BEIJING: Among the nearly 3,000 deputies to the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), Wang Yongcheng is the only individual with visual impairment.
However, this physical challenge has not prevented him from “seeing” the “illumination of China’s democracy.”
While discharging his duty as a national lawmaker at the annual session of the NPC in 2023, Wang, from eastern Fujian Province, submitted multiple suggestions that focus on the employment and education of visually impaired people, as well as the building of an accessible environment.
His suggestions were later handled and responded to by multiple agencies. Unlike the replies provided to other NPC deputies, Wang received Braille versions tailored to accommodate his needs.
As his fingertips swiftly moved across those raised dots, Wang said that he was extremely excited and felt incredibly warm to receive the reply using Braille and raised dots. “It is a real, tangible experience of democracy.”
In 1985, at the age of 18, Wang lost his sight in an unfortunate accident. Undeterred, he embarked on a challenging entrepreneurial journey by learning massage skills and conducting non-profit training. –Agencies
