The year of 2012, as one important year in Chinese development history, witnesses the great decision in building a comprehensive Well-off society in the all round way in the 18th CPC and leading the Chinese nation and Chinese into the new stage of bright and happy future. The work on disabilities in China achieves important progress. The work on disabilities makes new strides and achieves new development. The people with disabilities get new benefits from the new policies.
Ⅰ. Rehabilitation
In 2012, through implementation of some key projects, 7.602 million disabled persons received rehabilitation services of different degrees. The Campaign of Building Model Community or County was staged to vigorously promote community-based rehabilitation (CBR). Guidance was given to the capacity building of rehabilitation institutions. The National Rehabilitation Personnel Training Program was implemented to further the work of personnel training. Measures were taken to enable PWDs in rural areas to be covered by new type of cooperative medical care. Basic knowledge of rehabilitation was publicized and popularized.
Community-based rehabilitation was carried out in 889 districts under the jurisdiction of cities and 1,905 counties with 205,000 CBR stations set up and 353,000 CBR coordinators designated.
724 institutions provided rehabilitation services for patients with visual impairment. In the year, 796,000 cases of cataract sight-restoring surgeries were conducted, including 334,000 free ones for poor cataract patients. 117,000 low-vision patients received vision aids. 37,000 parents of children with low vision got training for more effective family-based rehabilitation. 120,000 blind persons received orientation mobility trainings.
The hearing and speech training institutions were regularized and the grassroots service network was built up. There were 32 provincial-level rehabilitation centers for deaf children and 1,011 grassroots hearing and speech training institutions nationwide. In 2012, 32,000 deaf children across the country got hearing and speech training. In addition, 20,000 new deaf children across the country enrolled in our institution. Parent schools were further regulated and trained 39,000 parents of deaf children. 7,731 various kinds of professionals were trained. A rescuing rehabilitation project was implemented to provide 4000 poor deaf children with free cochlear and 4,500 ones with free hearing aids. The rehabilitation project for the adult with hearing disabilities (hearing aids) was also carry out supported by the public welfare lottery fund. 20,000 poor adult with hearing disability (including the data from 2011) get free hearing aids and 35,000 poor adult with hearing disability get technical services by various levels of rehabilitation institutions.
A “socialized, comprehensive and open” model was promoted for the prevention and rehabilitation of psychiatric diseases. In 2012, the work of prevention and rehabilitation was carried out in 2,586 cities and counties, covering 5.936 million persons with severe mental illness. 75.6 % of the patients lived under guardianship, 67.2% of them showed signs of recovery, 52.6% participated in the society, and 0.19% caused incidents. 5,056 persons with mental illness were released from seclusion and 444,000 poor patients got medical assistance.
30 provincial-level autism rehabilitation institutions were set up and. 11,000 children with autism were provided with rehabilitation training.
The number of institutions able to provide rehabilitation and training services to persons with physical disability reached 1,592, including 31 provincial level rehabilitation institutions and 1,561 city level ones, which altogether conducted corrective surgeries for 6,221 poor children with physical disability, trained 30,000 children with cerebral Palsy and carried out rehabilitation training for 357,000 persons with physical disability nationwide. 39,000 professionals on physical rehabilitation also take their trainings in the institutions.
458 cases of corrective surgeries were conducted on persons with leprosy-induced disabilities. Education campaigns were carried out to build a favorable social atmosphere for these patients to return to society.
The number of institutions providing rehabilitation and training services to persons with intellectual disability reached 1,206, including 29 provincial level rehabilitation institutions and 1,177 city level ones, which trained 140,000 persons with intellectual disability nationwide and 20,000 children with intellectual disability as well as their parents. 17,000 professionals on intellectual rehabilitation also take their trainings in the institutions.
The supply system of assistive devices was built up to improve supply of assistive technology. By the end of 2012, an accumulation of 1.145 million assistive devices, including 39,000 items of cost-effective artificial limbs, 40,000 pieces of prosthetics were provided to poor disabled person at preferential rate or for free.
II. Education
In 2012, disabled persons' right to education was better guaranteed. The quality of disabled persons and their ability to equally participate in social life were improved.
The education project funded by dedicated lottery fund provided 10,000 person/times of financial support to disabled children from poor families in their preschool education. Fund was also raised through various channels to support 4,429 disabled children in their preschool education.
There were 186 special education classes at senior high schools nationwide, with an enrollment of 7,043 students. Among the schools, 121 were for the deaf with 5,555 enrolled students, 22 were for the blind with 1,488 enrolled students. There were 152 medium-level vocational education institutions (classes) with 10,442 enrolled students, 7,354 graduates, of whom 5,816 were with vocational certification. In 2012, 7,229 students with disabilities were accepted by mainstream higher education institutions, and 1,134 disabled students entered special higher education institutions.
