowerment have been achieved – individual empowerment, social empowerment, and political empowerment – with varied consequences for realizing the social mission of the relevant enterprises. All three enterprises adopted supported employment as a tool for empowering the disabled people. One outcome of the study is the conclusion that when the enterprise has low dependence on government resources, and high integration within the supporting foundation, the level of political empowerment is high. The finding implies that high levels of financial commitment by the government are not necessary to this process. Rather, it is the formulation of effective government policies that have supported the mission of WISEs by creating a favourable social and market environment.
