A stall owner 'speaks' through smiles and gestures in Zhejiang province. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

Quzhou in Zhejiang province is set to enforce China's first local law focused on social services for the differently-abled. The ordinance will take effect on May 1, officials announced at a news conference on April 24.

The ordinance builds a full-service framework covering rehabilitation, employment, income support, transport, home care, culture, and sports. It aims to offer practical, compassionate support across the entire life cycle of differently-abled individuals.

To make the law accessible, a Braille version was displayed at the event, alongside a full-time sign language interpreter — clear signs of the ordinance's people-first approach.

Articles 9 through 14 lay out specific employment measures: free vocational training, development of public service jobs, and support for entry into new fields like e-commerce and livestreaming. The goal is to create flexible, diverse work opportunities.

Travel access is another key focus. Article 18 grants differently-abled people free access to city and rural buses and priority use of accessible parking. Article 28 strengthens enforcement by setting penalties for illegally occupying these spaces.

Quzhou has already led the way in employment support. It was the first in Zhejiang to set up sheltered employment bases and has piloted programs across 26 mountainous counties.

So far, more than 7,000 vocational training sessions have been held, and 22,794 differently-abled individuals have achieved employment or started businesses. Among recent college graduates with disabilities seeking work, the employment rate has reached 100 percent.