By the end of 2012, there were 91,000 disabled children and youth at school age who did not have access to education, including 6,000 with visual impairment, 6,000 with hearing impairment, 6,000 with speech impairment, 28,000 with intellectual disability, 28,000 with physical disability, 3,000 with psychiatric diseases and 13,000 with multiple disabilities.
III. Employment
In 2012, the work to promote employment of PWDs made new progress. 329,000 disabled persons in urban areas were newly employed, including 102,000 through concentrative placement, 80,000 through quota scheme, 7,000 through supporting employment. 18,000 through welfare post and 123,000 through individual business and other forms of employment. 4.448 million disabled persons were in employment in the urban areas. 17.703 million rural PWDs had employment and 13.899 million of them took part in agricultural productive labor.
There were 5,271 special vocational training institutions nationwide, including 1,927 established by DPFs and 3,344 by social organizations. A total of 299,000 disabled persons in the urban areas received vocational training.
Massage business by the blind grew steadily with big increase of the number of massage institutions. In 2012, 16,514 health blind masseurs and 4,925 medical blind masseurs were trained. The number of healthcare massage institutions reached 12,887 and that of medical massage institutions amounted to 848. 551 and 1,655 medical blind masseurs passed secondary and elementary level qualification exams respectively.
IV Social Security
Social security for disabled persons was further improved in 2012. The disabled persons can make fully participation in the new type of rural cooperative or urban social endowment insurance. 3.253 million or 58.4% of disabled persons in rural areas took part in new type of rural social endowment insurance, including 628,000 persons with severe disabilities under 60 years old, 592,000 of whom received governments' financial assistance. 477,000 persons whose disabilities were not severe enjoyed the preferential treatment of all or part of the premium paid by governments. 1.337 million disabled persons received old-age pension.
In the aspect of new type of rural social endowment insurance, 13.338 million or 63.8% of disabled persons were covered by urban social endowment insurance, including 2.366 million persons with severe disabilities under the age of 60. 2.246 million of whom received governments' financial assistance.1.882 million persons with disabilities received the fully financial assistance from the government. 364,000 persons with disabilities receive partial financial support. 1.5 million Persons whose disabilities were not severe enjoyed the preferential treatment of all or part of the premium paid by governments. 5.074 million Disabled persons received old-age pension.
2.809 million Urban workers with disabilities were covered by social insurance. 4.986 million Urban residents with disabilities were covered by basic medical insurance. 10.705 million Were covered by basic living insurance protection. The number of urban disabled residents with basic medical insurance reached 10.314 million. The number of unban centralized persons with disabilities and the rural five-guarantee disable persons reached 122,000 and 685,000 respectively. 2.613 million Persons with disabilities in the urban and rural areas got social relief. 2.391 million Disabled persons in the urban areas and 363,000 in the rural areas got regular living allowance and care subsidy.
The fostering service for disabled persons made steady progress. The number of boarding fostering service organizations for disabled persons amounted to 3,903, including 1,107 social institutions, 1,366 private non-enterprise units and 1,430 other organizations, which altogether provided services to 113,000 persons with disabilities. The number of day-care organizations for disabled persons increased to 3,372, which provided services to 74,000 persons with disabilities. 560,000 persons with disabilities received services while staying at home.
V. Poverty Alleviation
The work of poverty alleviation made remarkable progress with the living and production conditions of poor disabled persons further improved. In 2012, 2.299 million poor disabled persons were covered by poverty alleviation projects, including 1.373 million who got rid of poverty through the projects. 861,000 persons/times of training of practical technology were provided.
55,000 rural persons with disabilities were granted interest-subsidized loans under poverty alleviation through rehabilitation projects. 64,000 units and 413,000 individuals paired up with poor disabled persons to get them out of poverty. The number of poverty-alleviation bases increased to 5,226, employing 102,000 disabled persons, supporting and leading 258,000 disabled persons.
132,000 poor rural households with disabled persons had their houses renovated. 1.19 billion RMB Yuan were invested, benefiting nearly 157,000 disabled persons. There were 940,000 poor disabled persons in the rural areas get benefit from the poverty alleviation project held by the local organizations.5968 disabled persons get employment through marketing engineering alleviation project and 2059 village-level shops were set up by the disabled persons with the help of the project.
