On the afternoon of June 15, 2012, 2012 Forum on Social Organization Construction for People with Disabilities was held in the lecture hall of Yifu Library at Beijing University of Technology, sponsored by Beijing University of Technology and Beijing Disabled Persons’ Federation.

Wang Shoufa, Party Secretary of Beijing University of Technology, stated that collaboration between Beijing Disabled Persons’ Federation and Beijing University of Technology would represent pioneering of a new service area for Beijing and a move toward implementation of “service for Beijing” project; meanwhile, it would help promote the work for people with disabilities.

Ms. Wu Wenyan, Chair of the Beijing Disabled Persons’ Federation made a speech at the opening ceremony. She pointed out that it would be a new task and new demand to well organize the social organizations, and promote construction of the service system for people with disabilities in Beijing. Further, she urged the various levels of the Disabled Persons’ Federation to expand, diversify and strengthen works serving people with disabilities, so as to continuously raise the professional and scientific level of the social organizations serving those with disabilities.

A speech was given by Lu Xueyi, a well-known sociologist, Honorary Academician of CASS, and Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences of Beijing University of Technology. He pointed out that a new stage focusing on social construction had arrived, which would require social organization; provision of social services to people with disabilities would also require involvement of social organization. For the past few years, Beijing Disabled Persons’ Federation has made numerous explorative attempts on construction of social organization for people with disabilities, which has been beneficial in various ways, including drawing lessons for its nation-wide promotion. He hoped Beijing Disabled Persons’ Federation to take a lead in the social organization of people with disabilities, which would also contribute to social construction in China.

The opening ceremony was presided by Yang Ru, Party Secretary of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences of Beijing University of Technology.

Representatives from seven social organizations providing service to people with disabilities shared their work experiences, on which Professors Tang Jun and Shi Xiuyin made insightful comments.

Prior to the Forum, “Beijing Research Center for Social Organization of People with Disabilities” was inaugurated by officials of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Beijing Disabled Persons’ Federation and Beijing University of Technology. This marked the establishment of the very first social organization for people with disabilities in Beijing, as well as a move toward higher professional and scientific levels.

Attended the forum were more than 230 representatives from nearly 200 social organizations of people with disabilities, and officials and scholars from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, China Disabled Persons’ Federation, the Committee of Social Work of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Party, and Remin University of China.

The Forum was presided by Professor Tang Jun, Associate Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences of Beijing University of Technology.