Paraplegic girl finds new life with Sweet Home Neighborhood Program
3/9/2008 17:43
Beijing girl Li Nan was not beaten by the tremendous change of lifestyle
after being paralyzed in a car accident five years ago, and she now lives a
whole new life with the Sweet Home Neighborhood Program.
"The life without
walking legs has not been like in the hell to me. On the contrary, I have
received more attention and been taken good care of after becoming a disabled
person," Li, with a peaceful smile, told a press conference ahead of the
Paralympic Games in Beijing today.
"Sweet Home, the neighborhood organization
that supports people with a disability, has helped me a lot in having a positive
life, and now I am working under the program and helping other disabled
persons," added the Beijing native, who was paralyzed by a traffic accident in
January 2003.
Launched by Deng Pufang, Chairman of China Disabled Persons'
Federation, the Sweet Home program offers extensive services to help the
disabled people in rehabilitation and employment and brings cultural and
physical education to needed communities to create an atmosphere of help and
assistance.
The 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.
"I got through the most difficult time short after the accident,
learned how to live as a disabled and now enjoy a better social life in 'Sweet
Home'," said Li.
Before the Sept. 6-17 Paralympic Games, more than 1,400
Sweet Homes of varied kinds have been established by the Beijing Municipal
Government in sub-districts and residential communities to further improve the
local work that supports people with disabilities.
A hundred and fifty
community centers have been built under the Sweet Home program, totaling 45,814
square meters and spreading over 18 districts and counties in Beijing.
These
direct services now benefit 45,000 people with disabilities.
"Sweet Homes is
the closest comprehensive service platform established in the local
communities," said Zhao Chunluan, Chief Director of Beijing Disabled Persons'
Federation.
"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," she
added.
By 2010, Beijing plans to build a Sweet Home for people with
disabilities in every sub-district or township, said Zhao.
Xinhua
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