Accessible for All - Hong Kong Symposium

Professor Zhou received a doctoral degree in sociology from Sun Yat-sen University and a doctoral degree in political science from the Compilation and Translation Bureau. He was a visiting scholar at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and the California State University, Fullerton. He is currently the Executive Director at the Research Center for the Development of the Cause of Persons with Disabilities in the Pilot Demonstration Zone of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, Shenzhen University, Dean of the Public Philanthropy Research Center at Shenzhen University, and the Head of Social Development and Social Policy Research Center at Shenzhen University.

Prof Zhou’s research focuses on social governance, social policy, disability theory and policies. He has published four books and over 60 papers in English and Chinese in various leading publications, including Autism, Xin Hua Wen Zha, CASS Journal of Political Science, and Chinese Journal of Population Science. He has also received funding from the National Social Science Fund and oversaw over 50 research projects at the provincial level. Many of his policy papers have been recognised by the central, provincial, and city officials, and have received awards from provincial governments and Chinese Sociological Associations for his research.

Prof Zhou’s honours include principle expert at the National Social Science Fund, New Century Excellent Talent in University, Fok Ying Tung Education Foundation awardee, Thousand-Hundred-Ten Talent of the Guangdong Province, National Leading Talent of Shenzhen, and leading scholar at Shenzhen University.

Presentation title:

Barrier-free City Index: Concept and Roadmap

Presentation summary:

The Barrier-free City Index was developed by a special task force at Shenzhen University to facilitate the implementation of the Barrier-free Environment Creation Law, and foster sustainable, inclusive, and innovative urban development in China.

The showcase will introduce the social context, design logic, assessment criteria and method, and expected impact of the Index. With reference to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the standards under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and guided by the Barrier-free Environment Creation Law, the Index aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the accessibility of built environments, information communication, and social services. It will also encourage greater participation from the government, the private sector, and different sectors of society to foster the development of barrier-free cities with Chinese characteristics that are inclusive, sustainable, and innovative. Lastly, the showcase will explore the future assessment and implementation roadmap of the Index from the perspectives of resource mobilisation and environmental feasibility.