VI. Publicity and Cultural Activities
In 2012, centered on the major tasks of the work on disabilities, humanitarianism was advocated, the social impact of and attention to the work on disabilities were remarkably upgraded, and a conducive public atmosphere was created for the sustainable development of the work on disabilities. Activities were organized on the theme of “strengthening the culture services for the Persons with Disabilities, Safeguarding their culture rights” on the occasion of the 22nd National Day of Assisting Persons with Disabilities. Activities such as the promulgation of the regulations on the accessibility environment construction and the national program for the rural poverty alleviation of the disabled. The big events, such as the London Paralympic Games and the implementation of the UNCRPD were also well publicized. The publicity for the enterprises of people with disabilities was integrated into the broadcasting plan for the spirit of the 18th national congress of the communist Party of China. The broadcasting network for the enterprises of people with disabilities was well organized. By the end of 2012, 68 news on issue of people with disabilities were showed in CCTV. At the provincial level there were 168 special columns and special editions in newspapers and magazines, 38 radio programs on disability, 30 TV news programs with sigh language and 28 disability publicity promotion societies. At the district/city level, there were also 1,375 special columns and special editions in newspapers and magazines, 468 radio programs on disability, 184 TV news programs with sigh language, 115 disability publicity promotion societies.
The cultural life of disabled persons became more active and colorful. PWDs received wide social attention and extensively participated in social life. The guideline on further promotion on the culture civilization for PWDs was jointly formulated and issued by Publicity department of central committee of CPC and CDPF. Together with other 11 ministries and departments. The work of pilot model city (district) for the national culture and sports building for PWDs was also launched this year. The activity of “Culture Week of Disabled Persons” was continuously carried out with millions of participants with disabilities. Inspection and evaluation were done to 1,500 pilot communities under the project of “Culture of Disabled Persons in Communities”. The movie named perfect life which reflected the issue for PWDs was listed as one the key movies in celebrating the 18th national congress of the communist Party of China. The movie named Wu Yunduo and the book entitled Lei Feng got the good masterpieces award for the 12th spiritual civilization “five ones” project. Various kinds of activated favored by the PWDs were also be held. Such as the National Art Show for PWDs, Lanting Cup national handwriting competition for PWDs and V singing contest. The essay entitled “the power of morality” was also being published. All of which further promoted the culture activities for PWDs.
VII. Sports
2012 is a milestone in Sport development history for the people with disabilities. Chinese delegation won great success in the 14th London Paralympic Games. The project of promotion of disabled persons' fitness with great efforts was also be fully implemented.
China sent a sports delegation with 417 members to participate in the 14th London Paralympic Games which was held from Aug.29 to Sept. 9, 2012. The delegation brought back a good result of 95 gold medals, 71 silver medals and 65 bronze medals. 231 medals altogether. China topped both in the medal and the gold medal tallies for the third time. .
28 provinces (districts and cities) organized various kinds of activities according to their local situation. Activities like the second “Fitness Week of Disabled Persons”, National Rope Jumping Contest of Blind as well as Table tennis Competition of Blind Persons were held. The first national wheelchair radio gymnastics training camp was organized and attended by 338 students and working staff from specials schools of 30 provinces.
The focus was also given to the establishment of the sports activity demonstration sites of disabled persons. The name and support methods on the sports activity demonstration sites of disabled persons was formulated in 2012 and 76 national sports activity demonstration sites of disabled persons have been set up.
Activities were organized to promote the development of spots for the deaf persons and the Special Olympics in China, including organizing 5 national tournaments for the deaf persons in preparation for the world Deaflympics. 438 athletes of deaf sportsman from 28 provinces participated in the tournaments. The excellent persons were included into the sports delegation for world winter Special Olympics 2013. Nine activities for the Special Olympics were held during this year, including Special Olympic Competition of basketball, training courses of coaches for Special Olympics in the university. The number of the athletes for Special Olympics has reaches 1.12 million.
The socialized working methods were actively used in enlarging the resources for sport development for people with disabilities. Up to now, 18 Universities and colleges have researches on sport science of disabled persons and related activities. 150 universities and colleges have programmes for Special Olympics. 153 coaches have passed the national qualification examination by the year 2012. 3000 social sport technical officials participated in the sport activities for the people with disabilities. 29 national training bases have been set up in China.
The sports activity of disabled persons was extensively carried out in localities. 218 times of fitness activities were organized for disabled persons at provinces, with a participation of 49,000 person/times. 351 sports activity demonstration sites of disabled persons were established, training 2836 coaches for fitness activity of disabled persons. Over 80 sports competitions of disabled persons were organized and participated by 13,000 persons. The number of provincial sports training base of disabled persons amounted to 200. At the city level, 3,953 times of sports activities of disabled persons were organized and participated by 525,000 person/times. 1040 sports activity demonstration sites of disabled persons were established, training 6,616 coaches for fitness activity of disabled persons.
