Program promotes self-respect for the intellectually disabled

Reluctance to recruit

Zhang Baolin, from the China Association of Persons with Intellectual Disability and their Relatives, said despite the incentive to be exempt from the fund, employers are still reluctant to recruit disabled people, especially those with intellectual disabilities, because of "safety concerns".

"To gain exemption, some employers pay disabled people a wage but ask them to stay at home, because the employers are responsible for their safety. Meanwhile, employers must educate able-bodied employees about equal rights and respect, which can be time-consuming," he said.

He added that blame also lies with some parents' concerns about the workplace adaptability of their disabled child and coworkers' prejudice against them.

Meanwhile, a number of policies are discouraging disabled people from entering the workplace. "In some cities, the disabled receive a monthly local government subsidy of about 2,000 yuan, but only if they have no other source of income. Given that the subsidy is about the same as the monthly wage, many decide not to work," he said.

An employee of the China Disabled Person's Federation, who preferred not to be named because his views are unconventional, said: "Compared with the physically disabled, the working abilities of people with intellectual disabilities vary greatly. Many are unfit for the workplace."

Xu, the special education professor, said support is crucial for those with the ability to work: "Few intellectually disabled people can keep their jobs without continuous instruction and assistance. This is where supported employment comes in."

Efforts expanded

To help more intellectually disabled people get jobs, the China Association of Persons with Intellectual Disability and their Relatives and other nonprofits are training more mentors and expanding the Supported Employment Program nationwide.

In 2014, the association began working with the International Labor Organization to train people with knowledge of psychology and social work as mentors for the intellectually disabled. "So far, about 400 are in place, and the number is expected to exceed 2,500 by 2020," Zhang Baolin said.

Feng, Lizhi's director, said the organization has been recruiting and training mentors since it was founded in 2000, and has expanded the program to five provinces, including Hunan, Shaanxi and Qinghai. About 90 people with intellectual disabilities have gained jobs with the help of their mentors. "We plan to expand the program," she said, adding that there's still room for development of the Supported Employment Program.

"The 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) is pressing for more employment mentors for the intellectually disabled, but it does not specify how to channel them to where they are most needed."