Nation clears barriers for its disabled

China is on track to meet all 11 targets aimed at improving the welfare and social engagement of people with disabilities under its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), officials announced on Tuesday.

Cheng Kai, chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, stated that people with disabilities have seen enhanced welfare support, increased job opportunities, and improved access to public services over the past four years.

From 2020 to 2023, the average annual growth rate of net income for households with family members living with disabilities surpassed 6.9 percent, closely aligning with the nation's GDP growth.

Between 2021 and 2025, a total of 9.01 million people with disabilities were employed nationwide, with 2.31 million in newly created positions. More than 2.17 million people with disabilities received vocational training, Cheng said.

"Both the employment scale and the quality of jobs for people with disabilities have seen significant improvement," added Li Dongmei, vice-chairwoman of the CDPF.

China's disability-related welfare programs have become more comprehensive, ensuring all eligible individuals can access support. This includes: minimum living allowances; rehabilitation assistance for children with disabilities; and living and nursing subsidies for those with severe disabilities. As of June, 11.88 million people with disabilities were receiving living subsidies, and 16.4 million were receiving nursing subsidies, according to Cheng.

Zhou Changkui, chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the CDPF, highlighted that the renovation of barrier-free facilities for 1.1 million families with severely disabled members was completed ahead of schedule. By June, barrier-free upgrades had been carried out in 1.28 million homes.

Rehabilitation services and infrastructure have also improved, with every province now offering subsidies for assistive devices, the CDPF noted. The country's first rehabilitation university in Qingdao, Shandong province, has begun enrolling students, accelerating talent development in the field, Cheng said.

The compulsory education enrollment rate for children with disabilities has reached 97 percent, with over 30,000 students with disabilities entering institutions of higher learning annually. "Over 100,000 students with disabilities are currently attending universities, which is remarkable," Cheng said.

In 2023, the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress passed the law on building a barrier-free living environment, establishing a robust legal framework to safeguard the rights and social participation of people with disabilities, Zhou said.

"The implementation of the law has improved the ability and convenience of people with disabilities in daily living, mobility, and social engagement," Cheng said.

While 7.1 million people with disabilities have been lifted out of poverty, Cheng acknowledged that they remain among the groups most vulnerable to poverty in rural areas. He stated that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, people with disabilities in rural areas and at risk of falling back into poverty have been included in dynamic monitoring and support systems.

Internationally, China is deepening cooperation on disability affairs through the Belt and Road Initiative, sending rehabilitation expert teams abroad and training local professionals. This year, five international training sessions in rehabilitation, employment and sports will be offered to people with disabilities from Africa, Southeast Asia and other regions, Cheng said.