The Penghu County Government is promoting the procurement of products made by people with disabilities — good news for local sheltered workshops and disability employment.

• About 6% of Penghu's population holds a disability certificate, a higher share than in most counties and cities in Taiwan.
• The county has five disability welfare institutions or sheltered workshops, selling handmade soap, cleaning services, boxed meals, baked goods and more.
• Ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Huimin Mentally Retarded Children's Center, Jiai Workshop and Modou Store have launched a range of gift boxes, with early-bird discounts that grow larger the more you order.
• The county government hopes all sectors will make these purchases a priority, turning festive spending into stable job opportunities for people with disabilities.

Outlook: Orders during the Mid-Autumn season will be key to these sheltered workshops' income this year, and most ordering discounts end before mid-September.