2019年CRI Never lose hope: The visually impaired strive for a better life in China

 

October 15th marks the annual White Cane¹ Safety Day. This is a day to celebrate the achievements of blind or visually impaired² people and increase public awareness³ of the community.

Our reporter Li Yi joined a White Cane Safety Day celebration in Beijing last week and tells us how the visually impaired strive for a better life in the country.

In a small yard located deep in a residential⁴ community in western Beijing, a group of blind and visually impaired people are celebrating their own festival- the White Cane Safety Day - through a performance gala.

76-year-old Li Shiming performed a cucurbit flute⁵ song with his friends and members of his cucurbit flute team.

"I established the cucurbit flute team in 2013 to serve the elderly and disabled people in my community. Later, many team members founded new teams and started training courses. My team now has a dozen of members. It helps to make community life more colorful and cultivate people's art taste."

Li Shiming suffered from a congenital cataract⁶. His vision has been gradually degenerating⁷ over the years. Yet he has always been positive about life.

"I hope all blind people live a happy life. Never be inferior and never lose hope. We should bear in mind that the country and the Party care about every blind person."

Of the 85 million disabled people in China, over 17 million are blind or visually impaired. Governments at all levels have adopted a series of preferential policies and provided special training courses to guarantee their equal rights to education and employment.

Meantime, these people have also been striving for more opportunities on their own.

Cao Jun, Vice⁸ Chairman of the Beijing Association of the Blind, operates a company engaged in producing special smart devices to help the blind use home products, mobile phones and computers.

"These smart devices can help solve some problems. For example, it's almost impossible for blind people to use a mobile phone, air conditioner or television. These products will enable them to enjoy the same life as the sighted and live a happier and more convenient life. The White Cane Safety Day is our own festival. We should cherish the present and the future will be better."

Yang Jia, Vice President of the Beijing Disabled Persons' Federation⁹, says the visually impaired deserve more and better employment opportunities.

"Taking up an occupation can help visually impaired people to be independent, fulfill¹⁰ self-improvement and raise self-esteem. We should provide more inclusive education and employment. In the past, massage¹¹ worker seemed to be the only career option for the visually impaired. Now they can make full use of their wisdoms and talents. They can tap into more of their potential as long as being given opportunities and platforms."

1 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

2 impaired   

adj.受损的；出毛病的；有（身体或智力）缺陷的v.损害，削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Much reading has impaired his vision. 大量读书损害了他的视力。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• His hearing is somewhat impaired. 他的听觉已受到一定程度的损害。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

4 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

5 flute   

n.长笛；v.吹笛

参考例句：

• He took out his flute, and blew at it.他拿出笛子吹了起来。
• There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。

6 cataract   

n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障

参考例句：

• He is an elderly gentleman who had had a cataract operation.他是一位曾经动过白内障手术的老人。
• The way is blocked by the tall cataract.高悬的大瀑布挡住了去路。

7 degenerating   

衰退，堕落，退化( degenerate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He denied that some young people today were degenerating. 他否认现在某些青年在堕落。
• Young people of today are not degenerating. 今天的青年并没有在变坏。

8 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

9 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

10 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

11 massage   

n.按摩，揉；vt.按摩，揉，美化，奉承，篡改数据

参考例句：

• He is really quite skilled in doing massage.他的按摩技术确实不错。
• Massage helps relieve the tension in one's muscles.按摩可使僵硬的肌肉松弛。