Recently, the Changzhou Economic Development Zone has innovatively created the first embedded ‘Home for the Disabled’ in the Changfeng Community of Dingyan Street – the ‘Dingxiang Home for the Disabled’. This ‘Home for the Disabled’ is planned and constructed in conjunction with the Changfeng Community Party and Mass Service Center and the Street Home-based Elderly Care Service Center, truly achieving convenient access where ‘the service door is just outside the home’.
The so-called ’embedded’ means integrating the ‘Home for the Disabled’ with the grassroots governance platform of the village (community) Party and Mass Service Center, relying on the existing facilities of the village (community) Party and Mass Service Center to establish a linkage mechanism of ‘Party Organization + Home for the Disabled + Community Grid’, integrating resources such as daytime care, supported employment, and cultural activities, achieving a unified management of services for the disabled and grassroots governance, and enhancing the precision of services.
Entering this nearly 1000 square meter space, the functional areas are scientifically and reasonably divided: there are areas for supported employment, rehabilitation training, cultural activities, and more. ‘Supported employment is a key focus in the creation of the ‘Home for the Disabled’,’ said a relevant person in charge of the Social Affairs Office of Dingyan Street. Currently, the street has reached preliminary cooperation with two caring enterprises in the area, developing suitable jobs for the disabled such as coil assembly and component polishing.
‘Now I can do 15 bundles a day, which is double what I could do at the beginning.’ In the supported employment area, Ms. Yan is skillfully completing the assembly of electronic components. As someone with an intellectual disability, she has found a sense of belonging in this ‘Home for the Disabled’ embedded in the community.
In terms of rehabilitation services, this place is not only equipped with professional equipment but also invites doctors to hold consultations monthly. Notably, eligible disabled individuals can also enjoy services such as free lunches and assistive device rentals here. ‘The lunch box with one meat and three vegetables is well-received by everyone,’ Ms. Yan added with a smile.
It is understood that the community has established a long-term mechanism of ‘Party Members Pairing to Assist the Disabled’: on one hand, a WeChat group for disabled services has been formed to ensure comprehensive policy promotion; on the other hand, a Party member liaison system has been set up to achieve immediate response to needs. Normalizing assistance services into the responsibilities of grassroots Party organizations continuously enhances the sense of gain and happiness of the disabled.
Relevant personnel from the Disabled Persons Service Section of the Changzhou Economic Development Zone Social Security Bureau stated that the successful operation of the ‘Dingxiang Home for the Disabled’ provides a model for embedded assistance services for the disabled throughout the district. In the next step, the Changzhou Economic Development Zone Disabled Persons Federation will promote more quality service resources to the community, allowing more disabled individuals to enjoy ‘happiness at their doorstep’.
Source | China National RadioEditor | Tang Binbin Initial Review | Pan Qi Final Review | Peng Lingli