Deng Pufang (L2), vice chairman of the State Council Working Committee on Disability, briefs the press in Beijing on Dec. 1, 2006.  [Xinhua Photo]

Deng Pufang, vice chairman of the State Council Working Committee on Disability, briefs the press in Beijing on Dec. 1, 2006.  [Xinhua Photo]

Deng Pufang, vice chairman of the State Council Working Committee on Disability, briefs the press in Beijing on Dec. 1, 2006.  [Xinhua Photo]

At the press conference sponsored by the State Council Information Office on December 1, 2006, Deng Pufang, chairman of the Leading Group of the Second National Survey on Disability, vice chairman of the State Council Working Committee on Disability, chairman of China Disabled Persons' Federation, briefed the press on the results of the Second National Survey on Disability and the recent development of the work for disabled persons in China. He also answered questions from the press.

Speech by Deng Pufang, vice chairman of the State Council Working Committee on Disability

December 1, 2006

Ladies and gentlemen,

Since China conducted its First National Disability Sample Survey in 1987, great changes have taken place for disabled people in terms of number, structure, geographic distribution, causes of disability and living conditions. In order to keep abreast of their most recent development and to provide the necessary reference basis for lawmaking, development planning and policy-making in the field of disability, the State Council authorized to conduct the Second China National Disability Sample Survey in 2006-2007.

The survey reference time was zero hour, April 1st, 2006. Great efforts had been made over two year’s time in preparations, such as setting up the survey organizations, making survey plans, designing sample sizes and selecting samples, updating the disability standard classifications, training enumerators and conducting test survey. The Survey started on April 1st and ended on May 31. 738 survey teams were organized, comprising more than 20,000 enumerators, nearly 6,000 doctors of various specialties and more than 50,000 survey assistants. The survey teams visited each of the sampled households in 5,964 scientifically sampled urban and rural areas throughout China, conducting interviews, screening and assessments on disability status.Among 2,526,145 persons visited in 771,797 households, 83.46 percent were interviewed face to face. Of those aged 7 and above, 15.66 percent were screened out as suspected disabled persons and 99.15 percent of them were examined by medical specialists.

The Survey covers the following contents concerning disabled persons in different parts of China, the number, structure, geographic distribution, causes of disability, living environment, rehabilitation, employment and education. Three questionnaires were used in the Survey:

1. The Questionnaire for Household, surveying the basic population situation and the social and economic characteristics of all people in the surveyed communities.

2. The Questionnaire for Disabled Persons, identifying disability categories, classifications and causes of surveyed disabled persons through investigation and medical examination, and surveying their rehabilitation, education, employment, marital status, family, social participation and major needs;

3. Community Questionnaire, focusing on the community service resources available for disabled persons. There were all together 52 survey items in the three questionnaires with the focal points on the causes of disability, living conditions and main needs.

The major data tabulation work has now been completed.It is estimated that the number of disabled persons with different categories of disability in the mainland is 82.96 million, representing 6.34 percent of the total population in the country. The numbers of disabled persons in different categories and the proportion of each category to total disabled population are given in the Communiqué on Major Statistics which had been distributed to you. Compared with the First National Sample Survey on Disability conducted in 1987, there were some changes in the numbers, proportions and structure of the disabled population and brief explanations are given in the Communiqué. Further analyses will be carried out later when more detailed data are tabulated and more related information is obtained.

Ladies and gentlemen, the government always shows solicitude for disabled persons and attaches great importance to the work on disability. Over the past two decades or more, the government has taken a series of major political, economical, legal and administrative measures to ensure the protection of the rights of disabled persons and improvement of their living conditions. Along with the rapid economic development and the overall social progress in China, the living and development conditions of the disabled persons have been notably improved; the social attitudes at large towards the disabled persons have profoundly changed; the environment and conditions for their equal participation and social life have increasingly improved. China’s efforts for the work of disabled persons and the protection of their rights have been highly valued by the international community.

The Second National Sample Survey on Disability is another major action by the government in building a socialist harmonious society, safeguarding the equal rights of disabled persons and promoting the work on disability. With the reliable information and extensive data obtained from this Survey, the government departments concerned will review the existing policies, plans and programs for disabled persons and make appropriate adjustments. We will solicit suggestions and proposals for effective measures to further strengthen the work on disability, to bring about the further improvement in their conditions, and to promote their equality, participation and common benefit.

Ladies and gentlemen, my colleagues and I will be pleased to answer your questions.