Over 14,000 students with disabilities complete gaokao with some help

More than 14,000 students with disabilities nationwide successfully completed this year's national college entrance exam, known as the gaokao, thanks to tailored support from local education authorities.

The Ministry of Education had mandated that during the gaokao, which took place from Saturday to Tuesday, special services and necessary assistance be provided for students with disabilities or those facing challenges.

For instance, education authorities have provided Braille exam papers for blind candidates for 12 consecutive years, allowing them 1.5 times the standard duration to complete the exam compared to regular candidates.

Additionally, visually impaired students received large-print exam papers and answer sheets and were allowed to bring necessary aids or devices, such as Braille pens, handwriting boards and drawing tools.

Hearing-impaired candidates were exempted from the foreign language listening test and permitted to use hearing aids, cochlear implants and other assistive listening devices.

Furthermore, candidates with mobility issues were allowed to use wheelchairs, walkers and other aids, with those having special needs bringing their own specialized desks and chairs.

The Ministry of Education also stipulated that visually impaired candidates using large-print or standard exam papers, as well as candidates with significant writing difficulties due to conditions like cerebral palsy or other disabilities affecting their upper limbs, would have their exam time extended by 30 percent beyond the standard duration for each subject.

A statistical report on China's development of disability affairs in 2024, released by the China Disabled Persons' Federation, shows that last year, there were 12,491 students enrolled in regular high schools for special education and 26,872 students in secondary vocational schools for persons with disabilities.

Providing reasonable support for students with disabilities during the gaokao has become standard practice over the years. In 2012, only about 100 students with disabilities received accommodation during the exam. Over 13 years, this number has increased 140-fold.

Last year, 30,796 students with disabilities were enrolled in higher education. By the end of 2024, there were over 100,000 university students with disabilities nationwide, according to the China Disabled Persons' Federation.

In Sichuan province, 246 candidates with disabilities applied for assistance during this year's gaokao. In Ziyang city, local education authorities created a green channel for Jiang Xintong, a test-taker with paralysis of the lower limbs, allowing her to enter the exam room 30 minutes early and permitting her father to assist her in entering and exiting the exam site.

"I believe that through our efforts, we can also give back to society," Jiang Xintong was quoted as saying by Xinhua News Agency. After the gaokao, she began considering her major. "I want to apply for programs related to construction and transportation to promote more and better accessibility facilities, making travel easier for people with disabilities."