Wheelchairs users battle barriers - 26th May 2021

China’s 1.4 billion population is reported to include 85 million wheelchair users, according to the country’s government-controlled media.

In 2019 President Xi said that “no disabled person should be left behind”. Despite this declaration and China’s rapid modernisation programme, attitudes towards people with disabilities and provision for them have lagged behind. Wheelchair users in Shanghai regularly take to dangerous highways in order to move around the city.

E-commerce professional Huang Yan considers progress is gradually being made.

Huang Yan: "Of course the whole situation [for wheelchair users] is improving, including people's attitudes. Ten years ago, many people would look at me as an alien. But now they see me as their equal and don't pay too much attention to me. Moreover, the barrier-free facilities are improving too."

Many problems still need to be addressed, however. Zhao Hongcheng vlogs about disabled people's rights and campaigns for equality. Zhao has relied on a wheelchair since contracting polio during childhood. Although educated to Master's level herself, Zhao argues that many people with disabilities are denied educational opportunities.

Zhao Hongcheng: "Wheelchair users still face difficulties getting into education and employment. That's why they're not being seen very often, but that doesn't mean there are not many of them. The number of wheelchair users is actually very high."

The women actively report incidents relating to access and prejudice to the city authorities, and find some get resolved. Nevertheless, they are extremely conscious that outside large urban areas, the situation is considerably tougher for disabled people and they continue to battle for a more integrated society.