Navigating Urban Spaces: The Intersection of Civil Religion, Social Identity, and Community Inclusion for Blind Individuals in China’s Rapidly Urbanizing Cities

Home to 20.71 million disabled individuals living in urban areas, according to the number collected in the Second National Sampling Survey on Disability conducted in 2006, China’s total population is 1.3 billion, consisting of 6.34% of people with disabilities. The Chinese government has been working toward the goal of improving the quality life of disabled groups, at the same time attempting to integrate them into society. Although policies and urban programs are put in place, they are still largely impractical. This paper aims to investigate the relationship between civil religion, social identity, and community inclusion with blind individuals during China’s rapid urbanization process. It presents a case study for an interview conducted with a blind individual living in Guangzhou, with some findings on the current government work and recommendations for potential improvements.