Beijing unveiled a communication platform for the disabled on Wednesday in a bid to help the city's nearly 300,000 blind or deaf residents to send digital signals in case of emergency.

The platform will allow emergency departments such as hospitals and police to receive digital signals sent by the disabled through the transfer of telecommunication services, according to sources with the Beijing Disabled Persons Activity Center.

Users may dial 6305 1111 or send messages to 1063 9111, and their information will be forwarded.

The phone numbers will soon be connected to 120, 119 and 110, emergency calls for hospitals, the fire service and police respectively, according to the center.

Beijing had a population of 999,000 disabled, of which 227,000 had listening difficulties, 67,000 were visually impaired and 6,000 had language difficulties, according to China's second national sample survey on disability conducted in 2006.

(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2008)