Many disabled spend leisure time alone

An assistant tool technician collects data to fabricate an artificial limb for Hu Zhangfu, who lost his left leg 31 years ago and got his last poor-quality artificial limb five years ago. [File photo/cn-bsy.com]

TIANJIN - Nearly 40 percent of young Chinese with disabilities spend most of their leisure time "being alone with a blank mind," a report said, suggesting a lack of entertainment options among China's disabled population.

The report issued by China Youth & Children Research Center said the majority of young Chinese with disabilities found themselves confined to home in their spare time, a result of their physical difficulties, economic plight and insufficient facilities.

The report surveyed disabled Chinese between the ages of 7 and 35, collecting 4,536 questionnaires from six provinces.

Watching films and TV at home topped their entertainment options, chosen by 64.9 percent of respondents as their main leisure activity, followed by "being idle alone with a blank mind" (38.9 percent), surfing the Internet (20.6 percent) and listening to radio (16.3 percent).

Another 12.9 percent of respondents said they go to parks, while other outside activities such as traveling and visiting museums reported "extremely low participation," according to the report.

Apart from their physical limitations, the report said disabled people's poor economic circumstances and a lack of available facilities also made it difficult for them to join sightseeing and museum tours.

The report said disabled young people should be encouraged to leave home to have a social life, and their current low participation in outside activities will negatively affect their integration into society.

China has about 85 million disabled people, accounting for nearly 6.3 percent of the total population.