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News about disability affairs in China and East Asia
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BCI tech moves beyond research labs
BCI tech moves beyond research labs On a weekday afternoon, Cai Yuqingyan waits outside a kindergarten gate. For most parents, the moment a child runs into their arms is entirely unremarkable. For Cai, it is a hard-won triumph. A world champion in para swimming and canoeing, Cai lost her leg in a traffic accident before her third birthday. For decades, navigating life on crutches meant that even a simple, spontaneous embrace required careful physical calculation. That changed
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Man's metal best friend? Visually impaired people test robot guide dogs
MSN 24th April 2026 Man's metal best friend? Visually impaired people test robot guide dogs By Joe Rossiter The visually impaired in China are trialling robot guide dogs. The robo-pups can respond to their human's voice and communicate with them through a voice interaction system to allow them to move around safely. A trial run in Chengdu, in China's Sichuan Province, showed a woman holding the 'lead' as the four-legged robot led her down the street. Mounted on the four 'le
Chris McMillan
1 min read
China Tech. “Nature” Publishes Research Report on Locally-Developed Gene Therapy for Deafness
City News 24th April 2026 China Tech. “Nature” Publishes Research Report on Locally-Developed Gene Therapy for Deafness China Tech is a column dedicated to the innovations reshaping China – and, inevitably, the world. From cutting-edge AI labs and next-generation robotics to apps that redefine daily life, we explore the breakthroughs that emerge from the country's relentless drive for technological dominance. Some are game-changers, others cautionary tales, but all offer a gl
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Exhibit by autistic kids raises awareness
China Daily 16th April 2026 Exhibit by autistic kids raises awareness Young artists from special education institutions in Taiyuan showcase talent in dozens of paintings By ZHU XINGXIN in Taiyuan and CHEN LIANG In the northern Chinese city of Taiyuan, Shanxi province, a unique art exhibition recently opened, showcasing the works of children with physical and developmental disabilities. The event was aimed at raising awareness of the condition and fostering understanding, resp
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Study suggests olfactory system linked to autism
Taipei Times 16 th April 2026 Study suggests olfactory system linked to autism By Jonathan Chin / Staff writer Taiwanese scientists have linked abnormalities in the olfactory region of mouse brains with behaviors connected to autism spectrum disorder, using a novel artificial intelligence (AI)-based brain mapping technology. Academic Sinica Institute of Molecular Biology distinguished research fellow Hsueh Yi-Ping (薛一蘋) and Institute of Information Science associate research
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Shanghai unveils first vocational competence assessment for autism rehabilitation services
China Daily 4 th April 2026 Shanghai unveils first vocational competence assessment for autism rehabilitation services By He Qi Shanghai officially launched China's first specialized vocational competence assessment project for autism rehabilitation services on Thursday, during the 19th World Autism Awareness Day, addressing a gap in professional certification in this field nationwide. Led by the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau and evaluated by the city's vocational skills app
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Qinhuangdao panda-themed healing base offers therapy for autistic kids
Xinhua 2nd April 2026 Qinhuangdao panda-themed healing base offers therapy for autistic kids Qinhuangdao in North China's Hebei province has launched a panda-themed healing base offering nature-based therapy for children with autism through close encounters with giant pandas. The initiative, designed to ease anxiety and foster emotional connection, reflects the city's growing commitment to developing innovative rehabilitation approaches for autism, local authorities said. The
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Tech experts champion AI, bionics to support vulnerable groups
China Daily 28th March 2026 Tech experts champion AI, bionics to support vulnerable groups By Li Hongyang Experts at the 2026 Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing have emphasized the crucial role of cutting-edge technologies in supporting people with disabilities, calling for the development of a more inclusive society that effectively addresses the daily needs of this vulnerable group. They made the remarks at a sub-forum on Friday on the sidelines of the ZGC forum, one of China's
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Chinese scientists develop AI-powered wearable to help visually impaired people 'see'
MSN 23rd March 2026 Chinese scientists develop AI-powered wearable to help visually impaired people 'see' A group of Chinese scientists has developed a wearable artificial intelligence (AI) system designed to help blind and visually impaired individuals move through the world with greater independence and confidence. Detailed in a recent study published in “Nature Machine Intelligence”, the system combines real-time video analysis, audio cues, and haptic feedback to guide use
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Eye Patient Diagnosed With a Rare Genetic Disorder During Myopia Treatment
Shanghai Ai'er Eye Hospital doctors diagnosed a patient with a rare genetic disorder during severe myopia treatment and advised on genetic screening, cardiac care, and family planning. The patient consulted Dr Cai Jinfeng about laser eye surgery. But Cai found clinical signs of Marfan syndrome, an inherited connective tissue disorder that affects organs and tissues. This condition usually affects the heart, eyes, blood vessels, and skeleton. Marfan syndrome is characterized b
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Learning the art of seeing beyond limitation
