Visual impairment culture museum rallies more attention

On Saturday, or the 48th International Museum Day as well as preceding the 34th National Day for Helping those with Disabilities that falls on Sunday, the unveiling ceremony of the Cultural Museum for the Visually Impaired, organized by the China Braille Library and supported by the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, was held at the library.

It was in October 2023 that the CBL integrated its existing exhibition areas, including the Cultural Exhibition Hall for the Visually Impaired, the Tactile Civilization Exhibition Hall, the Eye Care Exhibition Hall and the Art Gallery for People with Disabilities, to apply for founding a cultural museum for the visually impaired. This museum aims to systematically showcase the spirit of the visually impaired community in China, spread knowledge on eye care, prevention and treatment of blindness, and demonstrate the whole society’s care and concern for the visually impaired community.

In his speech, Lai Wei, head and Party Chief of the China Braille Press, said that the museum will continue to innovate service concepts, enhance service capabilities, strive to advance the museum’s construction and promote the comprehensive development of cultural services for the visually impaired.

“The visually impaired might be among the groups that need a museum most, because they need to feel and be felt by the world,” Bai Yansong, a renowned news anchor at China Central Television station as well as a cultural ambassador of the museum, said in his remarks.

Bai donated 1 million yuan ($138,422) to the museum.

Cui Lianying, a 69-year-old woman, travelled with her companion Li Weiqi for over 40 kms from Changping District to participate in the opening ceremony. “It was a wonderful trip”, they said. “We are very happy to touch so many things here and this will be an often visited place for us in the future.”

In the presence of the guests, Director of the China Braille Library Zhu Bing and the Beijing School for the Blind Principal Chen Yanzhou exchanged strategic cooperation agreements.

According to the strategic cooperation agreement, both parties will leverage their respective advantages to deepen their collaboration, make positive contributions to improving cultural services for the visually impaired, promote high-quality development of special education and help the visually impaired community enjoy a better life.