On November 4, Professor Jiao Can published a signed article titled "Multiple Measures to Promote the Construction of an Accessible Environment" in the Guangming Daily (Page 06). In the article, Professor Jiao deeply discussed the importance and necessity of creating an accessible environment and proposed several measures to strengthen the development of accessible facilities. She emphasized that these efforts are crucial for fostering social harmony, promoting the comprehensive development of individuals, and advancing modernization with Chinese characteristics.
In recent years, Professor Jiao's research team has keenly focused on the aging society trend, particularly targeting the "elderly migrant" group and other senior citizens. They have actively conducted relevant research, supported by national and provincial projects such as the National Social Science Fund and the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education. The team has published over twenty papers in SSCI/CSSCI-indexed journals. Their research has delved into the cognitive functions and mental health of elderly migrants, developed related scales, and proposed cognitive and psychological health interventions.
Additionally, the team has investigated the relation between elderly individuals' cognitive functions, their environment, and modes of participation in activities, as well as the factors affecting their life satisfaction. These studies provide important research evidence to promote active aging among the elderly. The team has also successfully applied for a national patent and provided advisory reports to relevant government departments.
Ensuring and improving people's livelihoods during the development process is a major task in Chinese-style modernization. The Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform and Advancing Chinese-style Modernization, adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, emphasizes that "we must adhere to doing the best we can within our capabilities, improve the system of basic public services, strengthen inclusive, foundational, and safety-net measures for people's livelihoods, address the most pressing and direct issues of people's interests, and continuously meet the people's aspirations for a better life." It also calls for "improving the social security system and care service system for people with disabilities."
Building an accessible environment, where people with physical disabilities, illness, or special needs can equally, fully, and conveniently participate in social life and share the benefits of economic development, is an essential part of advancing the great cause of Chinese-style modernization.
The construction of an accessible environment refers to providing convenience for people with disabilities, the elderly, and other groups with special needs to independently and safely navigate roads, enter and exit buildings and their facilities, use public transportation, access and use information, and receive social services. It is crucial for safeguarding the rights and interests of people with disabilities, the elderly, and others, and plays a vital role in promoting the equitable sharing of the benefits of economic and social development.
China has over 85 million people with various types of disabilities, nearly 300 million elderly people aged 60 and above, as well as a growing number of pregnant women, children, and people with injuries or illnesses—all of whom have urgent and widespread needs for accessible environments. The construction of such an environment is the cornerstone for the inclusion of people with disabilities, the elderly, and other disadvantaged groups in society, enabling them to enjoy equal rights and realize their economic value. It helps these special groups to live with dignity and quality, allowing them to participate in economic development just like anyone else.
Moreover, it is not only a necessary condition for ensuring the equal participation of people with disabilities in social life; its beneficiaries are, in fact, all members of society. While most people may not have physical disabilities, there are certain life stages when everyone requires accessible environments to integrate into normal social life. Understanding the importance and current state of accessible environment construction, addressing existing gaps, and comprehensively improving the level of such construction in China are critical to people's well-being and the smooth advancement of Chinese-style modernization.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee, with Xi Jinping at its core, has placed great emphasis on the construction of accessible environments and made a series of significant decisions and deployments. In September 2020, during an inspection tour in Hunan, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at a symposium with grassroots representatives, "The construction of accessible facilities is a symbol of a nation's and society's civilization, and we must attach great importance to it." The report of the 20th National Congress also outlines the importance of "improving the social security system and care service system for people with disabilities and promoting the comprehensive development of the cause of people with disabilities" as part of the vision for Chinese-style modernization.
In June 2023, the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress approved the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Construction of Accessible Environments, which explicitly includes "people with disabilities and the elderly" as the target groups for protection and provides legal support for the construction of accessible environments. General Secretary Xi emphasized, "All of the Party’s work must be guided by the fundamental interests of the greatest number of people. The effectiveness of our work must ultimately be judged by whether the people truly benefit, whether their lives have been improved, and whether their rights and interests are truly protected."
Since the implementation of the Law on the Construction of Accessible Environments over a year ago, it has demonstrated "big value through small measures," creating conditions for people with disabilities and the elderly to participate in and integrate into social life equally, fully, and conveniently. It has also raised public awareness and involvement in accessible environment construction, thereby laying a solid foundation for advancing Chinese-style modernization and promoting the comprehensive development of individuals and common prosperity. As of August 31, the China Disabled Persons' Federation has guided local authorities to complete barrier-free renovations for 1.0244 million households of severely disabled persons, accounting for 90.34% of the total task set for the "14th Five-Year Plan." The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has issued nearly 30 accessibility standards for information and has upgraded 2,726 websites and mobile apps closely related to the lives of the elderly and people with disabilities, continuously optimizing functions such as elder-friendly modes, voice search, and full keyboard operation.
