What they say

Editor's Note: On Monday, during a group interview at the State Council Information Office, five national role models with disabilities shared their experiences overcoming difficulties and challenges, as well as their efforts to pursue their dreams. They hope their perseverance and strong willpower will inspire more people.

I lost my right arm in a traffic accident when I was 3. I became a swimmer thanks to help from the local disabled people's federation, and I won 18 gold medals during my decade-long athletic career. Then I majored in law during my undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral years, beginning in 2004. Offering legal aid to people with disabilities had long been my wish, so now I'm leading a team of about 30 lawyers to provide consultancy services to disabled people and over 20 social organizations to bring equality and justice to people with disabilities.

Fu Ting, master's supervisor at the School of Public Administration at Xiangtan University in Hunan province

I lost my right forearm in a fire accident when I was 3 years old and endured tremendous grief upon the loss of my uncle, who died of illness when I was 12. These experiences made me determined to learn medicine, though it was not easy for me. I was certified as a doctor in 1996. Over the past 29 years, I've admitted over 200,000 patients and assisted 260 students with financial problems. I will keep working in the countryside as a doctor. And I hope more young doctors will take grassroots positions in the future to safeguard people's health.

Chen Guiping, a grassroots doctor from Xinxu, a village in Jiangxi province

In 2014, three of my peers — who have paralysis of the lower body — and I established Beijing's first association where disabled people can offer mutual support and services, and so far, we have offered life skills training and services to over 900 people with disabilities. Our experience has also been promoted and copied by other social organizations focusing on the well-being of disabled people. We have also been encouraging women with disabilities to earn an income by making handicrafts since 2019.Our handcrafts, including brooches and knitted bouquets, were used by athletes with disabilities at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics and the 4th Asian Para Games Hangzhou in 2023. I hope more disabled people will pass down their love and warmth to their peers and reinvigorate their lives.

Tang Zhanxin, director of the Beijing New Life Elderly Care and Disability Support Services Center, who became paralyzed from the waist down after a traffic accident in 2004

I was diagnosed with congenital hearing loss when I was a year old, but I've always tried to live my life as a nondisabled person. I worked hard at school and then won championships at several national and world skills competitions with my outstanding computing and typing skills. Our company now has about 120 staff members with disabilities, 30 of whom are hearing impaired. I've helped them solve problems in their daily lives and at work, and I have assisted in improving their skills and helping them realize their potential. I will keep helping people with disabilities gain professional skills so that they can live more meaningful lives.

Chen Liangjie, deputy director of Pinghu Jingxing Packaging Material Co in Zhejiang province

I became blind in both my eyes due to a high fever when I was 2, but I didn't give up my academic dreams. I can do anything except seeing the world. I performed well during my undergraduate and postgraduate periods, and I have created my own social media account to share my knowledge on basic living, my experiences on independent trips and inspiring stories. I wish to make my own contribution to the advancement of China's barrier-free environment and help more visually impaired people in the future.

Huang Ying, doctoral student at the School of Safety Science and Emergency Management at the Wuhan University of Technology in Hubei province