If a child is under 7 and has a disability or autism, apply to the county Disabled Persons’ Federation (残联) for rehabilitation aid

The state has a rehabilitation-aid system for children with disabilities and autism from ages 0 to 6, covering surgery, assistive devices, and rehab training. Recipients start with families in need; where local finances allow, age and household-income limits can be widened. Aid under the rules runs to age 6 — do not wait until school starts. Pick the facility from the Disabled Persons’ Federation (残联) designated list.

Cost

No money. File one application at the county Disabled Persons’ Federation (残联), then pick one facility from the designated list.

Benefit

The State Council Opinions on Establishing a Rehabilitation Aid System for Children with Disabilities state that eligible recipients are children aged 0–6 with vision, hearing, speech, physical, or intellectual disability, and children with autism, who meet the conditions. That includes children with disabilities in urban and rural dibao households, registered poverty households, children raised in child-welfare institutions, orphans with disabilities, children with disabilities covered by extreme-poverty support, and children with disabilities from other economically difficult households. How “other economically difficult households” are defined is set by people’s governments at county level and above. The document also states that “where conditions allow, localities may widen the age range for rehabilitation aid for children with disabilities, and may relax limits on household economic conditions.” Funding standards are set by people’s governments at county level and above by local finances, numbers of recipients, and disability categories, with a dynamic adjustment mechanism. Applications go to the county Disabled Persons’ Federation (残联) where the child’s hukou is (or where the residence permit was issued). After approval, the guardian chooses a designated rehab facility. Designated facilities are selected by the Disabled Persons’ Federation (残联) at county level and above together with health, education, and civil-affairs departments “on open, competitive principles.” Costs at designated facilities are settled directly between finance and the facility. “Costs of rehab services at a non-designated facility that the county Disabled Persons’ Federation (残联) has approved go by settlement rules set by that federation with same-level finance.” Provincial governments were to issue local systems and supporting policies by the end of September 2018. The higher basis is Article 26 of the Regulations on Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (残疾预防和残疾人康复条例): the state establishes a rehabilitation-aid system for children with disabilities and shall “gradually make surgery, assistive-device configuration, and rehab training free for children aged 0–6 with vision, hearing, speech, physical, or intellectual disability and for children with autism” (nationwide, from 2018)

Notes

Aid projects and standards are set by local governments at county level and above; first check your province’s measures for rehabilitation aid for children with disabilities on the local Disabled Persons’ Federation (残联) website. Designated facilities are chosen by the federation with relevant departments; ask the federation for the list. The document requires the federation and departments to strengthen entry and exit oversight of designated facilities, run periodic checks and comprehensive assessments, and keep a blacklist. To use a facility off the list, get county Disabled Persons’ Federation (残联) approval first; how money is settled is set locally. Going without approval has no settlement rule in the document. The beneficiary is your child, second tier. Facilities that promise a “full cure” are handled under item 6 of this section (claims to cure paralysis).

Sources · 2

1. 国务院 (2018). 关于建立残疾儿童康复救助制度的意见（国发〔2018〕20 号）. gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2018-07/10/content_5…
2. 国务院 (2017). 残疾预防和残疾人康复条例（第二十六条）. gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2017-02/27/content_5…