With a total number of 999,000 disabled people accounting for 6.49% of the total population in Beijing, the city's "Sweet Home" project helps implement the government policies for people with disabilities and satisfies their demands and requirements, Zhao Chunluan, director-general of the Beijing Disabled Persons' Federation, informed the media at a press conference held at the MPC on the morning of September 3.

Approximately one million people with disabilities in Beijing represent a group of people with distinguishing features and the need of special assistance and help. The government has incorporated the livelihood of the disabled people into the social economic development plan so that the rights and interests of these people have been protected. Their rights for survival and for development have been maintained and safeguarded. During the period of the 10th Five-year Plan (2001-2005), more than 1.5 billion yuan (approximately 200 million US dollars) was invested in the improvement pf disabled people's living conditions so that they could enjoy more preferential policies, said director-general Zhao.

Among those policies, the policy for social security, including the policy for people living in the rural areas and the policy for promoting the employment of disabled people, and also the policy for encouraging disabled people to be involved in society without discrimination.

Launched in 2003 by Deng Pufang, Chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, the Sweet Home project offers extensive services to help disabled people in the areas of rehabilitation and employment and brings cultural and physical education to communities in need, thus creating an atmosphere of help and assistance.

So far, 150 demonstration Sweet Homes have been established and more similar facilities exist at a grassroots level. Thousands of disabled people enjoy performing rehabilitation exercises, receive vocational training, and some disabled people offer a warm contribution to their communities.

Sweet Homes is the comprehensive service platform that is most close to local communities. "In the past, individuals would stay home for extended periods. Today, with Sweet Homes, they can go out and enjoy all of life's blessings," Zhao added. Disabled people can enjoy a vast array of services such as rehabilitation, education, employment, social security, right protection, life care, cultural and sports activities, care support and accessibility in Sweet Homes.

If someone is blind and depressed, they can go to our sweet homes, where physical counselors can provide them with counseling so that they can have the correct attitude in dealing with difficulties. They can see how other disabled people live life and learn to overcome physical constraints.

There are three main sources of investment for the Sweet Home project. A large part of the investment comes from the government. The rest comes from society. According to the regulations on the promotion of employment among disabled people, organizations and businesses should pay money into a fund to help the disabled to get employed. Then donations from society are also an importance source, said Zhao.

By 2010, according to the commitment of the government, Beijing plans to build a Sweet Home for people with disabilities in every sub-district or township.