Zhang Haidi (left, 1st) talks to a child in treatment. [Photo/cdpf.org.cn]
Zhang Haidi talks to teaching staff at the rehabilitation center. [Photo/cdpf.org.cn]
Zhang Haidi reviews the digital platform on rehabilitation service of the center. [Photo/cdpf.org.cn]
Zhang Haidi, chairperson of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF), and president of Rehabilitation International, conducted a survey on the work on rehabilitation for children with autism in an early intervention center on autism in Beijing on April 15.
Zhang looked into details of the center's development, its work on autism rehabilitation and teaching staff provision. She also visited the children that are in treatment training at the center.
She pointed out that there is no cure for autism at present. The children with autism need long-term rehabilitation training and care. She stressed the need to implement the guideline issued by the State Council on the establishment of a rehabilitation assistance system for disabled children to relieve the burden of families with autistic children and build a good basis for their inclusion into society in future.
In her talk with the rehabilitation professionals at the center, Zhang commended their working ethics and said she hopes that they will work harder for better rehabilitation. As she said, talent is the key to building and developing rehabilitation institutions.
She also observed the center’s digital platform of rehabilitation service, saying resources like big data should be fully tapped to advance rehabilitation for persons with disabilities.
During her survey, Zhang urged the CDPF to prioritize work on autism rehabilitation, take the lead in policy research and standard setting, and support the establishment of public and private rehabilitation centers. Great importance should be attached to rehabilitation-related life science research, especially that on autism, she said, adding that a national research center on autism will be established to play an exemplary role in disability prevention, rehabilitation research and technology innovation.
