China

Government responses

Mainstreaming of disability inclusion, participation, and partnerships

• [24 April 2020] The China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) has published a series of online articles based on stories of grassroots Disabled Persons’ Federations and workers with disabilities, showing how they have supported persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• [27 May 2020] CDPF, the Ministry of Finance, and three other government agencies have jointly issued guidelines on the well-being of persons with disabilities amid the pandemic.
• [30 October 2020] In the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, a hotline for persons with disabilities was established to enable them to contact local pandemic decision-making teams, who were held accountable for responding to reasonable requests quickly. 

Continued access to goods and services

• [23 March 2020] Rehabilitation institutions in Inner Mongolia Province have provided online training courses for children with autism, down syndrome, and other disabilities to ensure that they would receive an education despite the suspension of schools.
• [1 April 2020] Civil affairs authorities have handed out daily necessities and medical supplies to people who have been experiencing difficulties. The authorities have also taken care of older persons and persons with disabilities whose guardians or caregivers have been under quarantine or medical treatment.
• [19 May 2020] CDPF has issued a notice on institution services, recommending that offline services could be gradually resumed alongside online services in low-risk areas, but that rehabilitation centres for children with disabilities should not resume operation earlier than local nurseries.
• [8 January 2021] Community workers, health workers, and those work in elderly care and sanitation industries have been prioritized in the vaccination programme.

Accessible public information

• [n.d.] CDPF has established a dedicated website on COVID-19 to post news and good practices.
• [16 March 2020] CDPF has produced home-based rehabilitation exercise videos and a series of courses on psychological adjustments in collaboration with the China Braille Press.
• [20 April 2020] At a news conference on COVID-19, a staff member of the Beijing Disabled Persons’ Federation offered sign language interpretation services and wore a transparent mask to assist lip readers. The Federation has provided 24-hour inquiry services via mobile applications such as WeChat.
• [2 June 2020] CDPF has developed accessible video materials to help persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 crisis.

Social protection and employment support

• [7 March 2020] The government has mandated all allowances to be paid on time, including the allowance for persons with severe disabilities and the nursing allowance. The amount would be increased appropriately in areas where the pandemic situation has been serious.
• [16 March 2020] CDPF has issued a notice requiring Disabled Persons’ Federations at all levels to ensure the employment and basic livelihoods of persons with disabilities. It has been announced that rent subsidies, living subsidies, and relief subsidies should be granted to assist disability employment units such as blind massage workshops, auxiliary employment institutions, and individual businesses of persons with disabilities.
• [16 March 2020] CDPF has stated that enterprises should be encouraged through job stabilization measures and recruitment subsidies from the government to stabilize the employment of persons with disabilities.
• [23 March 2020] In Hubei Province, CDPF has reported that grassroots working groups have assisted persons with disabilities by bringing them anti-pandemic materials.
• [23 March 2020] The disabled service centre in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province has set up an online recruitment service platform for persons with disabilities.
• [1 April 2020] Over 35 million yuan (about $4.94 million) has been offered as special allowances to more than 13,000 people living with difficulties in Hubei Province.
• [15 April 2020] CDPF has announced that a further 53 billion yuan ($7.5 billion) would be allocated for a relief package targeting vulnerable groups. The funding would form part of the state benefits to cover basic living expenses.
• [22 May 2020] Further guidelines for safeguarding the employment of persons with disabilities in the wake of the pandemic have been released.

Last modified: 6 May 2021