China's blind advisor seeks larger voice

World
Europe

By CGTN’s Han Bin

Yang Jia is the only visually impaired CPPCC member. But she says her role as one of China’s political advisors is to be a crusader for a marginalized group of some 80 million people.

Yang Jia (L1) visits the Assistive Technology Resource Center of Beijing. /CGTN Photo

One of her proposals this year is to introduce inclusive education instead of special education for disabled children, providing them with an equal chance to study. However, that relies on having more qualified teachers, more resources, as well as revising relevant laws and policies.

“Though I have no sight, I have insight.” – Yang Jia

Yang was the first visually impaired overseas Master of Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School. She is now working as a professor at the Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She is also Vice-Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Yang Jia, a visually impaired CPPCC member. /CGTN Photo

Yang was diagnosed with macular degeneration at 29, which led to her eventual blindness.

She says she still remembers the film Forrest Gump, when the mother tried everything to help Gump become a student in an ordinary school, to integrate with the wider society.

“For some people, seeing is believing. But I can feel the pulse of the country, and I can also be a part in the country’s development.” – Yang Jia

Therefore, Yang always wants to improve the country’s education for people with disabilities. She believes there are no disabled people, but rather, crippled technology.

Yang Jia (L2) heads to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to attend the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 12th CPPCC National Committee on March 3, 2017, accompanied by her sister Yang Yi. /CGTN Photo

There has been criticism that the advisory body has become a club for the rich and famous, and the dubious quality of some proposals has outsiders questioning the CPPCP's real function.

Yet, many people are calling to give it more teeth. Yang says that CPPCC members should not only talk about the problems, they should also put forward solutions. She hopes the CPPCC can have a greater say and greater role to play in making those solutions a reality.

4km