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 Fujian Province, submitted multiple suggestions that focus on the employment and education of visually impaired people. 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. 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,Wang lost his sight in an unfortunate accident at 18. Undeterred, he embarked on a challenging entrepreneurial journey by learning massage skills and conducting non-profit training. Through his efforts, over 6,000 blind individuals have been pulled out of poverty and become self-reliant. Elected to represent the 85 million individuals with disabilities in China at the country’s top legislature, Wang has been dedicated to finding solutions for the pressing issues faced by the disabled community. Last year, his suggestion, which focused on providing large-print textbooks for low-vision students enrolled in regular schools, was embraced and supported by the Ministry of Education. This led to the promotion of large-print textbook publications, starting with the first grade in the autumn of 2023. For the upcoming annual session of the NPC, Wang plans to submit two suggestions. One focuses on improving the elderly care service system. The other focuses on promoting the integrated development of disability services across the Taiwan Strait. (Xinhua) | 