Accessibility in homes of disabled improves

More than 528,000 households with people suffering disabilities have benefited from a barrier-free reconstruction program since 2011, an official of the China Disabled Persons' Federation said.

"A barrier-free environment is essential to enable people [with a disability] to take part in both a social life and their community," said Lv Shiming, vice-chairman, on Monday, adding that there is still much to be done to increase coverage and better target households with specific needs.

The nationwide program aims to improve living conditions of the disabled by renovating floors, handrails in kitchens and restrooms and installing alarm devices for gas leakage.

Disadvantaged households meeting income eligibility guidelines can receive 6,000 yuan ($966.4) in subsidies from local government for renovation, according to an online federation document.

More renovations for public services will also be made, said Liu Can, chief of the Standard Quota Department of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

More than 650 cities and 1,600 counties have improved the barrier-free environment for the disabled since August 2012, where pavements for the visually impaired, curb ramps and barrier-free passages have been "notably improved", according to Liu.