China

Mandate

Our objective is to work alongside with government and civil society partners to provide direct support to the most vulnerable groups in the poorest areas of the country and lobby government and civil society for more policies targeting those areas. Our projects aim to develop more inclusive development policies where the rights of persons with disabilities to equal participation in society are respected. Concrete actions in the field of physical rehabilitation, access to education, access to employment and social integration are currently ongoing. We are also continuing to provide medical rehabilitation to the survivors of the Sichuan earthquake and support their social inclusion.

Situation

There are more than 83 million persons with disabilities in China and a majority of them live in poverty. According to the latest national sampling survey on disability (2006), the average annual income per person with disabilities is currently less than half of the average national annual income per person without disabilities. Only 1/3 of those needing rehabilitation services have access to them and 1/5 of those needing an assistive device can afford it. Similar figures apply for access to education and employment.

Background

Handicap International has been working in China for more than 13 years. Starting with emergency projects following natural disasters in Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, and Heilongjiang provinces, Handicap International progressively developed a longer term development strategy in the country in 6 different provinces.

Strategy

1. Direct support: rehabilitation, education and livelihood projects at grassroots level.
2. Lobbying. The organization advocates for more inclusive development policies, where the rights of persons with disabilities to equal participation in society are respected. Handicap International continues to work alongside with government and civil society partners, at both national and local level, to provide direct support to the most vulnerable groups and lobby for more policies targeting rural areas, where 75% of persons with disabilities live.

Beneficiaries

• Persons with disabilities and their families and caretakers
• Survivors of the Sichuan and Qinghai earthquakes
• Community actors, university students, rehabilitation workers, staff of Disabled Persons’ Organizations, teachers

Example

Within the framework of its community-based rehabilitation activities, Handicap International intends to encourage people with disabilities to actively participate in community and social life. The organization has worked in cooperation with the local authorities and associations for people with disabilities in Sichuan, Tibet and Yunnan. Awareness campaigns and training courses have been conducted in a variety of community settings. Support groups for parents have been set up, as have activities designed for young people and children with disabilities.