VIII. Rights Protection
In line with the Work Program on Disability during the 12th Five-Year Plan Period and relevant action plans, disabled persons' federations at all levels further strengthened their work in rights protection for disabled persons. They built up their capacities of right protection, improved the legal systems related with disabled persons. The work of rights protection was carried out in an all round way.
In 2012, 12 local implementation method of the Law of P.R.C. on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities were revised. 5 regulations especially for disabled persons at the province level and 25 ones at the city level were formulated or revised. 61 regulations directly related with disabled persons at the province level and 109 ones at the city level were formulated or revised. People's congress at and above the county levels carried out inspections on enforcement of the Law of P.R.C. on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities for 923 times. The Political Consultative Conferences at all levels carried out inspections and studies for 810 times. 8,925times of law publicity and education activities and 1,576 education courses for legal professionals were organized for 928,000 and 88,000 participants respectively.
By the end of 2012, 1,188 coordination organizations of legal assistance for disabled persons and 811 legal aid stations were set up, handling 6,453 cases of rights violation against disabled persons. 2,979 legal aid stations were set up, handling 25,00 cases of rights violation against disabled persons. The work of legal aids and services for disabled persons were greatly promoted.
Disabled persons took a more active part in political consulting process. In 2012, 1,771 pieces of bills and proposals were raised by congress deputies and members of political consultative conferences from disabled persons' federation systems. 1,435 pieces of bills and proposals were dealt with.
Legislation and standards of accessibility were further improved. 438 regulations and administrative decrees on accessibility were issued in the provinces, cities and counties. Systematic accessibility construction was carried out in 1084 cities and counties. 3,354 times of special inspections on accessibility were carried out. 34,000 persons/times received trainings on accessibility. Accessibility renovation was made for 141,000 poor families with disabled persons. 554,000 persons with disabilities received subsidy for petrol used by their motorized wheelchairs.
The disabled persons' organizations at all levels received and handled over 55,000 compliant letters and 344,000 visitor/times in the year. Among the complaint visits, there are 1,096 group visits and 15,000 by individuals.
IX. Disabled Persons' Organizations
In 2012, 31 provincial federations had disabled persons as president or vice presidents. 232 city-level federations had disabled president or vice presidents in their offices. 1,624 county-level federations had disabled staffs in their offices. 39,000 towns (streets) had disabled persons' federations, accounting for 97.5% of the total and recruiting 49,000 disability commissioners. 607,000 communities (villages) had disabled persons' associations, accounting for 95.6% of the total and recruiting 518,000 disability commissioners.
Workers of city, county and township level disabled persons federations amounted to 120,000 persons. Personnel training made new progress. 30,000 training courses were organized for 790,000 person/times. The trainings played an important role in raising the quality of DPF's staff.
Nationwide, there are 15,321 special associations of disabled persons under the provincial level. 98.2 % of cities and 94.9% of districts under the jurisdiction of cities as well as 89.2% of the counties had special associations.
X. Service facilities
The construction of services facilities for disabled persons was developed in a all round way. By the end of 2012, 1971 complicated services facilities at all levels were completed and put into use, coving an area of 4.44 million square meters, with the construction area of 3.558 million square meters. The total investment is 9.62 billion RMB. 231 complicated rehabilitation services facilities at all levels were completed and put into use, coving an area of 842,000 square meters, with the construction area of 670,000 square meters. The total investment is 1.92 billion RMB. 155 complicated foster services facilities were completed and put into use, coving an area of 716,000 square meters, with the construction area of 431,000 square meters. The total investment is 1.26 billion RMB.
XI. Informationization
In 2012, the official website of China Disabled Persons' Federation put emphasis on disclosure of policies and information and provision of highlight services, the website recorded 34.5 million visits in 2012. 150,000 new information have been updated. 33 disabled persons' federations at the provincial level, 272 at the city level and 1,235 at the county level had constructed their websites. The websites of DPFs had developed as a platform of administrative information and services for the society and disabled persons in particular. Seven provincial DPF and two municipality DPFs developed their accessible websites. CDPF gave an accessible live broadcast on the Spring Festival Gala of CCTV through text and video on the eve of the Spring Festival. The program received over 140,000 visits and 2000 posts for the employment of PWDs has been announced on line.
By the end of 2012, the national basic database of persons with disabilities collected the basic data of 26 million disabled persons. The national survey on the poverty alleviation of disabled persons in the rural areas of China collected data on the poverty alleviation needs of 13.506 million disabled persons. As an authoritative basic information resource, the database played an important role in providing support and guarantee for improvement of social security system and social security level for disabled persons.