With support, disabled in Ningxia seek success

YINCHUAN — In Yinchuan, capital of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, children who visit Guangming Plaza with their parents for leisure activities often encounter a woman selling toys and offering prizes for a ring toss game she runs.

Liu Juan, 35, has partial paralysis due to a childhood illness. Originally a farmer in Yinchuan's Helan county, she has been self-employed in the regional capital for five years, earning around 1,200 yuan ($167) a month.

"I must rely on myself to support me and my 12-year-old son, in addition to receiving financial assistance from the government," she said. "What motivates me to continue working is the empathy shown by the people who come here to buy toys and play games. I also have a group of friends who provide one another with mutual support."

Liu is one of 470,000 disabled individuals in Ningxia, most of whom are striving to achieve self-reliance and economic independence through various job opportunities.

"My auntie works very hard to support herself. She raises bunnies, chickens and turtles for sale and purchases toys from factories to run the ring toss game stall," said Du Yaxin, Liu's 16-year-old niece.

With strong support from their families and society, disabled people in China have proved to be quite resilient, despite their difficulties.

Wang Dingguo, 63, hails from the mountainous Hongsibu district in central Ningxia. He lost his right leg in an accident and has been living with his disability for more than a decade. His wife is employed at a nearby cigarette factory, while his son and daughter-in-law work in Sichuan province. The combined income of his family enables him to live a good life.

The disabled community in Ningxia has garnered significant social attention for its impressive achievements in sports.

During the recently concluded 4th Asian Para Games held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, athletes from Ningxia achieved notable success.

To nurture the artistic talents of disabled youths, the regional government has also decided to give a subsidy of 10,000 yuan to those who show a talent for singing, dancing, painting and opera performance.

Ma Juan, a student from Xiji county in Ningxia, is a gifted painter who has received government financial assistance to attend an art school. All her family members are disabled due to a genetic disease.

"It is our responsibility to ensure she has the opportunity to pursue a career," said Bai Xuegui, the county's Party chief.

Xinhua