John (Jack) Wilde, Ph.D., a counselor for students with disabilities at CCSF on the Ocean Avenue Campus, recently completed a Report titled, A Comparative Study on Disability Laws of China and the USA, that is based upon his five month project working as an advisor to the United Nations in China. He was hired to consult with Chinese officials about writing laws for children and adults with disabilities. Dr. Wilde, who did a one-year sabbatical at the Beijing Language and Cultural University in 1998, teaches a disability rights class at CCSF and has written two books on disability rights. He also speaks Chinese, has had a textbook titled, Introduction to American Culture, published in China and is currently authoring a book titled, Intercultural Communication: America and China at the Same Global Table.
Dr. Wilde's work with the UN involved looking at China's existing laws regarding disability rights and assisting officials to write laws and regulations that are more closely in line with those of Western countries. In particular, the Report is meant to assist in creating an impetus for China to enact disability rights laws that are similar to laws in the international community.
The United Nations office is playing a neutral role in assisting China to work toward improving human rights in China. Because of his expertise in disability rights and because he was identified as someone from the West who understands the Chinese culture, Dr. Wilde was enlisted by the UN to support China in extending rights and improved services for people with disabilities.
Dr. Wilde's submitted 227-page written Report analyzes the gaps in disability services between the United States and China. By using US laws that include P.L. 94-142/IDEA (public education mandated for all children with disabilities), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the final product is intended to further assist the China Disabled Persons' Federation advocate for children and adults with disabilities.
A copy of the original Report can be viewed in the Posner Reading Room of the Rosenberg Library at City College of San Francisco, 50 Phelan Avenue, San Francisco, California 94112.
Dr. Wilde is available as a speaker to discuss the results of his study of China's disability laws and his work with the United Nations.