SPECIAL OLYMPICS POLICY SUMMIT CONVENES, SECRETARY SPELLINGS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SHANGHAI 000677 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/CM DEPT OF EDUCATION FOR ROBIN GILCHRIST E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV SOCI SCUL CH SUBJECT: SPECIAL OLYMPICS POLICY SUMMIT CONVENES, SECRETARY SPELLINGS SPEAKS SHANGHAI 00000677 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. (U) Summary. On October 3, U.S. Secretary for Education Margaret Spellings, Shanghai and Central Government officials, scholars from around the world and China, and famous entertainment and political figures met in the Shanghai Convention Center to convene the Special Olympics Global Policy Summit on the Well-being of People with Intellectual Disabilities. Chinese officials linked their support of the Special Olympics with China's efforts to build a "harmonious society." Academics described their research on the living standards of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and people's attitudes toward individuals with ID. Their findings reveal that people with ID are among the most marginalized in society and that many false beliefs about people with ID are still prevalent. Secretary Spellings highlighted that attitudes towards people with ID, particularly in the field of education, have made great strides. She also announced creation of a center to help colleges and universities develop and expand programs for students with intellectual disabilities. End Summary. -------------- -------------- In the Name of Love: Special Olympics in a Harmonious Society -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng noted that Shanghai was the first city in China to develop a Special Olympics program. Shanghai has over 70,000 people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and more than 50,000 of them have joined the Special Olympics program. Han explained that Shanghai's hosting of the summer games is an important opportunity to promote the cause of all disabled persons in Shanghai and encourage the community to reach out to the disabled to help them live with love and dignity. ¶3. (U) Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said that the Special Olympics program shows the international community's commitment to the concept of harmony. That China is hosting the summer games, Hui continued, demonstrates China's commitment to the promotion of a harmonious society. Hui asserted that the Chinese Government has already met the needs of its disabled citizens through its laws and will use the summer games to raise awareness of disabled persons' rights to new heights. The Special Olympics program is one of "spreading sunshine," Hui said. "We are all connected in the name of love." Hui reiterated China's commitment to using the Special Olympics to build a harmonious society. Hui said the Chinese Government will continue to support the Special Olympics and he expressed his hope that the summit "will achieve important results." ¶4. (U) Madame Tang Xiaoquan, Chairwoman of the China Disabled Persons Federation (CDPF),said that of the 180 million people with ID worldwide, 9.94 million live in China. She acknowledged that while in the West, children with ID are often regarded as "gifts from God," in China, they are too often seen as a source of shame for the family. She said that in 2000, China made a commitment to have 500,000 people participating in the Special Olympics by 2005. At the end of 2006, there were over 600,000. China's Special Olympics athletes now account for 25 percent of all Special Olympics athletes worldwide. China has, however, set a new goal: by 2010, one million Chinese citizens will participate in Special Olympics events. ¶5. (U) These Special Olympics athletes, Tang said, make great contributions to social harmony. As part of its effort to build a harmonious society, China is committed to supporting Special Olympics. Tang noted that many localities have included support for the Special Olympics directly in their 10th and 11th five year programs (FYP). Tang said that under the leadership of Deng Pufang -- the paraplegic son of former paramount leader Deng Xiaoping and President of the Federation who was also present at the event -- the CDPF has "achieved important results" and will achieve greater still. In accordance with the national 11th FYP, 100,000 children with intellectual disabilities and 50,000 parents, will receive rehabilitation training and financial assistance by 2010. ¶6. (U) Shanghai Vice Mayor Zhou Taitong said that of Shanghai's population of 70,000 with ID, 12,000 left school before the age of 16 and have returned to live at home. In an effort to alleviate the burdens this has placed on their families, Shanghai has established the "Sunshine Homes" program. Through Sunshine Homes, people with ID receive technical training, learn independent living skills, and get access to rehabilitation services. Zhou said that establishing health care and pension systems for these people is critical. So is making them employable in order to help answer the question of what will happen to these individuals when their parents pass SHANGHAI 00000677 002.2 OF 003 away. -------------- -- Secretary Spellings: Educating Children with ID SIPDIS -------------- -- ¶7. (U) During her keynote address to the Summit, Secretary Spellings noted the positive contribution Special Olympics makes to the lives of people with ID through celebrating mutual respect and the joy of sports. She highlighted great changes in the U.S. Government perspective in terms of education for people with ID. No longer is the question "can children with ID learn" but "how can we make sure people with ID succeed in school alongside their peers." Policymakers and educators now have the responsibility to educate all children. They must take on the policy of inclusion and ensure that children with ID are learning. ¶8. (U) Secretary Spellings cited two "landmark laws" governing the education of children with ID in the United States: the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which ensures students with disabilities have access to free and appropriate education and allows educators to customize plans for individual children; and the No Child Left Behind Act, which holds schools accountable for measuring the progress of all children, including those with ID. Secretary Spellings said that the latest national education report card confirms that America's schools are getting better. ¶9. (U) Secretary Spellings also announced that the Department of Education is putting up USD 1.5 million to create a center to help colleges and universities develop and expand programs for students with intellectual disabilities. The idea behind the program is to allow people with ID to enjoy meaningful and rewarding college educations and adult lives. -------------- Measuring the Challenge -------------- ¶10. (U) University of Chicago Professor Glenn Fujiura discussed his research on the U.S.'s ID population. Fujiura has developed an index, measuring access to education, employment, income level, and other quality of life issues, for people with ID. Using the general population as the baseline, he found that people with disabilities other than ID scored close to 75 percent, while those with ID scored only close to 40 percent, making them more marginalized than most. ¶11. (U) Senior Vice President of Special Olympics International Stephen Corbin and Vice Dean of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences School for Social Development Studies Yang Xiong jointly presented their findings on global perceptions of people with ID. They surveyed 9,000 adults in 12 countries and 16,000 youth in eight countries. According to their survey results, around the world adults: -- underestimate the competence of people with ID; -- believe that people with ID should live, work, and learn in separate settings than other people; -- recognize that the lack of services is a major obstacle to the inclusion of people with ID into mainstream society. The results of the survey among youth found that they: -- also underestimate the competence of people with ID; -- have limited contact with people with ID; -- are unwilling to interact with students with ID as peers; but -- are willing to have them in the same classrooms. ¶12. (U) Dr. Yang then focused on the China-specific survey results. The two men surveyed 4,064 junior high school students in 47 schools. They found that of those polled: -- 86 percent believe students with ID can make friends with students who do not have ID; -- 65 percent believe that students with ID can participate in athletic competition; -- 53 percent believe that students with ID can talk to students without ID about classroom assignments; SHANGHAI 00000677 003.2 OF 003 -- 44 percent believe that students with ID can handle their own money; -- 43 percent believe that students with ID can use technology like cell phones and computers; -- 37 percent believe that students with ID can act appropriately with new people; -- 32 percent believe that students with ID can be accommodated in normal schools. This was 20 percentage points higher than Chinese adults. ¶13. (U) When Chinese youth were asked about what they would be willing to do with a student with ID: -- 87 percent said they would say hello; -- 78 percent said they would talk with them; -- 63 percent said they would play with them outside of school; -- 61 percent said they would choose them for a team in gym class; -- 45 percent said they would talk with them about homework; --.44 percent said they would be willing to work with a person with ID on an assignment for a grade. The survey also found that 80 percent of China's youth want to learn more about Special Olympics and 74 percent want to learn more about ID. ¶14. (U) This message was cleared by the Secretary's delegation. KJARRETT