Text | Song Jiatong, Ding Chaoyi, Dong Haowen, Duan Yuhao
Edit | Ding Chaoyi
If we lose light, all we have is darkness.
Do you know such a group of people?
They can’t distinguish colors, but they can listen to the world with their voices;
They can’t feel the light, but they can touch the warmth with their palms;
They can’t see you and me clearly, but they can perceive existence with their hearts;
They were supposed to be like us,
But lost the light because of fate,
They are blind,
A group of ordinary and special people …
Do you know anything about the blind?
If you can,
Please follow us,
Down into their world—
"It’s been more than ten years. When I was a child, I couldn’t see it. It’s nothing."
Master Wu is blind, but he looks no different from ordinary people. The first time I saw Master Wu, he was sitting on the sofa listening to books on his mobile phone, and his eyes looked bright. "Often guests say, aren’t you blind? How can I still use my mobile phone? In fact, I am lucky. I can still see something clearly if I wear glasses. " Facing our doubts, he seems to be used to it.
Master Wu opened a shop in Jinqiao. The location is a little off-center, and the porch is quite small. There is a compartment on the left with only a few massage beds in it, but the decoration makes people feel at ease and comfortable. Although the sparrow is small and complete, this is Master Wu’s massage shop.
"I’m from Anhui. I went to Shanghai to take refuge with my relatives. Later, I took some money and opened my own massage shop." Master Wu has read junior college and studied Braille, and he is still the "high flyers" among the blind. He also has a daughter, and whenever he talks about her, Master Wu can’t stop being happy. "I hope my daughter is safe and there is no other idea." For the sake of the family’s livelihood, he must take root here.
"I followed the master’s self-taught massage and didn’t receive so much training." Master Wu lost many opportunities because of his visual disability, but his relatives told him that "learning massage has a way out." A few years ago, he was introduced to a massage parlor as an apprentice. It was his first massage and he studied for a long time, but he was not too tired. The master taught him a lot, and he also met many blind friends in his study.
Speaking of blind friends, Master Wu has some feelings: "I have never been in this business, and I have no idea that there are so many people like me. I am lucky. At least I can see a little, don’t you think?"
In the corner of this city, there are many such massage shops, as well as many such blind people and blind professionals, but we sometimes can’t see them.
Sometimes, we can’t see
In late April, a message about "the traffic police experienced the life of the blind, and the guide dog was refused to take the bus" caused widespread discussion on social networks. Many netizens criticized the inhuman practices of bus companies, and many professional media also followed up the report at the first time. For a while, the blind have become a hot topic in society. This group in the dark seems to have been unveiled.
However, online public opinion comes quickly and goes faster. A few days later, everything fell into silence again …
In 1984, at the inaugural meeting of the World Blind Union held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 15th was officially designated as "International Day for the Blind". This is also the first time that the blind group has its own unified organization and festival in the world.
The blind are also called the visually disabled. The so-called visual disability refers to the partial or complete pathological changes in the structure or function of the visual organ or the visual center of the brain due to various reasons, which leads to different degrees of visual loss or narrowing of the visual field, and the visual function is difficult to be used freely or even lost in work, study or other activities like ordinary people.
According to the relevant standards, the best corrected visual acuity of both eyes is less than 0.3, which can be considered as visual disability, and visual disability is specifically divided into blindness and low vision. At the same time, four standards (first-class blindness: no light perception ≤ A < 0.02; Secondary blindness: 0.02 ≤ a < 0.05; Third-grade low vision 0.05 ≤ A < 0.1; Grade 4 low vision: 0.1≤a<0.3, where A is the best corrected vision).
In fact, there are not a few people with visual disabilities. According to relevant reports, by 2021, there are more than 20 million people with visual disabilities in China, including more than 5 million people with "blindness" and more than 10 million people with "low vision". It is equivalent to 0.78 times the population of Australia (25.44 million). According to China’s population of 1.4 billion, the proportion of visually disabled people has reached 1.43%, and this figure is still increasing year by year.
Despite the huge number of people with visual disabilities in China, the relevant data of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation show that the number of people with visual disabilities who have applied for disability certificates is 4,140,987, accounting for 21.95% of the total number of people with visual disabilities.
Among them, Sichuan has the largest number of people with certified vision, reaching 419,531 by December 31, 2021, while the number of people with certified vision in Henan, Hunan and other places has also exceeded 200,000. Behind these data are countless vivid and vivid individuals. However, in reality, these individuals seem to hide themselves, and we don’t often touch them and can’t perceive them.
People may not pay much attention to them or know them very well. For most ordinary people, they are like "elephants in the bedroom". During the period from 2011 to 2023, Baidu search engine searched for keywords related to the blind (blind, disabled, blind, visually impaired, etc.). The statistics show that the average frequency of all users actively learning about the blind group is no more than 2,000 times a day.
