Lijia Zhang

Opinion | How Chinese with disabilities are inspiring a more inclusive country

China must enforce its disability rights laws and improve accessibility, but social attitudes also need to shift beyond discrimination and pity

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Chinese Paralympian Jiang Yuyan reacts to the results of the women’s 400m freestyle race in Paris, France. Photo: Reuters

Lijia Zhang

Published: 5:30am, 12 Sep 2024Updated: 6:00am, 12 Sep 2024

The curtain has just fallen on the Paralympic Games in Paris, a celebration of social inclusion where China once again led the world in medals. Among the many inspiring athletes, 19-year-old swimmer Jiang Yuyan – known affectionately as the “flying fish” – stood out, winning seven gold medals.

I hope Jiang’s triumphs will serve as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path for others to chase their dreams and embrace the transformative power of sports. Yet, for those who do step onto this path, a word of warning: mockery and scorn may await.

In late August, a young woman with disabilities from Ningxia Hui autonomous region, surnamed Ma, shared a video of herself on social media engaged in vigorous exercise. What followed was a torrent of vitriol from online trolls. “Look at you! Why do you bother”? sneered one netizen. Another cruelly accused her of pretending to be able-bodied. One particularly venomous commenter went so far to say “If you don’t have a full body, what’s the point of living like that.”

Ma’s story is a painful reflection of the entrenched discrimination faced by individuals with disabilities in China. Ma, who lost her legs during childhood, relies on prosthetic limbs. But she has lived a full life, pursuing higher education and securing a job as an accountant. Though deeply hurt by the cruel remarks, Ma refused to be defeated.

Unfortunately, Ma’s experience is not unusual. In 2021, Niu Yu, an influencer who lost a leg in the Wenchuan earthquake, was similarly harassed online after appearing at a fashion show. Her behaviour clearly didn’t conform to the traditional notion of someone with a disability.