China's higher education is getting more accessible for the disabled, but students say more facilities for the mobility challenged are needed.

Zhang Haoyu, 25, a postgraduate student from a university in North China, suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic and inherited disorder characterized by fragile bones.

He underwent five surgeries when he was a middle school student, and now he can walk with crunches, and often uses a mobility scooter.

"My university life is similar to that of a common university student," says Zhang. "My body has not limited me that much."

The Chinese language and literature major is one of the estimated 8,000 students with disabilities in China's higher-education system.

Higher education was opened to the disabled in China in the 1980s. According to the China Disabled Persons' Federation, from 2008 to 2012, about 35,000 physically challenged students were enrolled in universities, colleges and vocational colleges via the national college entrance examination.

With support from the federation, Changchun University in Jilin province established the country's first Special Education College in 1987, offering separate exams for people with hearing or visual impairment. About 16 Chinese universities have such colleges.

It's common for family members of disabled students to live at the university to help care for their loved one. Zhang's grandfather accompanied him for his first year of study, but returned home when Zhang proved he was able to lead an independent life on campus.

"I'm grateful that the university takes care of me in many aspects," he says.

When he was a freshman, the university built an accessible restroom in his dormitory especially for him and the other disabled student.

The newly built teaching and dormitory buildings all have accessible facilities, although some older buildings don't have them. The canteen also has an elevator and ramps.

If Zhang had a class scheduled to take place in a building without an elevator, the classroom will be changed to the first floor or another building with an elevator.

This sort of consideration ensures that Zhang can access anything he wants to independently.

Zhang says academic studies and extracurricular activities are equally important. He often participates in campus campaigns such as the literature association's activities.

Zhang says the physically challenged students he knows can be split into two categories. One group enjoys mingling with others and making friends, just like him. The others study very hard, but are often lonely and communicate less with classmates.

"I hope students like me can integrate with classmates. For those who don't join campus activities, they've lost an essential part of their university life," he says.

Zhang says living in a dormitory helps him mingle with the class. But some students have to live in separate dormitories because of their physical condition.

"I really appreciate that the university doesn't discriminate against me or reject me with excuses," he says.

According to Chinese law, universities and colleges can't reject a student who has met the national admission standard because of their disability. However, it is not easy for them to pursue studies as some universities refuse them in spite of the law.

Zhang suggests physically challenged students consider their physical condition when selecting a major so their health will not affect their academic studies and they can negotiate with the universities with confidence.

"I hope more physically challenged people can receive better education to improve our group's capability," says Wang Sujing, 37, who has cerebral palsy. He finished his PhD in computers last year and works in a public institution in his hometown.

Wang says it's not easy for all universities to be considerate of physically challenged students.

Sometimes he had to travel to the fifth or sixth floor to attend class. "All this is OK for me, but for those on wheels, it could be very troublesome," he says.

Wang says it's necessary to build barrier-free facilities in all universities.

Zhang couldn't agree more.

"Physically challenged university students are the same as able-bodied students. They only need some support facilities, which are not so difficult for universities to construct, for example, ramps," Zhang says.

"There is still a long way to go, to ensure all physically challenged people have equal access to education. Society and government should offer reasonable convenience to them," says Cheng Yuan, head of Guangzhou Equal Opportunities Center, an NGO that aims to help all citizens receive equal education opportunities.

"For those who write slowly or have visual impairment, they should have longer exam hours or offer the use of a computer with screen-reading software," he says.

Cheng says all students should have the right to choose their major. But Special Education Colleges only offer a limited selection of majors, such as massage and music. "Integration education is important. The trend is that they should study in common colleges, rather than special education ones," he says.

xulin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 12/03/2013 page20)