About 7.6 million disabled people received rehabilitation services in China in 2012, according to a statistical bulletin released by the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF).

Rehabilitation centers were built in about 205,000 communities across the nation in 2012, employing 353,000 staff members, according to the bulletin.

A total of 724 rehabilitation institutions for the visually impaired were set up last year. About 796,000 cataract surgeries were performed, including 334,000 free operations provided for needy patients, said the CDPF.

More than 1 million pieces of assistive devices were offered to the handicapped for free or at reduced costs, including 39,000 artificial limbs, 40,000 orthotic devices and 105,000 pairs of typoscopes, according to the bulletin.

Nearly 6 million patients with severe mental disorders received rehabilitation and treatment in 2012, including 444,000 needy patients who received free medical attention.

The CDPF said 30 provincial-level rehabilitation institutions for autistic children were established across the nation in 2012, and 11,000 children have received occupational therapy.

China has more than 85 million disabled people.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2013)