This article examines important aspects of special education in the People's Republic of China today. To provide a context for understanding current practices, it first looks at cultural and historical influences on the development of special education in China. Next, it presents a current experience with the education of students with disabilities in Beijing and Shanghai. In conclusion, it offers recommendations for addressing challenges and promoting sustained progress in the further development of special education systems and models to educate students with disabilities in China.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Blackburn, S. (1994). The Oxford dictionary of philosophy. Oxford, UK : Oxford University Press.
2.
Chen, Y. (1996). Making special education compulsory and inclusive in China. Cambridge Journal of Education, 26(1), 47—59.
3.
Colleges open doors to special students. (2002, September 11). China Daily.
4.
Compulsory education law of the People's Republic of China. ( 1986, April 13). Ren Min Re Bao [People's Daily], p. 1.
5.
Deng, M., & Manset, G. (2000). Analysis of the “learning in regular classrooms” movement in China. Mental Retardation, 38, 124—130.
6.
Deng, M., Poon-McBrayer, K.F., & Farnsworth, E.B. (2001). The development of special education in China: A sociocultural review. Remedial and Special Education, 22, 288—298.
7.
Law ensures welfare of the handicapped. (2001, May 20). China Daily.
8.
Law of the People's Republic of China on the protection of persons with disabilities . (1990). Beijing: Huaxia Press.
9.
Li, Y.C., & Altman, R. (1997). Comparison of special education legislative mandates in the United States, China, and Taiwan. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 154—162.
10.
McCabe, H., & Tian, H. (2001). Early intervention for children with autism in the People's Republic of China: A focus on parent training. The Journal of International Special Needs Education, 4, 39—43.
11.
Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. (2003). Basic statistics of special education. Retrieved February 22, 2006, from http://www.moe.edu.cn/edoas/website18/info14301.htm
12.
Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. (2004). Report of national educational statistics. Retrieved February 22, 2006, from http://www.moe.edu.cn/edoas/website18/info14794.htm
13.
Mitchell, D.R. (1995, April). Special education policies and practices in the Pacific Rim region. Paper presented at the 73rd annual international convention of the Council for Exceptional Children , Indianapolis, IN.
14.
Moss, S. (Ed.). (1994). Aging and developmental disabilities: Perspectives from nine countries. Durham: International Exchange of Experts and Information in Rehabilitation, University of New Hampshire.
15.
Piao, Y.X. (1998). Nuli fazhan you zhongguo tese de teshu jiaoyu xueke [An attempt to develop special education subjects with Chinese characteristics] . Te Shu Jiao Yu Yan Jiu, 1, 1—3.
16.
Special education. (2001, August 18). South China Morning Post.
17.
U.S. Department of Education. (2000). 22nd annual report to Congress on the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Washington, DC: Author.
18.
Xiao, F. (1996). Teshu erton xinli yu jiaoyu [Psychology and education for special children]. Beijing: Huaxia Press.
19.
Yang, H., & Wang, H.B. (1994). Special education in China. The Journal of Special Education, 28, 93—105.
20.
Yun, X. (1994). China. In K. Mazurek & M. Winzer (Eds.), Comparative studies in special education (pp. 163—178). Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press.
21.
Yun, X., Piao, Y., & Gargiulo, R.M. (1995, April). Special education in the People's Republic of China: Characteristics and practices. Paper presented at the 73rd annual international convention of the Council for Exceptional Children, Indianapolis, IN .