Children with Special Needs

Although the country's population has grown in the past ten years, the size of child population has been on the decline. The government has also taken measures to prevent birth defects and child injuries to reduce the incidence of disability. However, considering the risk factors that lead to disability is increasing. In 2018, the number of children with special needs is almost the same as the 2006 survey, which is 5 million children(Source：Children in China: An Atlas of Social Indicators, 2018. National Working Committee on Children and Women, National Bureau of Statistics, UNICEF).

In June 2016, the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the Poverty Alleviation Office of the State Council jointly formulated the Implementation Plan for Providing Targeted Rehabilitation Services for People with Disabilities. In June 2018, the Opinions of the State Council on Establishing a System of Providing Rehabilitation Assistance to Children with Disabilities was released to fully implement the said rehabilitation assistance system in October 1, 2018. In 2019, the China Disabled Persons’ Federation launched a platform where information about rehabilitation assistance is made available to the public and allows parents to apply online for rehabilitation support, further improving the access to rehabilitation and assistance services for children with special needs. 

Children have the rights to survival, protection, development and participation. However, it is difficult for most children with special needs to enjoy these rights equally. To meet the needs of these children who live among communities or in welfare homes, World Vision have projects to support the rehabilitation needs of children whose families are unable to support them, or who are orphans. We also work with local partners to build their capacity and provide equipment and facilities to create effective rehabilitation environments.

Currently, World Vision's projects are located in Tianjin, Guangxi and Shaanxi:

• Walk with you! (伴你同行!) Rehabilitation Project for children with special needs in Guangxi, Shaanxi and Tianjin
• Shared community! (共享小区!) community inclusiveness for children with special needs project
• Programs to promote the well-being of children and youth with special needs  
• Rehabilitation and education project for orphans with special needs in Guangxi
• Community development projects that are inclusive of children with special needs in Guangxi
• Rehabilitation projects in Tianjin and Guangxi

At the end of 2020, World Vision China launched a Disability National Program which aims to improve the quality of care and rehabilitation for children with special needs in welfare homes and rehabilitation institutions. We also work to strengthen assistance support for these children in the communities we work in, especially in counties that lack resources in this area.