Recently, popular movies such as "Catch the Doll" and "Under the Alien" have been released. In addition to the version for the general audience, barrier-free versions have also been released. People with visual impairment can also go to the cinema to watch movies synchronously and enjoy the story by listening to special commentary tracks.
On July 30th, Zhao Guang, deputy director of the Social Law Office of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) Law Commission, was pleased that more and more people participated in the barrier-free environment construction at the media training seminar on "Integration into the Future" organized by China Women’s Newspaper (Network Information Communication Center of All-China Women’s Federation) and UNICEF China Office in Nanning, Guangxi. He said that since the implementation of the Law on the Construction of Barrier-free Environment in People’s Republic of China (PRC) in September 2023, people have paid more and more attention to the construction of barrier-free environment. The appearance of a large number of barrier-free films has enabled visually impaired people to enjoy the fun of watching movies equally, and many scenic spots have also opened barrier-free travel routes to facilitate the disabled and all those in need.
People with disabilities are not the only ones who need barrier-free environment.
Li Shirui, an official of the Children’s Protection Program of UNICEF China Office, introduced "accessibility" at the meeting: "Simply put, it is to eliminate obstacles that affect people’s equal and full participation in social life, such as adding subtitles to film and television works, graphic recognition function in mobile phones, vibration reminder function in silent mode, setting up barrier-free toilets, barrier-free parking spaces, etc."
According to the data of China Disabled Persons’ Federation, there are more than 85 million disabled people in China. Statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics show that there are more than 290 million elderly people aged 60 and over in China, accounting for 21.1% of the total population. "Many people’s disabilities are formed after old age. With the aging of the population, the demand for barrier-free environment construction for the disabled and the elderly in China is increasing." Li Yurui said.
Li Shirui added that not only people with disabilities need barrier-free environment, but everyone will be the demander and beneficiary of barrier-free environment. When a person travels with a heavy suitcase, barrier-free ramps and elevators will bring convenience to him; when you receive an important voice message in a scene where it is not convenient to listen to voice, the voice-to-text function can provide barrier-free support.
"In fact, everyone will have a disability experience in his life. Studies have shown that in countries with an average life expectancy of more than 70 years, everyone lives in a disabled state for an average of about 8 years or 11.5% of his life. " Li Shirui said, "Each of us is the beneficiary of barrier-free environment construction."
It’s not just blind roads and barrier-free toilets.
From "disability" to "disability" and then to "disability", this is a change in the appellation of disabled people in society, which embodies people’s concept innovation and social civilization progress. At the same time, the society’s understanding of "accessibility" is gradually deepening.
Sun Jiling, an associate professor at Nanjing Teachers College of Special Education, introduced that the concept of accessibility in China has undergone four significant changes: the design concept has shifted from barrier-free design focusing on the needs of the disabled to universal design for the largest number; the beneficiary group has expanded from the disabled to all members of society; the goal orientation has shifted from eliminating environmental obstacles to improving people’s functions and abilities and ensuring equal rights and legitimate rights and interests; and the construction scope has expanded from the physical environment to a comprehensive environment, including information, products and services.
Li Shirui shared a workshop on climate change held by UNICEF in Ningxia earlier. In order to facilitate visually impaired children to understand the concept that global climate change leads to iceberg melting and sea level rising, the staff put the building blocks representing land and the ice cubes representing glaciers into the pool. As the ice melts and the water level in the pool rises, visually impaired children feel the changes by touching and measuring with their hands, and feel the altitude difference of different places by touching the convex 3D map, so as to better understand the concepts related to climate change.
"It is not just how many kilometers of blind roads are built and how many barrier-free toilets are set up. The construction of barrier-free environment should adhere to the system concept and comprehensively optimize the environment such as architecture, transportation, information exchange and services." Sun Jiling said that information channels such as government affairs, banks, study exams, mobile phones, and the Internet need to be barrier-free, as do cultural fields such as education, books, movies, TV dramas, and tourism, so that all members of society can share a better life equally.
In Sun Jiling’s view, barrier-free environment construction is not a burden and cost, but an investment, which can promote economic growth, social integration and people’s all-round development. "Since everyone needs a barrier-free environment, building according to the standard as soon as possible will avoid unnecessary costs of subsequent renovation. In addition, a barrier-free environment will also increase the labor participation rate and social participation of people with disabilities and drive the development of related industries. " Sun Jiling said.
Integration, not isolation
"I found a bug hiding on a leaf. A small leaf can block the scorching sun for beetles. What can I do for others?" A 13-year-old disabled child took a photo of a bug enjoying the cool under a leaf in the photo exhibition of children and adolescents with the theme of "integration of the disabled" co-sponsored by China Association for the Promotion of the Press for the Disabled, UNICEF and China Association of Volunteers for the Disabled. In the accompanying article, the child wrote this passage.
"Disabled people have the same love for life and the need to realize their own values and social values as non-disabled people. We should not treat people with disabilities with prejudice, and each of us is an equal member of society. " Li Shirui said that in an equal, integrated and shared social environment, everyone can participate in social life equally and fully and realize their potential.
From fear, exclusion and even discrimination to acceptance, understanding and integration, society is making continuous progress. In recent years, China has actively legislated, implemented various policies, participated in international cooperation, promoted integrated education, and provided a barrier-free learning environment for disabled children; Marrakesh Treaty came into force for China, making it easier for people with visual impairment and other print reading disabilities to read published works …
In 2022, the Law on Barrier-free Environment Construction in People’s Republic of China (PRC) was included in the legislative plan that year, drafted that year, and submitted for deliberation that year. In June 2023, the law was finally passed by a high vote after three trials and voting.
Zhao Guang said: "Such a fast speed is rare, which fully shows that the state and society attach great importance to and support the construction of barrier-free environment."
"Barrier-free environment construction is closely related to each of us. Formulating the law on the construction of barrier-free environment and strengthening the construction of barrier-free environment are not only conducive to better ensuring the equal and full participation of the disabled and the elderly in social production and life, safeguarding their personal dignity and improving their quality of life, but also conducive to promoting all members of society to share the fruits of economic and social development. This is an inevitable requirement for practicing the people-centered development thinking, which fully demonstrates the responsibility of the state and the warmth of society. " Zhao Guang said. (Reporter Xie Yang Intern Jiang Chang)