Podcast
So far so good, but we can do better
Updated: 2011-05-12 11:00
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As supporters and campaigners gather to raise awareness for people with disabilities in Beijing, one of the city's veteran campaigners says China still has a long way to go.
Despite massive efforts by the authorities prior to hosting the Paralympics in 2008, the city still lacks many facilities for the thousands living with disabilities who call Beijing home.
The National Day of Assisting Disabled Persons, which falls every year on the third Sunday of May, is a day when China pauses to reflect on those who live with disabilities - and Stephen Hallett, chairman and co-founder of China Vision, a UK-based charity for the visually impaired, says while progress is being made, steps still must be taken.
"The Olympics were a great catalyst for change. The infrastructure now is quite good, but the management and maintenance leaves something to be desired," Hallett said.
Hallett, who has no sight in his left eye and limited vision in his right eye due to macular degeneration, a hereditary disorder, has been living in China for more than 20 years. Earlier this year, he received an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his work educating the visually impaired in China for more than a decade.
"There are still parents of disabled children out there who have no idea that, according to Chinese law, their child has the right to get free compulsory education," he said.
China Vision, Hallett's charity organization, aims to bring that information to those who can use it most.
"We want to provide information to those who have the least access to it," he said. "People who don't even know that there are laws and rights they are entitled to, people who, given that information, can transform their lives."
Working with China Vision, Hallett has created a channel to provide information to the visually impaired through what the former BBC documentary maker calls his favorite medium - radio.
Pairing China Vision with Beijing One Plus One radio, an informative radio station broadcast nationwide and produced primarily by people with impaired vision, Hallett has helped to create a voice for those with disabilities broadcast on more than 74 channels with millions of listeners.
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（中國日報網英語點津 Julie 編輯）
About the broadcaster:
Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.
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