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While China is certainly not the friendliest environment in the world for those with disabilities; nor is it the worst. For a developing country it has plenty in the way of legislation. But implementation of laws and regulation is patchy and what facilities there are tend to be restricted to the bigger cities.
Still most people with disabilities would agree that progress, however slowly, is being made.
So the failure of one attempt to make life easier for blind students in the city of Suzhou is particularly disappointing.
The number of blind people, or those with severely impaired sight in China is between 13 and 17 million depending on how the condition is defined.
While the China Association for the Blind and other official organizations work hard to educate the public about the abilities and needs of this sector of society, prejudice and discrimination are, unfortunately, still widespread. BON’s Niva Whyman reports on one Beijing-based initiative which has been strikingly successful in giving a voice to this long silenced group.
With China's population topping more than one point three billion people, the number of blind people here is greater than the populations of some European countries.
Now, steps are being taken here to help a population that often goes unnoticed. Neela Eyunni has more.