Welfare for the disabled in China

(I) The content of welfare for the disabled

The traditional concept that welfare for the disabled is the state and society to give all kinds of material help to the disabled, in fact, in today's view, this view is not comprehensive. Welfare for the disabled in addition to giving basic material help, but also according to the social and economic and cultural development of the disabled in the rehabilitation, medical care, education, employment, culture and recreation and other aspects of the corresponding rights and interests of the disabled, and strive to realize the "equality, participation, **** enjoyment" of the protection of the disabled goal.

1. Employment of persons with disabilities

The State and society take the necessary measures to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy equal opportunities for employment in the labor market. Governments attach great importance to the right of persons with disabilities to participate in social work and employment, and in many countries the law stipulates that all organizations must employ persons with disabilities on a proportional basis, while at the same time applying tax exemptions and other preferential and supportive policies. Various forms of employment arrangements for the disabled have been adopted.

China's Law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities stipulates that people's governments at all levels should make overall planning for the labor and employment of persons with disabilities, and create labor and employment conditions for persons with disabilities. Disabled people's labor employment, the implementation of centralized and decentralized combination of policy, the adoption of preferential policies and support and protection measures, through multiple channels, multiple levels, multiple forms, so that disabled people's labor employment gradually universal, stable and reasonable. There are two main ways of employing the disabled in China, namely, social absorption and welfare enterprises.

2. Education for the disabled

The World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons states that Member States shall ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to education. This includes making education compulsory for children with the most severe disabilities; and allowing for increased flexibility in terms of age of enrollment, content of instruction, and examination procedures. The UN Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities state that in countries where education is compulsory, it should be made available to boys and girls in all categories and at all levels, including those with severe disabilities.

China's laws stipulate that the State guarantees the right of persons with disabilities to education, and that governments at all levels should make education for persons with disabilities an integral part of the national education endeavor, unify planning, and strengthen leadership. In accordance with the characteristics of persons with disabilities, two types of education are adopted: first, the general education approach. It is implemented for persons with disabilities who have the ability to receive general education. The second is the special education approach. The second is special education, which is provided to persons with disabilities who are not capable of receiving general education. In addition, education is provided in accordance with the physical and mental characteristics and special needs of persons with disabilities. The State establishes educational institutions for the disabled and encourages social forces to run and donate funds for education. The State organizes and supports the research and application of Braille and sign language, the preparation and publication of special teaching materials, and the development, production and supply of special teaching aids and assistive devices.

3. Rehabilitation of the disabled

The international community is of the view that a considerable number of disabled persons can be trained in functioning, self-care and labor skills in the context of the family and the community, as long as they are taught knowledge and methods of rehabilitation. Rehabilitation generally includes the following kinds of services: ① early detection of the condition; ② diagnosis and treatment; ③ medical care; ④ social, psychological and other counseling and assistance; ⑤ self-care training; ⑥ vocational skills training, vocational training, open recruitment and protected job placement; ⑦ provision of aids, mobility aids and other equipment; and ⑧ specialized educational services. In the rehabilitation of the disabled, it is important to emphasize their abilities and to respect their personality and dignity. Rehabilitation should be carried out in a natural environment, supplemented by social rehabilitation services and specialized rehabilitation institutions.

China's Law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities stipulates that the State and society shall take rehabilitation measures to help persons with disabilities restore or compensate for their functions and enhance their ability to participate in social life. Rehabilitation technology should be practical, combining modern rehabilitation technology with China's traditional rehabilitation technology. With rehabilitation institutions as the backbone, community-based rehabilitation as the foundation, and families of the disabled as the support, and with a focus on practical, easy-to-use, and widely rewarding rehabilitation content, as well as research, development, and application of new rehabilitation technologies, effective rehabilitation services are provided for the disabled.

4. Cultural life of persons with disabilities

The World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons states that Member States should ensure that persons with disabilities have the opportunity to develop their creative, artistic and social potential to the fullest extent, both for their own benefit and for the benefit of society. To this end, their participation in cultural activities should be ensured. Where necessary, special assistance should be provided, such as hearing aids for the deaf, braille books for the blind, etc. In order to enliven the cultural life of the disabled, the Paralympics, the Special Olympics, the World Deaf Games, the International Festival of Special Arts, and the International Intelligent Competition for the Disabled are regularly organized at the international level.

