China has achieved much in the past five years in assisting
disabled people. The living conditions, educational achievements
and employment levels of the disabled have all improved
significantly and general attitudes towards them are changing with
recognition being given to the valuable contribution they make to
society and the country as a whole.
The Ministry of Health issued a document in August 2002 which
emphasized the need to assist in the rehabilitation of the
disabled. The document stated that by 2015 disability suffers would
have access to rehabilitation services. The document defines the
general aims of the initiative and offers general guidance on how
disabled people can be assisted.
During the 1996-2000 period, 6.3 million disabled people were
assisted in some way or another -- 24.3 percent more than had been
envisaged. Within the total figure of those being assisted, 2.71
million cataract operations were carried out which was 35 percent
more than planned; 150,000 people with poor eyesight were tested
and supplied with visual aids -- one and a half times more than
initially planned; more than 90,000 deaf children were taught how
to communicate -- 21 percent more than planned; 5.39 million pieces
of equipment were provided to the disabled -- twice the plan and
420,000 people with various difficulties received rehabilitation
services.
The education system designed to assist disabled people has
continually improved over the past five years, the quality of what
is on offer has improved and wide range of activities have
especially developed to meet their needs. In 2003, a document
jointly published by China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), Ministry of
Education and Ministry of Health cancelled the former standard
of physical fitness and set a new one more suitable for those with
disabilities.
A notice released by the Ministry of Education said students
with hearing problems didn't have to participate in the English
"listening" test which forms part of the college entrance
examination.
Over the five years the CDPF and Ministry of Education have
developed various projects to help blind children and those with
disabilities to access education and improve their standard of
living. ?The establishment of classes for deaf people at and the special teaching school in Chongqing Normal
University opened new doorways for disabled people in the
western region of the country.
Eighty percent of children with eyesight problems have secured
educational places and those with difficulties in oral
communications or general intelligence have earned a similar
success rate. In the past five years universities have recruited
more than 16,000 disabled students with 90 percent of them passing
the entrance examination. China now has 10 special education
colleges.
The disabled persons' employment and social security situations
have been improved. Over the past five years laws to protect and
improve the rights of disabled people have been adopted and they
provide a policy guarantee for them.
From 2001 to 2005, 2.58 million disabled people received
vocational education and training. More than 1.6 million were
helped in finding work -- an increase of 50 percent over the
1996-2000 period; around 7 million disabled people received various
forms of social help and over 7 million were able to improve their
lives with help from poverty relief projects. Up to the end of 2005
more than 4.2 million disabled people living in cities or towns
were employed and around 17 million living in the countryside had
found work.
Attitudes toward the disabled people have changed remarkably
over the years, which indicates that modern civilization and
society in general have developed significantly. The social
administrative departments and public service organizations
responsible for education, health, civil affairs, labor security,
judicatory, culture, physical education and many others have paid
more attention to the needs of disabled people and create equal and
shared opportunities for them.
All circles of society have assisted disabled people in coping
with difficulties they have in everyday life, for instances,
general living conditions, access to medical treatment, education
and employment. The construction of modern buildings with "disabled
access" has greatly assisted the daily lives of these people.
?
The legal system for the disabled has achieved many, very good
things. Taking the Constitution as the core and the Law on Security
for the Disabled as the basis, an advanced legal system catering
for disabled people has been defined.
During the lawmaking process legislators pay particular
attention to the views and opinions of disabled people. Some of
their views have been adopted in the lawmaking process of Civil
Servant Law, Law on Road Traffic Safety, Administrative Licensing
Law and Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Women.
The country has also started to work on amending the Law on
Security for the Disabled and constituting the statute on
employment of disabled people. ??
Being optimistic and self-sufficient many disabled people appear
to want to constantly improve themselves and make a real
contribution to their country's future. More and more disabled
people are going to be in a position to earn a living and some,
perhaps, become wealthy by their hard work.
Disabled people have already emerged in every walk of life and
many more will follow. Some are representatives -- at all levels --
of the people' congress and at political consultative conference
levels; some are athletes who've won honors for their country at
international events and quite a number are involved in
representative groups who look after the interests of the
disabled.?
Up to the end of 2005, 28 provincial and municipal TV stations
opened the news programs with sign language to assist people with
hearing difficulties. ?
Disabled athletes have so far won 676 gold medals in
international competition. My Dream, a large-scale music and
dance show created by the China Disabled People's Performing Art
Troupe has caught the imaginations of audiences at home and abroad.
The troupe has been hugely received in more than 40 countries.
(China.org.cn by Zhou Jing, February 28, 2006)