China to Expand Autism Support with Early Screening

Beijing (ANTARA) - China will increase support for people with autism over the next five years, expanding early screening and intervention services for children and improving the availability of special education programmes, an official said on Monday (27 July).

The measures form part of a wider effort to improve services for persons with disabilities during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

This includes a national initiative to provide support throughout the life cycle of people with autism, covering early diagnosis, appropriate rehabilitation and education, said Zhou Changkui, Chairman of the Executive Council of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF), at a press conference.

To that end, China will implement standardised autism screening and intervention services for children aged 0-6.

This includes ensuring that every prefecture-level region has the capacity to provide rehabilitation assistance for children with autism, and supporting provincial capitals and major cities in building special education schools for children with the condition, Zhou said.

Earlier this month, China unveiled its plan for the protection and development of persons with disabilities during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, listing full life-cycle support for people with autism as a specific initiative in the national plan.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by difficulties in social interaction, restricted interests and repetitive behaviour.

The disorder remains a global challenge, with its causes still not fully understood and no widely effective cure available.

Rehabilitation intervention is currently believed to be the only evidence-backed approach to managing the condition, and early intervention — for children under six years of age — is considered crucial due to greater brain plasticity and stronger potential for developmental improvement.

China currently has more than 13 million people with autism, with the condition accounting for the largest proportion among other mental disabilities in the country, according to official data.

The country has introduced free education from preschool through to senior high school for children with autism from families facing financial hardship.

As of April this year, the country had designated 61 pilot zones for special education reform and established 17 special education schools for children with autism nationwide.