China makes continuous efforts to make education inclusive

Yang Yang, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), is interviewed ahead of the opening of the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

China has made continuous efforts in promoting rehabilitation services and inclusive education for people with disabilities to help them live a better life.

Yang Yang, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top advisory body, said that she herself is a beneficiary of improved education and policies for disabled people.

"I have a severe hearing disability, with which I couldn't correct my pronunciation. Hearing disabilities are like a glass wall separating us from people who can hear," she said. "But thanks to the development of hearing-aid devices and an improved accessible environment, also the rehabilitation services and inclusive education, people with hearing disabilities can also speak and talk."

She said that she lost her hearing when she was four years old and she experienced hardships in her schooling years and careers. "I was refused by many normal schools and whenever I got the chance for conditional admission, I kept staring at the teacher's mouth during class to imitate their pronunciation. I have been wearing hearing-aid devices and a cochlear implant since.

"I'm very pleased that the improved inclusive education, which allows children with disabilities to enter normal schools, helped us live lives. Now, our peers have the ability to work in different professions such as doctors and deliverymen, which we could of never imagined before," she said.

She said that she and her peers are also taking an active part in charitable careers and contributing their suggestions to the legislation of accessible environment.