China Daily 10th March 2026 Learning the art of seeing beyond limitation This February, I journeyed through Fujian province with Wang Yongcheng, a deputy to the National People's Congress and the only visually impaired member among nearly 3,000 NPC deputies. My aim was to observe his work, but instead, I gained a profound lesson in what it truly means to "see" the world. At 58, Wang, a native of Fujian, cannot see with his eyes. Yet throughout our travels, he demonstrated rem
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Free genetic screenings benefit expectant mothers
China Daily 3rd March 2026 Free genetic screenings benefit expectant mothers By Yuan Hui and Chen Meiling A government-funded screening program is helping families in the city of Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, identify potential health risks long before a child is born, or even conceived. The free package, valued at 4,286 yuan ($622.7), includes genetic screening before pregnancy, prenatal testing, newborn disease screening and follow-up health checks for children u
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Feeling the darkness: Journey in the Guangming Experience Hall reveals how empathy grows when sight taken away and listening begins
Global Times 6th February 2026 Feeling the darkness: Journey in the Guangming Experience Hall reveals how empathy grows when sight taken away and listening begins By Liang Rui Inside a "cafe," 25-year-old guide Liu Suwei handed out six small bottles and asked visitors to identify the scents inside. Yet after "losing vision," a Global Times reporter found that even familiar smells became strangely elusive. Jasmine, red dates… Scents once instantly recognizable at that moment
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Disabled kids get gift of education
China Daily 19th January 2025 Disabled kids get gift of education Free rehabilitation center in Tianjin helps 400 children with cerebral palsy into the classroom By yandongjie@chinadaily.com.cn A pioneering rehabilitation model in northern China is breaking the cycle of poverty and disability, successfully transitioning over 100 children with cerebral palsy into the education system through a unique "zero-cost" therapy and schooling program. The Tianjin Jinnan Boneng Rehabili
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Eight Years of Rare Disease Care. Collaborative Efforts to Safeguard and Sustain Compassionate Care
Health Promotion Administration, Taiwan 8th January 2026 Eight Years of Rare Disease Care. Collaborative Efforts to Safeguard and Sustain Compassionate Care Since 2017, the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) has implemented the "Rare Disease Care Program," integrating multidisciplinary care teams to extend services from clinical settings into patients' daily lives while linking families to long-term care and social welfare resources. The program currently serves over 8,500
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Action plan targets youth health issues
China Daily 5th January 2026 Action plan targets youth health issues China has launched a five-year action plan to improve the overall health of children and adolescents, targeting five key issues that include obesity, myopia, mental health disorders, spinal curvature abnormalities and dental health. The plan, jointly issued by the National Health Commission and 12 other government departments on Tuesday, sets a goal to effectively curb obesity among children and teenagers by
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Artificial intelligence unlocks silver screen for people with disabilities
China Daily 3rd January 2026 Artificial intelligence unlocks silver screen for people with disabilities By Li Jing The screening hall fell quiet as the film began. Soon, a steady narration described the gestures, expressions and moments that could not be seen by people with visual impairments. For them, cinema unfolded not through images, but through language. That calm, precise and unmistakably familiar voice belonged to Chinese actor Hu Ge, recreated through artificial inte
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Patient with cerebral palsy completes Chinese chess match via non-invasive BCI, marking world’s 1st application in national-level sports event
Global Times 30th December 2025 Patient with cerebral palsy completes Chinese chess match via non-invasive BCI, marking world ’ s 1st application in national-level sports event A cerebral palsy player competed in a Chinese chess competition while wearing a non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) device, marking the world's first competitive application of non-invasive BCI technology in a national-level public sports event, domestic media outlet Jiemian News reported on Tu
Chris McMillan
1 min read
The perfect integration of technology and humanity. The Brain-Computer Interface Chess Dream Realization Open Tournament was successfully held.
European Central Station 30th December 2025 The perfect integration of technology and humanity. The Brain-Computer Interface Chess Dream Realization Open Tournament was successfully held. On December 29th, at the site of the annual finals of the "Tian Tian Chinese Chess Cup" organized by the Chinese Chess Association held in Hainan, a special chess game caught everyone's attention. Han Binbin, a chess player with cerebral palsy from Chongqing, wearing a lightweight head devic
Chris McMillan
1 min read
Disabled athletes’ success an inspiration for all of Hong Kong
South China Morning Post 21st December 2025 Disabled athletes’ success an inspiration for all of Hong Kong Their achievements should wput a spotlight on the contributions people with disabilities across society can make and the support they need. Disabled athletes from Hong Kong deserve admiration and praise for their historic showing at the National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the Special Olympic Games. They stood out in the biggest edition yet of China’s equiva
Chris McMillan
1 min read
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