Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Disabled Persons 

Chapter 1 General Provisions

Article 1 [Purpose and Basis]
This Law is formulated in accordance with the Constitution for the purpose of protecting the lawful rights and interests of,and developing undertakings for disabled persons,and ensuring their equal and full participation in social life and their share of the material and cultural wealth of society.

Article 2 [Definition,Categories and Criteria]
A disabled person refers to one who suffers from abnormalities of loss of a certain organ or function, psychologically or physiologically, or in anatomical structure and has lost wholly or in part the ability to perform an activity in the way considered normal.

The term "disabled persons" refers to those with visual, hearing, speech or physical disabilities, mental retardation, mental isorder, multiple disabilities and/or other disabilities.

The criteria for classification of disabilities shall be established by the State Council.

Article 3 [Protection of Rights]
Disabled persons shall enjoy equal rights with other citizens in political,economic,cultural and social fields, in family life and other aspects. The citizen's rights and personal dignity of disabled persons shall be protected by law.

Discrimination against, insult of and infringement upon disabled persons shall be prohibited.

Article 4 [Special Assistance]
The state shall provide disabled persons with special assistance by adopting supplementary methods and supportive measures with a view to alleviating or eliminating the effects of their disabilities and external barriers and ensuring the realization of their rights.

Article 5 [Special Assurance]
The state and society shall provide special assurance,preferential treatment and pension for wounded or disabled servicemen and persons disabled while on duty or for protecting the interests of the state and people.

Article 6 [Responsibilities of Government]
The people's governments at all levels shall incorporate undertakings for disabled persons into plans for economic and social development through budget arrangement, overall planning and coordination and other measures under strengthened leadership with a view to ensuring that undertakings for disabled persons develop in coordination with economic and social progress.

The State Council and the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall adopt organizational measures to coordinate departments concerned in the work for people with disabilities. The establishment of specific institutions shall be decided upon by the State Council and/or the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government.

Departments concerned under the people's governments at various levels shall keep in close contact with disabled persons, solicit their opinions and fulfill respectively their own duties in the work for disabled persons.

Article 7 [Responsibilities of the Society]
The whole society should display socialist humanitarianism, understand, respect, care for and assist people with disabilities and support the work for disabled persons.

State organs, non-governmental organizations,enterprises,institutions and urban and rural organizations at grassroots level should do their work for disabled persons well, as is within their responsibility.

State functionaries and other personnel engaged in the work for disabled persons should work hard to fulfill their lofty duties in serving disabled people.

Article 8 [Responsibilities of Disabled Persons' Federation]
China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) and its local branches shall represent the common interests of disabled persons, protect their lawfulrights and interests, unite, educate disabled persons, and provide service for disabled persons.

CDPF shall undertake tasks entrusted by the government, conduct work for disabled persons and mobilize social forces in developing undertakings for disabled persons. 

Article 9 [Responsibilities of Fosterer,Guardian and Family Member]
Legal fosterers of disabled persons must fulfill their duties towards their charges.

Guardians of disabled persons must fulfill their duties of guardianship and protect the lawful rights and interests of their charges.

Family members and guardians of disabled persons should encourage and assist disabled persons to enhance their capability of self-reliance.

Maltreatment and abandoning of disabled persons shall be prohibited.

Article 10 [Obligations of Disabled Persons]
Disabled persons must abide by laws, carry out their due obligations,observe public order and respect social morality.

Disabled persons should display an optimistic, and enterprising spirit, have a sense of self-respect, self-confidence, self-strength and self-reliance, and make contributions to the socialist construction.

Article 11 [Prevention of Disabilities]
The state shall undertake, in a planned way, the work of disability prevention, strengthen leadership in this regard, publicize and popularize knowledge of good pre-natal and post-natal care as well as disability prevention, formulate aws and regulations dealing with disability causing factors such heredity, diseases, medical poisoning, accidents, calamity and environmental pollution and adopt measures to prevent the occurrence and aggravation of disabilities by organizing and mobilizing social forces.

Article 12 [Award]
Governments and departments concerned shall award those disabled persons who have made notable achievements in socialist construction and those units or individuals who have made remarkable contributions to safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of disabled people, promoting undertakings and providing service for disabled persons.