China News Service, Beijing, March 5. Title: Representative Wang Yongcheng: "Read" the government work report with your fingertips

  Author Xie Yanbing and Liang Xiaohui

  With his fingertips running across the undulating Braille characters, Wang Yongcheng, sitting in the auditorium of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, "read" the Braille version of the government work report word for word. In this special way, he fulfilled the duties of a deputy to the National People's Congress.

  On March 5, the second session of the 14th National People's Congress opened in Beijing, with nearly 3,000 NPC deputies attending.

Among them, Wang Yongcheng is the only blind representative.

On March 5, the second session of the 14th National People's Congress opened in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Wang Yongcheng, a deputy to the National People's Congress, reads the Braille version of the conference documents with his fingers.

Photo by China News Service reporter Sheng Jiapeng

  This year is Wang Yongcheng’s second year of assuming office.

Based on the accessibility services provided to him last year, this year the conference produced Braille version of conference materials for him for the first time.

  "To tell you the truth, such thoughtful and meticulous arrangements provide great convenience for the performance of duties. I feel warm and respected." Wang Yongcheng said with emotion.

  When being interviewed by reporters from China News Service, he often subconsciously said "speaking from the bottom of his heart".

  "To be honest, blind people will encounter many difficulties in daily life and work."

  "To tell the truth, I want the needs of more blind brothers and sisters to be 'seen'."

  As a special representative, Wang Yongcheng is well aware of the difficulty of blind people.

On March 5, the second session of the 14th National People's Congress opened in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Wang Yongcheng, a deputy to the National People's Congress, reads the Braille version of the conference documents with his fingers.

Photo by China News Service reporter Sheng Jiapeng

  In 1985, 18-year-old Wang Yongcheng accidentally lost his sight and was suddenly plunged into darkness from a colorful world.

But the suffering did not dampen Wang Yongcheng's will. He overcame many difficulties to learn Braille, acupuncture, and massage, and gradually became the chief physician of medical massage for the blind.

  Because I have been caught in the rain, I always want to hold an umbrella for others.

Since then, Wang Yongcheng has determined to encourage blind people to become independent and self-reliant.

He successively founded the Traditional Chinese Medicine Massage Health Center for the Blind and the Fujian Strait Blind Massage Guidance Center, and trained thousands of blind masseurs free of charge.

  Wang Yongcheng has been walking this difficult road for nearly 40 years.

  Today, in addition to being a representative of the National People's Congress, Wang Yongcheng is also the vice chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation and the chairman of the Asia-Pacific Massage Committee of the World Federation of the Blind.

But Wang Yongcheng said that his original intention was still to speak out his "heartfelt words" for the disabled.

  During the National Two Sessions last year, Wang Yongcheng, who was in his first year in office, submitted four suggestions on issues such as employment, education, and barrier-free environment construction for blind people, including a suggestion to publish large-print textbooks for low-vision students enrolled in regular classes.

  In May 2023, the Constitution and Law Committee of the National People's Congress went to Fujian to conduct research on the draft barrier-free environment construction law and listened to Wang Yongcheng's opinions face-to-face.

In June, the Barrier-free Environment Construction Law was voted on and Wang Yongcheng’s suggestions were incorporated into the law.

  "I was excited for several days when I learned that the suggestions were adopted. As a blind person who came from the grassroots level, I was very touched to be able to participate in national legislation." Wang Yongcheng said.

  With the implementation of the law, 13 large-print textbooks will be published in the fall semester of 2023. Wang Yongcheng received calls of thanks from many parents of low-vision students across the country, which encouraged him to perform his duties.

  In November last year, he also received four Braille versions of representatives’ proposed responses produced by the Legislature.

This experience of "everything has been settled and everything has an echo" has made Wang Yongcheng more confident in performing his duties.

  In the past year, Wang Yongcheng researched, studied and collected feedback from disabled people whenever he had time.

More and more disabled people are also sharing their "heartfelt thoughts" with him through letters, discussions, etc.

  This year, during the National Two Sessions, he came to Beijing with two new proposals.

  In the first suggestion, he called for the establishment of model nursing homes for disabled people at or above the municipal level, and encouraged qualified places to open professional nursing homes specifically for disabled and disabled people, provide more targeted services, and try to extend the life of disabled elderly people. original ability.

  "After moving in, disabled people can play cards, chess, undergo physical therapy, and listen to music. People with disabilities and blind people can also become 'golden partners' to take care of each other and live their elderly lives with more dignity and dignity," Wang Yongcheng said.

  The second suggestion comes from his long-term observation in Fujian.

"In Taiwan, disabled people are called 'disabled people'. Compared with other groups of people, the proportion of disabled Taiwan compatriots who go to Fujian is relatively low."

  He suggested that the China Disabled Persons' Federation should take the lead in issuing specific policies, documents and measures to support the integrated development of the cause of persons with disabilities on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and gradually realize that disabled Taiwanese compatriots in Fujian can enjoy various inclusive social security and public services equally with local residents.

  In Wang Yongcheng's mind, promoting the comprehensive development of the cause of persons with disabilities is a "very long road".

He will do his best to make the "inner words" of disabled people heard by more people.

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