Attending to the effects of developmental delay is one of the most important problems for medicine and education in contemporary society. The degree to which attention is paid to developmental delay reflects a nation's level of civilisation. Until several years ago, research on developmental delay was minimal in China. Yet, there have been dramatic changes and significant developments since China's so-called "Cultural Revolution" (1966-76). By examining the changes that have occurred, we may be able to learn about the future for education (and specifically special education) in China.