BEIJING -- Nearly 2.1 million homes of disabled Chinese people have been renovated since Aug 1, 2012, when the regulation on constructing barrier-free environment was issued, according to the China Disabled Persons' Federation.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), barrier-free renovation of the homes of impoverished severely disabled people was listed as a significant way to lift them out of poverty, said Zhou Jian, an official with the federation, at a recent press briefing.

Over the years, the construction of barrier-free facilities has gone from the construction of physical environment to that of the social environment, and included intangible content such as regulations and public awareness, Zhou said.

"The construction of barrier-free facilities is a symbol of progress and the basis for disabled people to integrate into the society," he said.

However, Zhou noted that there are still 3.3 million homes yet to be renovated.