chinese attitudes to persons with disabilities

A colleague was kind enough to alert me to an in-depth look at Chinese perceptions of impairments/disability. The Irish Times reports: “China’s 83 million disabled people are a largely invisible presence in a country where disabilities are viewed as a source of shame in some families, particularly in urban areas, and where discrimination is widespread. But the Paralympics are being hailed as an opportunity for China to deal with deeply held prejudices, and to act as a catalyst for improving the situation for disabled people.”

One positive step toward a more inclusiveness has already been taken: tourist sites such as the Forbidden City and public transportation have been made accessible with ramps and elevators. Granted, it is only the center of the capital city but it is a leap (sic!) in the direction of inclusion.