To thoroughly implement the Law on Building Accessible Environments and the Regulation on Promoting Nationwide Reading, safeguard the equal right to reading for persons with disabilities in accordance with the law, and promote balanced and inclusive development of nationwide reading, the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT), the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA), the Communist Youth League of China Central Committee, and the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) jointly issued a guideline on promoting accessible reading.
Grounded in the practical reading needs of persons with different disabilities, the guideline aims to encourage them to love reading, read good books and be good at reading, so a to jointly foster an inclusive, equitable, and book-friendly society.
By 2030, the capacity to provide high-quality accessible reading resources will be significantly enhanced. Accessible-format resources will be continuously updated with categories precisely tailored to the needs of different disability groups. A basic accessible reading service system will be established, with marked improvements in standardization and professionalization.
By 2035, the quality of accessible reading will see a substantial leap. Accessible reading resources and services will achieve a precise reach, effectively meeting the personalized reading needs of persons with different types of disabilities, of different age groups and in both urban and rural areas. This will support their all-around development and facilitate greater integrate social integration.
The guideline outlines 10 key initiatives on promoting accessible reading. It calls for strengthening targeted guidance of accessible reading content, enriching the diversified supply of accessible reading resources, and enhancing the professional efficiency of accessible reading services.
It stresses extensively carrying out distinctive activities, coordinating the balanced development of accessible reading between urban and rural areas, and leveraging the core advantages of technology in facilitating accessible reading. In addition, it calls for actively conducting specialized research on accessible reading, strengthening the cultivation of professionals, encouraging voluntary services for accessible reading promotion, and carrying out cross-border exchanges of accessible reading resources. It thus make task deployments and sets clear requirements for strengthening overall coordination and leadership, increasing policy and financial support, and creating a public participation atmosphere.