The Historical Development of China Disabled Persons’ Federation
Disabled persons’ affairs in China developed in three phases.
1. Initial Stage (1949-1966)
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, disabled people begun to receive subsidies from the government, thanks to the stable society and developing economy. They also enjoyed political and basic living rights.
Around the mid-1950s, welfare factories and charity houses for disabled people, convalescent hospitals for disabled soldiers, and mental hospitals appeared in China. Education for children with visual and hearing problems had also been expanded. By 1965, the number of schools for blind and deaf-mute children had increased to 266, from 41 in the 1950s. Huang Naican devotedly designed the Chinese braille alphabet program, which was gradually carried out across the country.
The China Blind Persons’ Welfare Society, the predecessor of the China Blind Persons’ Association, was established in 1953, and in 1956, the China Deaf-mutes Welfare Society was founded. These two organizations assisted the government in carrying out self-help production, special education, medical rehabilitation, and culture and sports work. In 1960, they were combined into the China Association for the Blind and Deaf. Local subsidiaries were gradually set up in China, bringing the relationship between the government and disabled people closer.
2. Cultural Revolution Period (1966-1976)
The work for disabled people had come to a standstill during this period.
3. A new chapter of ground-breaking development (1978-now)
In 1978, following the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC, the country stepped into a new period with economic construction as the central task.
A series of significant measures have been put into force in this period. In 1978, the China Association for the Blind and Deaf resumed its functions. In 1982, the amended Constitution made rules for the first time requiring the country and society to help employment, life amenities and education for citizens with visual, hearing, speaking and other disabilities. In 1984, the China Disabled Persons Welfare Foundation was established. In 1986, the Chinese organization committee of the UN’s Ten Years for Disabled People Program (1983-1992) was established. In 1987, the nation-wide disabled people sampling survey was implemented. In 1988, the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) was founded as a multifunctional body with Deng Pufang as chairman and executive president of its council.
Since its establishment, the CDPF has achieved a great deal. In 1988, the Five-year Working Outline for China Disabled Persons’ Affairs was approved. In 1990, the Law on the Protection of the Disabled People in the PRC was passed. In 1991, the State Council approved and issued the Eighth Five-year Plan Outline for Disabled People Affairs and its 16 implementation programs, and in 1993, the State Council approved the founding of the State Council Disabled Persons Working Coordination Committee.
The current focus of work for disabled persons is to make rehabilitation of disabled people practical, easily accessible and widely beneficial by combining modern technology and traditional measures and providing disabled people effective rehabilitation service.
The disabled people’s undertaking in China has established a business system, working system, organization system and law and regulation system. Participation of disabled persons in their own progress has been greatly strenghened, and their living conditions significantly improved.
1. Initial Stage (1949-1966)
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, disabled people begun to receive subsidies from the government, thanks to the stable society and developing economy. They also enjoyed political and basic living rights.
Around the mid-1950s, welfare factories and charity houses for disabled people, convalescent hospitals for disabled soldiers, and mental hospitals appeared in China. Education for children with visual and hearing problems had also been expanded. By 1965, the number of schools for blind and deaf-mute children had increased to 266, from 41 in the 1950s. Huang Naican devotedly designed the Chinese braille alphabet program, which was gradually carried out across the country.
The China Blind Persons’ Welfare Society, the predecessor of the China Blind Persons’ Association, was established in 1953, and in 1956, the China Deaf-mutes Welfare Society was founded. These two organizations assisted the government in carrying out self-help production, special education, medical rehabilitation, and culture and sports work. In 1960, they were combined into the China Association for the Blind and Deaf. Local subsidiaries were gradually set up in China, bringing the relationship between the government and disabled people closer.
2. Cultural Revolution Period (1966-1976)
The work for disabled people had come to a standstill during this period.
3. A new chapter of ground-breaking development (1978-now)
In 1978, following the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC, the country stepped into a new period with economic construction as the central task.
A series of significant measures have been put into force in this period. In 1978, the China Association for the Blind and Deaf resumed its functions. In 1982, the amended Constitution made rules for the first time requiring the country and society to help employment, life amenities and education for citizens with visual, hearing, speaking and other disabilities. In 1984, the China Disabled Persons Welfare Foundation was established. In 1986, the Chinese organization committee of the UN’s Ten Years for Disabled People Program (1983-1992) was established. In 1987, the nation-wide disabled people sampling survey was implemented. In 1988, the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) was founded as a multifunctional body with Deng Pufang as chairman and executive president of its council.
Since its establishment, the CDPF has achieved a great deal. In 1988, the Five-year Working Outline for China Disabled Persons’ Affairs was approved. In 1990, the Law on the Protection of the Disabled People in the PRC was passed. In 1991, the State Council approved and issued the Eighth Five-year Plan Outline for Disabled People Affairs and its 16 implementation programs, and in 1993, the State Council approved the founding of the State Council Disabled Persons Working Coordination Committee.
The current focus of work for disabled persons is to make rehabilitation of disabled people practical, easily accessible and widely beneficial by combining modern technology and traditional measures and providing disabled people effective rehabilitation service.
The disabled people’s undertaking in China has established a business system, working system, organization system and law and regulation system. Participation of disabled persons in their own progress has been greatly strenghened, and their living conditions significantly improved.