Disabled kids get gift of education

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 Rehabilitation Medical Center recently marked its ninth anniversary, celebrating a milestone of providing 390,000 free therapy sessions to 394 children. Of those, 112 children — nearly a third of the center's children — have successfully enrolled in mainstream or special education schools, a feat once considered impossible for many of their families.

Founded by entrepreneur Jia Xiufang, the center addresses a critical gap in rural and low-income healthcare: the prohibitive cost of long-term disability care. In China, a single 30-minute rehabilitation session can cost 40 yuan ($6), creating a crushing financial burden for families already facing poverty.

"I decided to build a free rehabilitation hospital because I saw families breaking down under the pressure," said Jia, who has invested nearly 90 million yuan ($12.4 million) to establish four such centers across Tianjin and Heilongjiang province since 2017.

She said the project grew out of a chance encounter with children with cerebral palsy over 10 years ago.

Hua Yinan, the center's first rehabilitation therapist, said she was drawn to the project after meeting Jia through charity work. Although she had a well-paid job elsewhere, she chose to join the center after hearing parents speak about their hopes for their children.

"Here, everything is free," Hua said. "That changes the atmosphere completely. Parents are less anxious, therapists can slow down, and the children are treated with patience and care. It feels more like a home than a hospital."

The center employs occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech specialists, and includes counselling rooms, rehabilitation facilities and classrooms. Early on, staffing shortages meant therapists had to be transferred from other provinces.

"Later, we thought, why not establish our own rehabilitation major? This way, we can train our own talent," Hua said.

In 2019, the Rehabilitation College was established at the vocational institute, offering six medical technology majors, such as rehabilitation therapy, speech and hearing rehabilitation, and rehabilitation nursing.

Currently, more than 30 full-time therapists work at the Tianjin center, while students from the vocational institute complete internships there as part of their training.

For many families, the impact has been life-changing. Du Haoming, one of the center's earliest participants, arrived with severe speech and visual challenges and rarely spoke. Teachers began with basic pronunciation exercises. He is now studying new energy vehicle technology at a technical school.

His grandmother, Wu Xiuqin, said the center had "saved our family". "He went from being unable to stand to walking with assistive devices, and now he's in school," she said.

Beyond rehabilitation, the center places strong emphasis on education. Children receive small-group lessons to prepare them for school life, with the aim of balancing physical recovery and learning.

"We don't believe rehabilitation alone is enough," Jia said. "Education gives these children dignity and a future."

Jia has also launched a charity clothing project, redistributing donated clothes to poor families while creating jobs for more than 40 parents of children receiving treatment.

For Du, the former patient now training in automotive technology, the future is clear. "I want to build my own career," he said. "Then help others, just like I was helped."

Chen Yijun and Wang Nanyi contributed to this story.

yandongjie@chinadaily.com.cn