"Visible happiness, tangible democracy" - Braille version of the government work report debuted at the National People's Congress session
html On the morning of March 5, the second session of the 14th National People's Congress opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Wang Yongcheng, the first blind deputy to the National People's Congress, received a special government work report -snow-white 8k paper, bound in a ring, with concave and convex Braille arranged in an orderly manner...
Representative Wang Yongcheng listened carefully to the report while carefully rubbing it with his hands. Looking at this heavier document, I couldn't hide my excitement.
This is the first time that the Braille version of the Government Work Report has been presented at the National People's Congress.
"Visible happiness, tangible democracy." Wang Yongcheng was filled with emotion as his fingertips traced the undulating Braille text.
After losing his sight due to an accident at the age of 18, Wang Yongcheng overcame many difficulties and gradually became the chief physician of medical massage for the blind. He held massage training classes for the blind, founded the Fujian Straits Blind Massage Guidance Center, and trained more than 6,000 blind masseurs free of charge, leading more blind people to embark on the road to independence.
"Walking in the dark, I understand the value of light better; I am one of the blind, and I understand their desires better."
After being elected as a representative of the 14th National People's Congress, Wang Yongcheng continued to receive appeals from friends with disabilities from all over the world. He carefully recorded, conducted in-depth research, formed representative suggestions, and actively spoke for this group.
At the National People's Congress last year, as the only blind representative among the National People's Congress deputies, Wang Yongcheng submitted four suggestions on issues such as employment, education, and barrier-free environment construction for the blind. One of them was about providing low-vision students in regular classes. Suggestions for publishing large-print textbooks.
In June last year, he was invited to attend a meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and proposed the preparation and publication of Braille and low-vision versions of teaching books for different educational stages, which were adopted during the legislative process of the Barrier-free Environment Construction Law.
In November last year, the Representative Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, together with representatives from the Ministry of Education, the National Health Commission, China Railway Group, and the China Disabled Persons' Federation, recommended that the organizer send staff to Fuzhou to deliver the letter to the National People's Congress representatives at their doorsteps. A Braille version produced for the first time in the work represents the suggested responses.
"When I received the Braille version of the reply, I touched the Braille over and over again, and my heart felt extremely warm. The whole process, face-to-face, considerate, and down-to-earth, the response process of the four suggestions made me feel fully democratic." Wang Yongcheng said that this reflects the special care and concern of the party and the country for the disabled people, and reflects the National People's Congress' respect for the people's dominant status and support and guarantee for the representatives to perform their duties in accordance with the law.
Nowadays, the government work report and other conference documents are simultaneously launched in braille, making Representative Wang Yongcheng’s way of performing his duties smoother.
The Braille version of the conference documents was produced by the Braille translation team established for the first time by the National People’s Congress Secretariat this year. This team is composed of key personnel sent by the China Disabled Persons' Federation and Braille compilers, proofreaders, and printers from the China Braille Press. Among them are three blind Braille experts.
"For the first time, Braille versions of conference documents have been produced for the two sessions, providing better protection for blind representatives to perform their duties." Wo Shuping, editor-in-chief of China Braille Press, told reporters that in December last year, it officially received the task of producing Braille versions of documents for the conference. She feels the mission is glorious and significant. This new measure is not only an active implementation of the Barrier-free Environment Construction Law that came into effect on September 1 last year, but also a vivid embodiment of people's democracy throughout the process.
"During the Braille translation work, we communicated closely with Representative Wang Yongcheng to understand the needs, adjusted the production plan in a timely manner, and finally determined the format of the Braille version of the conference documents." Team member and blind Braille expert Yin Menglan said that the Braille version of the conference documents will be columnar. Complex charts such as graphs and line charts are transformed into specific and clear illustrated text; folio tables are made to facilitate comparison and inquiry; documents with large content are presented in volumes for easy reading and portability."I hope to help blind representatives achieve high-quality performance of their duties through barrier-free reading."
The truth lies in the subtleties. The changes bit by bit provide a vivid footnote for Chinese-style democracy.
"Last year, I attended the National People's Congress meeting for the first time. My wife accompanied me throughout the process as a guide. The resident room was equipped with a Braille computer and the venue was equipped with barrier-free access. This year, the conference provided me with Braille versions of documents. As a blind person Representative, I am deeply inspired to continue to advocate for the cause of persons with disabilities," said Wang Yongcheng.
In the past year since he took office, Wang Yongcheng has truly felt the surging pulse of the people's democracy throughout the process and has faithfully performed his sacred duties as a representative of the National People's Congress. His voice allowed the voices of 85 million disabled people to be heard and the wishes of 17 million visually impaired people to be "seen".
"I am particularly concerned about the 'urgent, difficult and anxious' issues faced by disabled people. This year I have prepared two proposals on improving the construction of the elderly care service system, paying attention to the special needs of disabled people in elderly care, and on promoting the integrated development of the cause of disabled people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. I would like to provide some advice for the disabled people. We should do our part to better promote the development of the cause of persons with disabilities." Wang Yongcheng said that his greatest happiness is that each suggestion is transformed into visible and tangible benefits for the people's livelihood.
On the afternoon of March 5, the Fujian delegation reviewed the government work report, and representative Wang Yongcheng made a speech. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Gao Jie
When spring comes again, the palace of democracy gathers the wisdom and will of the people. Representative Wang Yongcheng’s barrier-free performance of duties continues to extend, and the wonderful story continues.
(Source: Xinhua News Agency reporters Shi Jingnan and Chen Hongyi)
[Editor: Jin Xin]
