An article authored by the chairperson of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) provides a systematic review of China's efforts to eliminate poverty among people with disabilities. It notes that by the end of 2020, more than 7.1 million registered impoverished disabled individuals had been lifted out of poverty, meeting the goals of adequate food and clothing, compulsory education, basic medical care, housing, and drinking water safety.
In the consolidation phase, China established a policy framework covering subsistence, development, and the enabling environment. On the subsistence front, a subsidy system for living expenses of disabled persons in need and nursing care for persons with severe disabilities was fully implemented. By the end of 2025, 10.723 million disabled people were covered by the subsistence allowance, and special hardship assistance reached 1.966 million people. The two subsidies benefited 11.98 million needy disabled individuals and 16.613 million severely disabled individuals. Additionally, over 1.1 million households at risk of falling back into poverty were included in monitoring and support programs.
To foster self-reliance, the special education system was strengthened, with the enrollment rate for disabled children in compulsory education reaching 97 percent by end-2025. Students with financial difficulties from disabled families generally enjoy 12 years of free education. Through diversified employment channels and vocational training, new urban and rural jobs for disabled persons stabilized at over 400,000 annually, and the employment rate rose by nearly 5 percentage points.
In terms of the environment, 1.47 million households of severely disabled individuals received home accessibility renovations, and over 3,000 websites and mobile apps were upgraded for accessibility. The coverage rate of basic rehabilitation services and assistive device adaptation services both stabilized above 85 percent, serving 42.4193 million and 8.0657 million person-times respectively.
The article attributes these achievements to a people-centered development philosophy and the approach of treating disability as an independent factor of poverty. It has shaped a governance model under Party leadership, government responsibility, interdepartmental coordination, and social participation, and built a law-based, targeted, and long-term support system.
Internationally, the article states that this practice enriches the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and demonstrates to Global South nations the feasibility of systematically addressing disability-related poverty at the national level.