China’s disabled acquiring inclusivity?

 

by Jason Anson

Communist ideologues that promoted China as a nation of healthy, strong model workers and farmers during the era of Mao Zedong spent a lot of time reinforcing prejudices against the disabled. Marriage was forbidden, forced sterilisation was common practice, as was selective abortion. China’s 83 million disabled are a largely invisible presence in a country where disabilities are still viewed as a source of shame in some families and many discriminatory practices continue. However, in Beijing, which has over one million disabled citizens, an extensive programme to improve accessibility at train stations, airports, hotels, hospitals and shops is facilitating inclusivity. Director of the city of Beijing’s Disabled Persons Affairs Committee Li Caimao admitted discrimination still exists but hopes the recent Paralympics will break down some of the prejudices.

“In the past 10 years, China has built more facilities for disabled people, and I feel China has paid more and more attention to disabled people. The laws to protect them have been revised this year. The government has made some policies to encourage disabled people to take part in society, and the attitude of Chinese people towards the disabled is improving.”

Cynics link China’s recent improvements for the disabled with the need to conform to Olympic standards n the short term. This is precisely what concerns Yang Yang, who has been in a wheelchair since a swimming accident at the age of 10 and lives in Chengdu in Sichuan province, where wheelchair access is primitive. 

However, he is optimistic stating,

“China has made a lot of improvements for disabled people. As to Chinese people’s attitude to disabled people, I think people have changed. The Paralympics will be an opportunity for China and Chinese people to pay more attention to disabled people. What worries me most is that all these good things, people’s attention and the many special facilities, cannot last forever. I hope these things are not just for a short while. I hope China can persevere in doing these things.”

It remains to be seen whether attitudes towards China’s disabled are more than just superficial window dressing. This BBC investigation gives some insight into this question.