Forthcoming Events
The Center will also provide information related to Taiwan studies and events hosted by Taiwanese communities.
TACC Health Lecture Series
Title Occupational Therapy Health Seminar
Venue Taiwanese American Community Center, 7838 Wilkerson Court, San Diego, CA 92111
Time 2 p.m., June 13, Saturday
Synopsis
Healthy aging is not simply about being free from illness or living longer. It is about continuing to maintain independence, participation, personal roles, and quality of life in everyday activities. As people grow older, many may begin to notice changes such as decreased stamina, reduced balance, less flexibility or coordination in the hands and body, or increasing difficulty with household tasks, going out into the community, leisure activities, and social participation. These changes are sometimes dismissed as “just a normal part of aging.” However, with early awareness, understanding, and appropriate adjustments, it is often possible to slow functional decline, reduce the risk of falls, and maintain a safer, more stable, and more meaningful daily life.
This talk will introduce the role of occupational therapy in health promotion for adults and older adults. Occupational therapy is not only rehabilitation after injury or illness; it is a profession that helps people maintain daily function and meaningful participation across different stages of life. Occupational therapists look at real-life situations to understand the challenges and potential risks a person may experience during everyday activities. Through environmental modifications, safety strategies, activity-based training, and lifestyle design, occupational therapy supports older adults in maintaining mobility, independence, and a sense of engagement in daily life.
The main focus of this talk will be “daily function.” The presentation will guide the audience in understanding how physical abilities, the home environment, and daily habits are closely connected. Falls are rarely caused by just one factor. They may be related to lower-body strength, balance, vision, home layout, lighting, footwear, and everyday routines. Through a home safety checklist, participants will be invited to identify potential fall risks in their own living environments. Simple sit-to-stand or balance activities will also be used to help participants experience the relationship between lower-body strength, movement control, and independence in daily life. In addition, the talk will include a life activity reflection exercise, encouraging participants to consider whether their current routines include enough physical activity, leisure interests, social connection, and meaningful engagement.
Overall, this talk aims to help the audience understand that occupational therapy is not limited to hospitals or rehabilitation clinics. It is a life-centered profession that values function, independence, participation, and quality of life. The key to healthy aging is not only preventing decline, but also learning how to redesign daily life so that physical abilities, the living environment, daily routines, and meaningful activities can support one another. In doing so, older adults can continue to live more safely, more independently, and with a greater sense of quality and purpose.
About the Speaker
Yu-Chieh (Roger) Lo is originally from Yuanlin, Changhua County, Taiwan. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from National Cheng Kung University. He worked for three years as an occupational therapist at Taitung Christian Hospital, where he also served as a therapist in the acute stroke rehabilitation unit. In 2024, he earned his Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California and became a licensed occupational therapist in the United States. He currently works as a full-time school-based occupational therapist in the San Diego school district.
Book Signing: Plants as Roadblock as Graffiti
Venue Taiwanese American Community Center, 7838 Wilkerson Court, San Diego, CA 92111
Admission Free
Time 3 p.m. - 5 p.m., June 14, Sunday
Synopsis
Plants as Roadblock as Graffiti is a photobook that looks at the streets of Taiwan through the quiet presence of ordinary plants. In many neighborhoods in Taiwan, potted plants are placed along the roadside. Sometimes it is to mark territory, sometimes to slow down traffic, sometimes simply to exist. Through Wicks' photography and book design by Unpress, this book reveals a vibrant street ecology where plants, scooters, and cars coexist in the dense everyday landscape of the island.
－ Publisher "Unpress 紙漿合作社"
