China standardizes sign languages, braille

BEIJING - China has released official standards for sign languages and braille that will go into effect on July 1, the China Disabled Persons' Federation announced Monday.

The standards were piloted for one and a half years before being approved by the federation, the Ministry of Education, and the State Language Commission.

China has more than 34 million people with hearing, vision and speech impairments. Due to regional and cultural differences, sign languages and braille used in one place can be different from those in another.

Standardizing sign languages and braille is part of efforts to protect the rights of people with hearing and vision disabilities, said the federation.