By Ji Lina
Now, the disabled residents could apply for service items in the nearest community service center to their home, while in the past, these affairs could only be handled in the Sub-district Federation of the Disabled. Since the second half of 2014, Quyang Road Sub-district and Liang-cheng-xin-cun Sub-district had become the first Sub-districts in Hongkou District to initiate this pilot program. Currently, this program is running well and has provided convenience to the disabled residents. Hongkou District Federation of the Disabled said, it is expected that this measure would be promoted in the entire district in this year.
Auxiliary tools by the service windows
To make this program workable in community service center, Hongkou District Federation of the Disabled has made preparation for various affairs at the initial stage, e.g. software debugging, staff training, publicity and notice. After making an overview on affairs related to the disabled, Hongkou District Federation of the Disabled determined the specific procedures and policies on handling 23 service items, which covered a wide range, including rehabilitation programs, e.g. home-caring for the disabled, and rights protection programs, e.g. application for certificate of the disabled. Statistics showed that since this pilot program was initiated, the top-3 service items that most people applied for were reimbursement of medical expenses for severely disabled and unemployed people, application for certificate of the disabled and application for auxiliary tools.
In order to provide better services to the disabled residents, Hongkou District Federation of the Disabled made an overall check on all barrier-free facilities in the community service center and distributed common auxiliary tools by the service windows. “For example, we would give electronic writing pad by the service window to people with hearing disorders and help them communicate with staffs,” said an official of the Department of Rehabilitation of Hongkou District Federation of the Disabled.
Enhance sense of belonging to the community
“In the past, all affairs related to the disabled were handled by the Sub-district Federation of the Disabled. Since we began to handle these affairs in the community service center, first, we could provide the same kind of public services to the disabled and enhance their sense of belonging to the community; second, when the disabled people need to apply for other community services, they could send application in the community service center, and do not have to go to both places,” said the official of the Department of Rehabilitation of Hongkou District Federation of the Disabled. In the next step, Hongkou District Federation of the Disabled will gradually expand this service to all Sub-districts in Hongkou District after summarizing the experiences of the pilot program.