On the other hand, the number of related literature research is still limited. The research on the visually disabled still focuses on the traditional framework such as education, life, psychology and blind road. Many people haven’t realized that today’s blind people also need to integrate into the digital age, eager to get the convenience of technology, and also pursue the happiness of marriage and the improvement of quality of life.
The blind are not "blind"
"Of course we use mobile phones, but we use screen reading software to listen." Master Wu is not the only blind friend who uses mobile phones. Among all the blind teachers contacted by the team, whether they are semi-blind or completely blind, they all have their own mobile phones. Or chatting in groups, or singing, or listening to books, or even playing games … They are not the "imbeciles" that some people think.
Some people think that the blind are often vulnerable groups that need to be taken care of, and the public’s cognition of them still stays in the stereotype of "wearing sunglasses" and "leaning on a blind stick". When talking about the blind, some people always have a sense of protection and empathy for the blind according to their inherent concepts. But in fact, most people don’t really understand the life of the blind and never really listen to their feelings.
For the blind, life is not only "darkness", but also "light" perceived by other senses.
In another massage shop, several blind masters shared the details of operating mobile phones. Although the font on the screen of the mobile phone has been maximized, they still have to stick the mobile phone in front of them. On the other hand, fingers are constantly groping for the software they are looking for on the screen. With the help of screen reading software, they can better help them use their mobile phones. When they open the mobile phone application, a mechanical voice suddenly appears, telling the blind with the fastest speech speed, which is undoubtedly their "good helper".
In fact, it is not easy for blind people to use mobile phones. "It’s really inconvenient to use a mobile phone at first", which is the common heart of many masters. In order to study better, they all turned to their friends around, and some blind people who can use computers also looked for strategies on the forum.
In Baidu Post Bar "Blind Bar", the team took "Help-seeking" as the title keyword, and obtained 127 related topic posts. At the same time, the word frequency statistics of help-seeking content were carried out, and the above atlas was obtained. "Screen reading", "program" and "mobile phone" are all important contents for blind friends to ask for help. Blind people are also eager for technology. Although fate has played a joke unfortunately, this is not a problem that prevents them from longing for the light.
In addition, the team also counted the main contents of relevant help-seeking posts.
It can be found that they are eager for the development of technology to bring them light, and they are not willing to be swallowed up by the torrent of the times. Blind people are not "blind", they are just integrating into the world in their own way.
"You and I are the same."
Like ordinary people, Master Wu has his own way of life and work. At eight o’clock in the morning, the subway was already crowded with "office workers" who were still sleepy, and Master Wu had finished breakfast and was ready to go out. Because his home is not far from the massage parlor, he doesn’t need the company of his family.
But he still needs to be extra careful on the road. "At the intersection in front of the store, the driver almost hit me." Thinking of the previous experience, Master Wu still has a lingering fear, and his visual disability has many inconveniences after all.
It was already nine o’clock when I arrived at the store. After a little cleaning with my colleagues, the day’s work officially began.
Most weekday mornings are leisurely and calm. Master Wu is used to sitting on the sofa listening to books, which is his hobby. He often chats with his colleagues, and after a while the guests come. At noon, the store is busy, and the "white-collar workers" who take a lunch break around will come to visit. "If you are busy, you can’t eat, especially on weekends." Master Wu usually hasn’t eaten a few mouthfuls of rice before the guests have arrived.
At three o’clock in the afternoon, the busyness finally came to an end. Master Wu sat on the sofa and began to listen to books. Some guests came in from time to time. This kind of leisure can’t last long, but it’s not too hard.
After six o’clock, the sky is getting dark, street lamps are on one after another, and the empty streets are a little more noisy. It’s time for most people to get off work, but Master Wu is back at work …
At eleven o’clock, the night is already deep. Under the streetlight, Master Wu slowly locked the door. For him, this moment is the real end. Turn around and walk home slowly … "You don’t have to sigh, you are happy enough to be alive." This is the voice of Master Wu.
In this bustling city, there are always such a group of ordinary and special people.
The neglected "love"
Master Liu is from Pingxiang, Jiangxi. Like Master Wu, he has his own massage shop for the blind. Besides him, there are several masters in the shop. When I saw him, he was eating, plain rice with cabbage, simple and simple. He was a little surprised by our arrival. He said, "I have never been interviewed."
In fact, Master Liu is very talkative. He is always willing to share a lot of our problems and has his own unique views. "There is an important issue that you have forgotten. Blind people also need marriage and family. In fact, few blind friends around me get married." Master Liu has a deep understanding of this.
The life of the blind is not easy because of the visual disability. Marriage may be a luxury for them. In addition to family care, blind people also need intimate relationships. But in fact, most blind people can’t meet their own needs.
Many blind people have more or less inferiority complex, and congenital conditions make them lack self-confidence in gender relations. The limitation of social scope further limits the possibility of marriage. In addition, the pressure from family and the evaluation of social relations have forced many intimate relationships that have developed to end.
