For children under 7 who have disabilities or autism, apply to the county-level civil affairs bureau for rehabilitation assistance.

The government has established a rehabilitation assistance program for children with disabilities and autism aged 0–6, covering surgeries, assistive devices, and therapy sessions. Initially, priority is given to children from low-income families; however, regions with sufficient financial resources may extend eligibility based on age or economic status. This early intervention window yields the best outcomes, so action should not be delayed until school age. Centers must be selected from the official list maintained by the civil affairs bureau.

There is no cost. Simply submit one application to the county-level civil affairs bureau and then choose a qualified rehabilitation center from the approved list.

According to the State Council’s guidelines, eligible recipients include children aged 0–6 with visual, hearing, speech, physical, or intellectual disabilities, as well as those with autism. This includes children from households receiving minimum living allowances, registered poverty-stricken families, or those under state care. Local authorities may further broaden eligibility criteria based on regional financial capacity. Funding levels are determined by each provincial government and adjusted periodically. This policy is grounded in Article 26 of the Regulations on Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation, which mandates free access to surgeries, assistive devices, and therapy for qualifying children nationwide starting in 2018.

Specific assistance criteria vary by province; consult your local civil affairs bureau’s website for detailed implementation rules. Approved centers are listed there as well. Authorities are required to monitor these facilities rigorously, maintain blacklists for non-compliant providers, and ensure accountability. Unlisted centers demand full out-of-pocket payments and offer no recourse in case of complications. This provision primarily benefits your child, qualifying under the secondary tier of support. Any center guaranteeing “complete recovery” must adhere to the restrictions outlined in Section 6 regarding paralysis treatment.

国务院 (2018). 关于建立残疾儿童康复救助制度的意见（国发〔2018〕20 号）. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2018-07/10/content_5305296.htm；国务院 (2017). 残疾预防和残疾人康复条例（第二十六条）. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2017-02/27/content_5171308.htm