I don’t claim to have absolute perfect knowledge, and I sense that there is alot of truth in what you are saying, but from my own limited experiences and readings, all of that doesn’t seem to be nearly as common in China as it was years ago, and the situation has gotten much better over the past few years. I don’t want to and can’t call you a liar, and so far I have no reason not to trust you. I don’t live in China but I hope to move there eventually, and almost everything I’ve read is the opposite of what you are saying.
From my own research, the amount of support, whether by the state, social services, programs, and training has increased dramatically the past several years, and businesses have now become much more accommodating, and it’s basically almost every type of occupation that supports neurodivergent people in one way or another. Though that might be geared more towards adults, the institutional support for teenagers and children is drastically increasing as well.
I think that the abuse faced by autistic students has more to do with workplace culture and Chinese culture in general, rather than ableist abuse. But regardless, it’s still disgusting and wrong and still is part of ableism. I find it hard to believe that a teacher would abuse their students for whatever reason, especially learning difficulties, but I know that unfortunately it happens.
I’m on the spectrum, and I’ve read experiences from numerous autistic people in China that the country as a whole is surprisingly accommodating now, and that China’s mix of culture and socialist workplace organization makes things surprisingly easy for autistic people to find and keep jobs and function socially in daily life, and the people are very nice.
Things have absolutely improved in recent years and that’s the one bright spot with all this, I will say. But it’s still hardly to a good level. I’m actually really curious about where you read those things about the increases in state support, because while that’s amazing to hear what I found mentioned a lot of the opposite. For example, while state support for pushing childhood diagnosis is increasing, there is a painful shortage of trained psychiatric professionals able to work in the field and provide adequate care for autistic children. Something made worse by social stigmas and cultural associations.
The part about workplace and school culture is pretty exact sadly. The abuse isn’t purposeful, but it disproportionately affects and discriminates against neurodivergent children and adults. For example the beatings aren’t because teachers want to see an autistic student suffer, but because it’s “good” corporal punishment because neurodivergent students can’t behave, and their poor performance and exam scores reflect negatively on their career. So they attempt to “motivate” their neurodivergent student in increasingly more abusive ways.
It is definitely better then things were 20 years ago, but there is still a long ways to go. I’m happy to hear things are on track to get better, and I can’t wait for a brighter future for the neurodivergent community in China : )
There was a recent article on Xinhua that really touched me. I always caution to not believe everything I read, especially not automatically or completely, and I hate labeling something as “propaganda” but regardless, here is one:
I think it’d be cool if and when in the future, things hopefully improve and we could meet up. Could you put a good word in for me with Xi Jinping? Gotta get my Xibucks lol
I don’t claim to have absolute perfect knowledge, and I sense that there is alot of truth in what you are saying, but from my own limited experiences and readings, all of that doesn’t seem to be nearly as common in China as it was years ago, and the situation has gotten much better over the past few years. I don’t want to and can’t call you a liar, and so far I have no reason not to trust you. I don’t live in China but I hope to move there eventually, and almost everything I’ve read is the opposite of what you are saying.
From my own research, the amount of support, whether by the state, social services, programs, and training has increased dramatically the past several years, and businesses have now become much more accommodating, and it’s basically almost every type of occupation that supports neurodivergent people in one way or another. Though that might be geared more towards adults, the institutional support for teenagers and children is drastically increasing as well.
I think that the abuse faced by autistic students has more to do with workplace culture and Chinese culture in general, rather than ableist abuse. But regardless, it’s still disgusting and wrong and still is part of ableism. I find it hard to believe that a teacher would abuse their students for whatever reason, especially learning difficulties, but I know that unfortunately it happens.
I’m on the spectrum, and I’ve read experiences from numerous autistic people in China that the country as a whole is surprisingly accommodating now, and that China’s mix of culture and socialist workplace organization makes things surprisingly easy for autistic people to find and keep jobs and function socially in daily life, and the people are very nice.
Things have absolutely improved in recent years and that’s the one bright spot with all this, I will say. But it’s still hardly to a good level. I’m actually really curious about where you read those things about the increases in state support, because while that’s amazing to hear what I found mentioned a lot of the opposite. For example, while state support for pushing childhood diagnosis is increasing, there is a painful shortage of trained psychiatric professionals able to work in the field and provide adequate care for autistic children. Something made worse by social stigmas and cultural associations.
The part about workplace and school culture is pretty exact sadly. The abuse isn’t purposeful, but it disproportionately affects and discriminates against neurodivergent children and adults. For example the beatings aren’t because teachers want to see an autistic student suffer, but because it’s “good” corporal punishment because neurodivergent students can’t behave, and their poor performance and exam scores reflect negatively on their career. So they attempt to “motivate” their neurodivergent student in increasingly more abusive ways.
It is definitely better then things were 20 years ago, but there is still a long ways to go. I’m happy to hear things are on track to get better, and I can’t wait for a brighter future for the neurodivergent community in China : )
There was a recent article on Xinhua that really touched me. I always caution to not believe everything I read, especially not automatically or completely, and I hate labeling something as “propaganda” but regardless, here is one:
https://english.news.cn/20240402/3ed22a8b34a044d3af45a87c7034bb93/c.html
And a new one I just now saw:
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202404/16/WS661daa60a31082fc043c219e_1.html
I think it’d be cool if and when in the future, things hopefully improve and we could meet up. Could you put a good word in for me with Xi Jinping? Gotta get my Xibucks lol