Qingdao carwash builds better future for people with intellectual disabilities
People's Daily
6th June 2026
Qingdao carwash builds better future for people with intellectual disabilities
For many adults with intellectual disabilities, one of the hardest challenges after growing up is finding stable work and living independently. In Qingdao, east China's Shandong province, a small car wash center is trying to offer a different possibility by helping young people with autism, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome gain job skills, confidence and a greater sense of self-reliance through steady employment
As a car slowly pulled into Xihan'er Carwash in Qingdao's Shibei district, it was soon surrounded by a group of car wash attendants. Tall in stature, they wore innocent smiles and had clear eyes, brimming with childlike purity. Among them was 26-year-old Wu Jilin, who immediately picked up cleaning cloths and got to work alongside his teammates.
"These young people have intellectual development disorders, including cerebral palsy, autism or Down syndrome," explained Cui Yonglan, director of the Chunyu employment assistance center for persons with disabilities, which is based in Shibei district.
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