While fully acknowledging the achievements in the construction of accessible environments in China, we must also clearly recognize that China remains the largest developing country in the world, with objective disparities such as the urban-rural divide and regional imbalances. In some areas, there are still issues in the construction of accessible environments, including inadequate enforcement of laws, insufficiently detailed supporting measures, and inadequate investment in terms of people, resources, and finances. In certain regions, the maintenance and management of accessible facilities are lacking, and the renovation of old buildings to be barrier-free faces difficulties, with progress lagging behind. There are still gaps and shortcomings, particularly in areas such as the maintenance of facilities for people with disabilities, installation of proper signage, and the renovation of electronic terminals and small-print instructions to be more age- and disability-friendly.
The construction of accessible environments helps improve the quality of life for special groups. It is an important reflection of the coordination between material civilization and spiritual civilization, and a key task in ensuring that the benefits of economic and social development are shared by all. It holds significant importance in promoting social harmony, the comprehensive development of individuals, and advancing Chinese-style modernization.
We must follow the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on accessible environment construction, deeply recognize the role of accessible environment development in the process of Chinese-style modernization, and strengthen this construction through a comprehensive approach in accordance with laws and regulations. This will foster a more convenient, safe, and comfortable accessible society, pushing forward Chinese-style modernization in a more tangible, feasible, and promising manner.
First, we must strengthen top-level design and enhance organizational capacity. To ensure the scientific nature and practical effectiveness of accessible environment construction, it is essential to further improve top-level design and coordination. We should adhere to a people-centered development philosophy, take into account the country's specific conditions, and focus on addressing the urgent and pressing concerns of people with disabilities and the elderly, promoting the sharing of development results among all members of society.
A close cooperation mechanism between various government departments must be established, incorporating accessible facility construction into the budget for new infrastructure projects and increasing financial support for the renovation of existing facilities. We can draw on the successful experiences of developed countries in building accessible environments. For example, the United States has established a comprehensive accessible policy and legal system, which has raised public awareness and acceptance of accessibility, leading to a high rate of accessible design in public facilities. Japan has set clear standards for the design and construction of accessible facilities, encouraging participation from enterprises and social organizations through policies, ensuring both the quality and effectiveness of facilities.
Due to regional imbalances in development, the actual achievements of accessible environment construction vary from place to place. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage local areas to take initiative, adapt to local conditions, and proceed in accordance with their capabilities. This will help eliminate regional disparities in accessible environments, strengthen public awareness campaigns, and improve the overall recognition of accessible environment construction within society. A powerful collective effort must be formed to promote the construction of accessible environments across the country.
Secondly, fully leverage the role of laws and regulations in standardizing and supervising the construction of accessible environments. In recent years, the Chinese government has attached great importance to the construction of accessible environments, formulating a series of policies and laws that have largely established a legal framework for accessible environment construction. This framework is based on the Constitution and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Construction of Accessible Environments, and includes the Law on the Protection of Disabled Persons, the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly, the Road Traffic Safety Law, the Data Security Law, and other related laws. Local governments have also actively introduced regional regulations and measures to provide more comprehensive and robust legal support for the construction of accessible environments.
In accordance with relevant legal provisions, it is important to clearly define the specific standards and requirements for accessible environment construction. At the same time, efforts should be intensified to punish violations of accessibility laws and regulations, ensuring the effective implementation of these laws and the continued improvement of accessible environments.
From both the hardware and software perspectives, it is essential to formulate and implement unified, scientifically-based, and reasonable accessibility standards. These standards should ensure that the design and implementation of accessible facilities in public buildings, transportation infrastructure, roads, and other facilities fully meet the practical needs of special groups, such as the elderly, disabled, and those with health conditions. In particular, public facilities such as schools, roads, and service windows must strictly adhere to mandatory regulations.
Furthermore, efforts should be made to establish and improve the regulatory and maintenance mechanisms for accessible facilities. This will ensure that existing accessible facilities are properly maintained and updated in a timely and effective manner.
Finally, we must build social consensus and collectively create a better accessible environment. The construction of accessible environments is closely related to every individual. It is important to actively carry out public education and awareness campaigns about accessible environments, gradually increasing the public’s awareness and attention to accessible facilities, and continuously fostering social consensus. This will help create a positive social atmosphere for promoting the construction of accessible environments.
At the same time, attention should be given to social participation, improving participation mechanisms, and building platforms for engagement. We should encourage and support social forces in contributing to the construction of accessible environments, bringing together more wisdom and strength.
Awareness campaigns should be conducted in schools, communities, and other settings, and targeted professional training should be provided for relevant practitioners. It is also necessary to develop scientific accessibility literacy assessment standards and establish regular assessment mechanisms for accessibility knowledge. By conducting regular evaluations and feedback, we can timely adjust and optimize accessibility literacy education and training programs, ensuring that the construction of accessible environments is targeted, effective, and aligned with the needs of society.
(Author: Jiao Can, Director and Professor of the Shenzhen University Mental Health Research Center)
Link to the original text：https://epaper.gmw.cn/gmrb/html/2024-11/04/nw.D110000gmrb_20241104_2-06.htm