The guiding principle of China's cultural life guarantee for the disabled is that cultural, sports and recreational activities for the disabled should be oriented to the grassroots, integrated into the public **** cultural life of society, and adapted to the different characteristics and needs of all kinds of disabled people, so that they can participate widely. The state and society to take various measures to enrich the spiritual and cultural life of people with disabilities, mainly including: ① through radio, film, television, newspapers and other forms of reflection of the lives of people with disabilities, services for people with disabilities; ② organization and support of Braille reading materials, audio books for the blind, reading materials for the mentally retarded to write and publish, the opening of television sign language programs, adding subtitles in some film and television, commentary; ③ organization and support for people with disabilities to carry out mass cultural, sports and recreational activities, organize special art performances and special sports meets, and participate in major international competitions and exchanges; ④ systematically build places of activity for the disabled, and provide convenience and care for them.

5. Organizing welfare institutions for the mentally ill

Welfare institutions for the mentally ill are welfare institutions in China that accept and treat the mentally ill and are organized by the three departments of health, civil affairs and public security, respectively, to undertake the task of accepting and treating different objects. The mission of the civil affairs and health departments' welfare institutions for the mentally ill is to adopt the mentally ill in towns and cities who have no one to depend on, no source of livelihood, and no legal obligation to provide for their dependents, as well as to adopt the mentally ill whose families are unable to take care of them at their own expense. Mental hospitals are open to the mentally ill, i.e., they do not close, tie or lock them up, and they adopt labor therapy, recreational therapy, medication and psychotherapy, and apply these four methods in combination.

6. Activities to help the disabled

Public **** service organizations should provide care and preferential treatment for the disabled, including: ① disabled people should be given some care and convenience when taking domestic public **** transportation, or even enjoy a reduced fee or free service; ② blind people reading material mail can be sent free of charge; ③ disabled people applying for the opening of a retail store in the public **** premises or applying for a relief residence and parking spaces, their quotas should be reserved and approved on a priority basis; ④ the disabled or their dependents should pay taxes and donations, the government should give appropriate relief according to the disability level of the disabled and the financial situation of the family in accordance with the law.

7. Environmental safeguards

The Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities state that States should recognize the importance of accessibility in the process of equalizing opportunities in all areas of society. For any category of persons with disabilities, States shall: undertake programmes of action to make the physical environment accessible; and take measures to make the provision of information and communication accessible.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, a new architectural program - accessible design - arose in architecture. It utilizes modern technology to improve the environment, provide mobility and safe space for the majority of people with disabilities, and create an environment of "equal participation". At present, many countries have adopted the internationally recognized barrier-free design standards.

China's "Law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities" stipulates that: the state and society gradually create a favorable environment to improve the conditions for persons with disabilities to participate in social life; and gradually implement the design specifications for urban roads and buildings convenient for persons with disabilities, and take measures for barrier-free access, etc. In 2001, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the China Disabled Persons' Federation jointly issued the "Barrier-Free Design Specification for Urban Roads and Buildings," of which 24 articles are included in the mandatory provisions of engineering construction standards. Article in the mandatory provisions of engineering construction standards.

(II) Problems and Countermeasures for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities

At present, the welfare of persons with disabilities in China is still plagued by many problems, which are mainly manifested in the following aspects: the level of protection for persons with disabilities is relatively low, lagging behind the development of the economy and the society; laxity in the management of accessibility; poor care for persons with disabilities; ineffective sanctioning of the infringement of the legitimate rights and interests of persons with disabilities; and heavy tax concessions given to welfare enterprises in order to help persons with disabilities to find employment. The tax incentives granted to welfare enterprises emphasize form over efficiency, thus leading to some adverse effects.

At present, China's welfare services for the disabled problems, should focus on the following measures to solve: ① mandatory decentralized, proportional arrangements for the employment of persons with disabilities according to law; ② the city's main roads and large-scale public **** building mandatory implementation of barrier-free design specifications; ③ for the disabled to provide special services. Such as the opening of specialty stores for the disabled; ④ additional dismissal protection, giving the disabled special rest rights; ⑤ research, development and production of products adapted to the use of the disabled; ⑥ special attention to the disabled in rural areas; ⑦ the formulation of the "Protection of the Rights and Interests of Persons with Disabilities Law Enforcement Rules"; ⑧ to further emphasize the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. Efforts should be made to popularize rehabilitation knowledge among the disabled, teach training methods, provide affordable aids, and guide and help the disabled to carry out self-training at home and in the community.