People attend a job fair specially held for the disabled college graduates in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Sept. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
YINCHUAN, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- In Yinchuan, the capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, children who visit Guangming Plaza with their parents for leisure activities often encounter a lady selling toys and running a ring toss game stall featuring small stuffed toys.
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 Yinchuan for five years, earning around 1,200 yuan (about 167 U.S. dollars) a month.
"I must rely on my own to support myself and my 12-year-old son, in addition to receiving financial assistance from the government. 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," she said.
Liu is one of the approximately 470,000 disabled individuals in Ningxia, most of whom are steadfastly 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.
A supportive social environment and the backing of families are important reasons behind the resilience of people with disabilities on their journey through life.
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 a disability for more than a decade. His wife is employed at a nearby cigarette factory, while his son and daughter-in-law work in southwest China's Sichuan Province. The combined income of his family members 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, 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 each of such individuals with abilities in singing, dance, opera and painting.
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. ■
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