The Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Disabled went into effect in May 1991. The law was the first of its kind in China to put welfare issues for the disabled under legal supervision. Over the past decade, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top lawmaking body, examined the implementation of the law and found that great progress has been made in this regard. But efforts are still needed from the whole of society to guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of all 60 million disabled people in China.
More and more sidewalks in Shanghai are accessible to the blind, who consequently find it easier to get around the city. The Shanghai Municipal People's Government also stipulates that all newly constructed housing areas should have textured paths built specially for the blind.
At East Jing'an subway station, there are elevators specially designed for the blind. Handicapped people can now enjoy the same convenience brought about by the metro system as non-handicapped people do, with slopes for wheelchairers and textured paths for the blind.
Xiang Zhicheng, Director of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, says that in order to safeguard basic rights of the disabled, the nation has commenced several undertakings to ensure that disabled people can equally participate in society and enjoy everything it has offered. The Law on the Protection of the Disabled stipulates that society as a whole should understand, respect, and care for disabled people. The law also makes clear the responsibilities of disabled persons' federations at all levels, urging them to fulfill the role of a bridge that links the government with the disabled.
Maintaining the rights and interests of the disabled by means of law is a big step forward in China. But legal experts say that one drawback could be the rising number of disabled people bringing cases to court. The success of these laws relies on the efforts of the whole of society. Enabling disabled people to enjoy the same rights as everyone else is an important sign of improving civilization and development.
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