Move to help disabled live independently

China has released its first national standard for foster care services for intellectually, mentally and severely physically disabled people who are of working age-from 16 to the legal retirement age.

The standard, issued on Wednesday by agencies including the China Disabled Persons' Federation, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the State Administration for Market Regulation, will be put into effect on Jan 1.

According to the standard, foster care services for the disabled fall into five categories: daily care and nursing; self-care training; social adaptation training; motion function training; vocational rehabilitation; and working skills training.

Feng Shanwei, a researcher with the China Disabled Persons' Federation, said the release of the standard is aimed at requiring foster care organizations to provide more services so that more disabled people can live independently, easing the burden on their families.