China's first national special education resource center for children with autism is launched in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on Dec 11, 2024. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

China's first national special education resource center for children with autism was launched on Wednesday in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, marking a significant milestone in the country's special education development.

The center is located at Zhejiang Normal University in the province.

During the launch ceremony, officials from the Ministry of Education announced that Chinese children with autism are now fully integrated into the nation's special education framework, with ongoing efforts to enhance access to compulsory education for this group.

This year, annual funding per autistic student during the compulsory education period increased from 6,000 yuan ($825) to over 7,000 yuan, as outlined in an action plan for autism care and education promotion covering 2024 to 2028.

Jointly released by the Ministry of Education, the China Disabled Persons' Federation and other departments, the plan includes measures to strengthen inclusive education for children with autism.

A national monitoring system has been established to ensure that autistic children receive appropriate education and suitable accommodations. Major cities are encouraged to set up specialized schools for children with autism while expanding access to early childhood and vocational education. A teaching assistant system will be implemented to provide personalized support, ministry officials said.

To address the shortage of qualified educators, over 20 provinces have introduced special education teacher staffing standards. For instance, Shandong province has stabilized the teacher-student ratio for autistic children at 1:1.5.

Universities and teacher training institutions are being encouraged to develop autism education programs. Last year, Nanjing Normal University of Special Education in Jiangsu province established a dedicated autism education program, according to the ministry.

At the launch event, teachers from the Star Program — a public welfare initiative for special education introduced this year — were awarded certificates, and committee members of the national resource center were appointed.

The program has allocated an initial funding of 3 million yuan to support the training of autism educators and provide teaching services in central and western regions of China. A special education teaching award fund has also been established to honor outstanding teachers in autism education and related fields, the ministry said.

Additionally, China launched the Special Education section of its National Smart Education Platform for primary and secondary schools on Dec 3, marking the 33rd International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The new platform addresses the personalized learning needs of students with disabilities, creating a highly adaptable digital learning environment. It offers tailored services for schools, teachers and students with special education needs, while enriching the digital resources available for special education, the ministry added.