A total 156 blind people from across the country have completed
their online training and obtained certificates that qualify them
as psychoanalysts. A course completion ceremony was held in Beijing
on Wednesday.
At least 50 others are continuing with the training, the first
of its kind that was started in October 2004. More than 200 blind
students from 20 provinces and municipalities enrolled for the
training, according to Wang Jianjun, an official with the
Employment Service for Disabled People under the China Disabled
Persons Federation (CDPF).
The students studied basic psychology, social psychology,
developmental psychology, mental health and disability, as well as
professional ethics and diagnostic skills, Wang said.
The students were provided with multimedia training material
that enabled them to follow the courses and interact with their
teachers through assignments and quizzes on a computer at home.
They were also able to communicate with work units or training
centers for the disabled in their communities.
"With the 'talking' books, I didn't even have to leave home to
complete my study and I was able to finish all the assignments,"
said Wang Jiaji, one of the students who completed the training
program and is now qualified to be a counselor. "I've learned the
basics of psychology and love the job."
Wang said some of his fellow students have already tried to
provide counseling services by running a hotline, website or
through an ICQ or online chat system.
The CDPF says China has about 60 million people with
disabilities, including 8.77 million who are visually
handicapped.
The country has intensified efforts in recent years to provide
these people with easier access to more information and
schooling.
The Shenzhen Business Daily published the country's first
newspaper supplement in Braille in 2002.
In 2003, China developed a Chinese Braille-based computer system
to cater to the increasing communication demands of the visually
impaired and those with eye diseases.
Education authorities have also prepared exam papers in Braille
so blind students can sit for the national college entrance
examinations.
(Xinhua News Agency February 10, 2006)