Transcript Sichuan Mian Zhu Rehabilitation Project

Access to services
Experience of Handicap International in China
Presentation at Seminar on access to services in challenging environments
Amman, December 2009
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1. Background on disability in China
• 83 million people with disabilities, representing more
than 6% of the total population (= population of Germany)
• 75% of them live in rural areas (= higher than average
proportion)
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Sources: Second China Sampling Survey on Disability, 2006
1. Background on disability in China
• Although there is strong political will, clear regulations and a well
organized national system (CDPF):
• Only 1/3 of people with disabilities needing rehabilitation
services receive them
• Only 1/5 of people with disabilities needing assistive devices
have access to such devices
• Similar figures for access to education and employment
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Sources: Second China Sampling Survey on Disability, 2006
2. Presentation of Handicap International in China
• Presence in China since 1998
• Promote the rights and socioeconomic inclusion of people
with disabilities, especially in
rural and poor areas
• Main areas of work :
• Prevention
• Rehabilitation
• Inclusion
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2. Presentation of Handicap International in China
• Current projects in Tibet, Sichuan and Guangxi
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3. Why did we decide to work on access to services
• Past: historic involvement in direct
implementation of physical rehabilitation centers
for people with leprosy
• Now:
– National statistics show a clear need
– Lack of disability professionals (e.g. study of Renmin
University)
– Focus of national and local authorities on quantity
rather than quality
– Lack of financial access to mainstream and
specialized services in rural areas
– Specific requests from partners who really see an
added value from HI in this field
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4. How did your action contribute to improving access to
services
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Action at both local (service providers) and
national level (lobby)
– Lobby at national level
– Collaboration with national/provincial regulators
– Credibility gained on direct services to beneficiaries
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Pilot project – continuous focus replication
opportunities
Work with existing regulations and systems 
do not reinvent the wheel
Progressive approach:
1. Focus on technical know-how
2. Focus on management
3. Focus on financial accessibility (e.g. conference on
social security and services)
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4. How did your action contribute to improving access to
services
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5. Which partners do you work with
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National and provincial Disabled Persons
Federations (both regulator and service
provider )
National and provincial Rehabilitation Research
Centers
Departments of Education, Labor and Poverty
Alleviation
Universities and academic research institutes
Associations of professionals (e.g. CARM)
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6. Challenges
• Time and investment needed to make pilot
projects official recognized and replicated
• Lack of qualified and motivated staffs in rural
areas
• Training provided by foreign experts are not
officially recognized
• Lack of professional standards of many
specialized disability professions
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Thank You !
谢谢！
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