Information accessibility for public health emergencies-A case study of information accessibility during the new coronavirus outbreak

• Author: Dai Ruikai
• Position: (???) Ph.D. in Media Law, School of Journalism and Communication and School of Law, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China. Contact: dairuikai12@163.com
• Pages: 58-78

FRONTIERS OF LAW IN CHINA

VOL. 16 MARCH 2021 NO. 1

DOI 10.3868/s050-010-021-0004-3

FOCUS

PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE GROUPS DURING COVID-19

INFORMATION ACCESSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES—A CASE

STUDY OF INFORMATION ACCESSIBILITY DURING THE NEW

CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

DAI Ruikai*

Abstract Barrier-free information construction has not been included in the

information disclosure system for public emergencies in China. This makes it difficult

for obstacle groups to obtain government information timely. By contrast, social forces,

sign language videos and online accessible mini programs all give quick responds,

which to some extent, bridge the information gap during the pandemic. This

phenomenon is caused by the insufficient construction of information accessibility

within the legal system, and the lack of popularization of accessibility concepts. The

corresponding departments should improve the legal system of information accessibility

by incorporating it into the information disclosure system for public emergencies in

China. This will speed up the construction of modern public cultural service systems,

promote the development of TV sign language hosting, and improve awareness of

accessibility in science and technology to promote the design standards and principles of

network accessibility and improve the dissemination of barrier-free information, hence

meeting the information needs of barrier-free groups for major public emergencies.

Keywords information accessibility, public events, sign language, disabilities

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 59

I. THE BASIS FOR BARRIER-FREE INFORMATION DISSEMINATION DURING MAJOR

PUBLIC EMERGENCIES.............................................................................................. 60

A. Conceptual Basis: The Social Model of Disability and the Concept of

Barrier-Free Information.................................................................................... 61

B. Legal Basis: Conformity with International Conventions and Building

Information Accessibility for Major Public Emergencies.................................... 63

C. Technical Basis: ICT Empowerment and the Implementation of Web

* (󱄳) Ph.D. in Media Law, School of Journalism and Communication and School of Law, Chongqing

University, Chongqing 401331, China. Contact: dairuikai12@163.com

2021] INFORMATION ACCESSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES 59

Accessibility Standards........................................................................................ 66

II. CURRENT SITUATIONAL ISSUES FOR BARRIER-FREE INFORMATION TRANSMISSION

OF THE NEW CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC ................................................................... 67

A. Official Publication: There Are Principles, No Procedural Safeguards ............. 68

1. Dissemination of Sign Language Information: Insufficient Time, Less Content,

and Excessive Complexities ............................................................................68

2. China Disabled Persons’ Federation: Multiple Channels of Publicity and

Delayed Deployment ......................................................................................70

B. Folk Action: Multi-Professional Volunteers of Public Welfare Organizations and

Rapid Teamwork Responses.................................................................................71

1. Sign Language Video Fire Circle to Promote the Needs of Disabled People..... 72

2. Web-Enabled Products Assist with Dissemination of Barrier-Free pandemic

Information ...................................................................................................... 73

III. THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON IMPROVING THE BARRIER-FREE DISSEMINATION

OF INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC EMERGENCIES ......................................................... 74

A. Universal Design that Establishes the Correct Concept of Information

Accessibility......................................................................................................... 74

B. Institutional Safeguards to Improve the Legal System for Information

Accessibility......................................................................................................... 75

C. Improving Science and Technology to Promote the Landing of Barrier-Free

Technical Standards............................................................................................. 76

CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................................... 77

INTRODUCTION

Since the beginning of the 21st century, China’s internet technology has been

advancing by leaps and bounds. The uses of mobile social media have evolved for daily

life globally. The media and government are becoming the main bodies of information

dissemination. In this media environment, the frequency of major public emergencies

(predominantly production safety events, public health events, natural disasters, and mass

social events) leave people with a unique internet memory, with distinctive characteristics

of this age, which has promoted the legalization, specialization, publicity, and flexibility

of information release and management for public emergencies in China.1 Meanwhile,

the system of laws and regulations for the protection of the human rights of person with

disabilities (PWDs) has been gradually established. Among them, the relevant provisions

on the construction of information accessibility have not only guaranteed the right of

information exchange for PWDs, but also ensured popularization of the concept of

1 HUI Zhibin, 󰊅󱂄󱝖󱡶󱃛󰁷 (Research on the Information Release

and Management of Chinese Public Emergencies in the New Media Era), 55(3)  (Library and

Information Service), 18–22 (2011).