Autism's hard inclusion into Chinese classes

A lack of special education teachers, however, is the biggest problem in China hindering efforts to enroll autistic children into regular schools.[Photo/Xinhua]

RARE TREASURE

Ji's case is special. Only a handful of Chinese schools are capable of accepting pupils with autism, as their impaired social skills, poor communication and occasional "eccentric" behavior makes them stand out.

Changes are afoot, however. In Beijing, about 200 schools have opened "resource classrooms" in a response to a February policy by the Ministry of Education on special education facilities.

Dongtieying school received a government grant of 500,000 yuan ($77,300). They used part of the money to open a resource classroom, equipped with facilities for the school's five students that have learning difficulties.

The school trained a special education teacher and instilled an ethos characterized by acceptance across the school, said Yan Liping, vice headmaster.

"We told our teachers that special kids like Ji are a rare treasure, and teaching them will greatly enrich their working experience ," Yan said.

Zhang Xu, associate professor of special education with Beijing Union University, agrees that inclusion not only benefits children with disabilities, but also other children and teachers.

"Such experiences will teach them (non-disabled children) how to live in a diverse world and with people who are different from them," Zhang said.