Ruzhou has established three service platforms for physically and mentally challenged people in the city to help them in terms of rehabilitation, training, employment and poverty alleviation.

As a part of the Rehabilitation Service Platform, Ruzhou has established rehabilitation work groups for physically and mentally challenged people in the city’s 20 counties, townships and streets. The city has also appointed a rehabilitation work coordinator in every administrative village.

Meanwhile, the government has framed a cataract-extraction implementation plan based on an optimized working mechanism and assessment system. Lectures and training courses were carried out in grassroots units such as communities to popularize knowledge related to cataract rehabilitation. To date, a total of 1,500 cataract patients have regained their sight thanks to the plan.

In addition to the plan, the city has invested 62,000 yuan ($10,230) to relieve the burden of those who suffer from poverty and mental diseases.

Occupational training services have been opened for physically and mentally challenged people in the city. They are provided practical skills training by experts. Moreover, those who have taken part in the training will receive allowance for absent from work. According to statistics, Ruzhou held 15 training sessions in 2013 for 1,021 people. A total of 984 trainees got jobs afterwards.

By uniting resources from enterprises, organizations and charitable people, the city has established an initiative to support physically or mentally challenged students. Free education is being provided to pre-school children, while physically or mentally challenged students receiving compulsory education will be exempt from sundry fees and textbook charges. They will also enjoy accommodation subsidies at school, according to the so-called “two exemptions and one subsidy policy.” Children whose parents are physically or mentally challenged will also enjoy compulsory education benefits.

Statistics showed that Ruzhou has helped 53 physically challenged undergraduate students or children of physically challenged parents with a total of 85,000 yuan. Meanwhile, it has provided endowment insurance for 2,070 people who are severely challenged. A total of 200 disabled people also received free wheelchairs from government.