However, even if they finally enter the marriage hall, some blind people must face the practical problems after marriage. Because of the genetic possibility of visual disability, the blind have to accept the test of ethics. Their limited ability to work and the genetic risk of visual disability further increase the pressure on the blind.
Of the 10 blind teachers interviewed, only 4 have a marriage relationship. These four masters are all semi-blind, so it is very unlikely that people with total blindness will have heterosexual partners. In the interview, these blind masters also said that less than one-fifth of the blind friends around them are married.
What is holding them back from traveling?
In recent years, the problem of blind travel was once reported by the mainstream media. The phenomenon of "the blind road is occupied" and "the guide dog is refused to be loaded" is the main problem that has been criticized.
The travel problem of the blind is actually far more complicated than people think.
Blind people don’t really want to go out. In the eyes of many blind friends, the meaning of going out is minimal. "What are you going out for, basking in the sun?" Master Wu always talks about traveling, and he is very helpless. Different from ordinary people, their entertainment has been greatly reduced and even full of danger. Even for a walk, the blind don’t want to go too far.
Of course, travel is still necessary. "I still have to go out to work, and so does a haircut." In order to reduce the risk of going out, Master Wu seldom goes out, and he stays in the shop except when he has to go out.
Master Wu admits that semi-blindness is different from total blindness, and it often looks the same as normal people in appearance. Ordinary people usually find it difficult to identify themselves. In order to show his identity, he must prepare sunglasses and a blind stick. This is also an important reason why the stereotype of the blind is formed and it is difficult for the blind to find traces in life.
On the other hand, although many blind masseurs live close to their workplaces, it is not easy to walk this short distance. In the interview, some teachers admitted that when they go out to work, they are often semi-blind teachers who walk in front and completely blind teachers who take the back. Because blind roads are often crowded, the navigation function of blind roads has been lost. "It is much more convenient to walk on the sidewalk than on the blind road", which is the consensus of many blind masters.
In western countries, in order to facilitate the travel of the blind, social organizations and official institutions will provide guide dogs for the blind in need. However, the training cost of guide dogs is extremely high, the number is extremely rare, and the actual effect is limited. In China, there are only 200 active guide dogs.
"I want blind friends to go out for a walk."
Although most blind people don’t want to go out, there are a few counter examples.
Master Tan is the manager of history massage, and he maintains a high degree of enthusiasm for going out. He said, "Traveling is not a problem. I often go out, often take the subway, take the train and participate in activities." He thinks going out is a way to relieve stress. He enjoys every time he goes out and enjoys every party.
Through the interview, the team drew a map of his travel route.
When asked about Master Tan’s ideal, Master Tan said with a smile, "I hope blind friends can go out for a walk more. The world is very big, although we can’t see it, we can hear it, can’t we?"
Blind people may not want to go out, but this is not a reason for us to restrict their freedom of travel, nor is it an excuse for us to influence them to go out. In the dark, we need a bright light from the society to guide their travel and escort them, and we also need a warmth to encourage them to March bravely towards their ideals and light.
Light the beacon of society
Over the years, in order to solve the special living difficulties and long-term care difficulties of the disabled and effectively protect their rights and interests, China has made great efforts to promote the improvement of their living standards. However, in the face of the huge number of people with visual disabilities, the implementation of social security still needs to be improved. Due to regional differences, the level of protection for the disabled is different, especially in vocational training, education and rehabilitation for the disabled.
In addition, some local disabled persons’ federations have also exposed some problems in the process of organization and coordination. Inadequate service, unsatisfactory publicity effect and lack of professional ability are the main pain points. Some blind masters said that some policy news did not know where to know and who to consult.
Although the problems exist, we should also see the attention paid by the state to the visually disabled and the unremitting efforts made to ensure their lives. In order to promote the employment of the disabled, on the China disabled employment and entrepreneurship network service platform, the competent government departments and a number of enterprises have provided jobs for the disabled. Some positions are abnormal people’s cognition, which makes people suddenly realize that the blind can also be competent for many ordinary people’s positions.
Enter China disabled employment and entrepreneurship network service platform, and find the job information of enterprises providing employment for visually disabled people. Among all 264 job recruitment information, only 32 are related to health massage, ranking third. The largest number of job types are skilled workers, with 58 posts. In addition, visually disabled people can also work as secretaries and typists. With the rapid development of Internet, blind anchor has become a new profession. Embracing digital technology will also be a new trend in the future career field of the blind.
Since the reform and opening up, China has also made great achievements in the construction of the rule of law in the cause of the disabled. Disabled people, including the blind, have obtained legal support and protection in the process of comprehensively governing the country according to law. These fully reflect the state’s attention and care for vulnerable groups such as the visually impaired. But we know that these efforts and actions are still on the road and will always be on the road.
The blind are not far from us. But for a long time, we seemed to be in two worlds. The blind man accidentally lost his light because of his fate. And we can’t be blind again and again in neglect.
The blindness of the blind can’t be chosen, but the light of society needs you and me to safeguard together. Igniting the bright light of society will eventually light up your world and mine.
