China unveils 5-year plan for better rehab, schooling for autistic children
- Coordinated approach aims to strengthen services to promote healthy growth and all-round development
The Autism Children Care Promotion Action plan was jointly released last week by the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, the Ministry of Education, and top public health bodies, with a pledge to increase rehabilitation services.
According to the notice announcing the plan, some regions and departments have achieved “remarkable results” in recent years to improve screening and diagnosis, as well as rehabilitation and education levels, but there were still “outstanding difficulties and problems”.
Over the next five years, the plan aims to further strengthen services to promote healthy growth and all-round development of children with autism, the notice said. “We will strengthen overall planning, coordination and linkage, and resource integration,” it said.