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(Abstract)
Improve barrier-free and convenient construction for all the citizens, including the disabled and the elderly
Mr. Chen Xinmin
Deputy Director General
China Disabled Persons' Federation
The construction of barrier-free facilities has achieved remarkable progress over the past two decades enjoying the importance paid by the governments at all levels and with the concerted efforts of related government departments, like Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Railway, Ministry of Transportation, China Disabled Persons' Federation, and all sectors of society.
Accessibility in urban road, buildings and transportation has been markedly improved with a group of high-level and high-quality barrier-free facilities coming into being. The improvement of relevant regulations and rules has laid a solid basis for the work on barrier-free construction. The compilation and revision of the construction code of accessible facilities has helped to regulate construction of accessible facilities and raise the construction quality. In addition, the government has promoted the domestic accessible construction through active international exchange and the "Asia-Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons" movement.
The experiences of the barrier-free construction in China can be summarized into the following aspects.
1. Governments at all levels have attached high importance to this issue.
2. Task force or coordinating organization composed of relevant departments has played an important role.
3. Social sources have fully mobilized into the barrier-free construction.
The goal for the barrier-free construction in China is as follows.
Within three to five years the barrier-free construction should break new ground in the major cities, and in the medium cities it should be incorporated into the overall city program with greater endeavors. In seven to ten years' time, while the accessible facilities in the large and medium cities are being gradually improved, the barrier-free construction in small cities will be brought to a new level, thus create a group of accessible cities.
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