A contestant makes coffee during the seventh National Vocational Skills Competition for Disabled People in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, June 27, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Dressed in a white uniform, chef Li Yuanyuan, 35, skillfully maneuvered a pan with one hand while deftly stirring the ingredients with a cooking shovel in the other. Despite occasional moments of clumsiness, he confidently live streamed his culinary skills on social media.

Li, hailing from Bijie City in southwest China's Guizhou Province, was born with cerebral palsy. However, he refused to let his health condition hinder his aspirations. Through perseverance and dedication, he honed his cooking skills and eventually opened a successful restaurant, specializing in delectable fried chicken.

During his childhood, Li faced challenges when it came to feeding himself and relied on his parents for assistance, but he remained undeterred. He was always encouraged to engage in physical activities and explore various interests.

"I remember breaking five tricycles while learning to ride and smashing many plates and bowls when I was trying to learn how to do the dishes," Li fondly reminisces.

While growing up, he developed a genuine passion for cooking. "Whenever friends and relatives praised me for the dishes I cooked, I was thrilled," Li said.

Although he had never received professional training, practice made him perfect his culinary skills. And in 2016, Li opened his first restaurant specializing in takeaway fried chicken.

As Li's culinary creations gained popularity, he decided to expand his reach by live streaming on social media and began earning nearly 7,000 to 8,000 yuan (about 968 to 1,106 U.S. dollars) a month.

Just like Li, an increasing number of disabled people are managing to realize their dreams in various sectors.

In China, there are about 85 million people with disabilities. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), more than 50,000 students with disabilities got into institutions of higher learning and an additional 1.81 million disabled people found jobs, according to official data.

Last year, a three-year action plan for promoting the employment of the disabled was issued by the State Council, setting the goal of creating 1 million new jobs for disabled people by the end of 2024.

Significant efforts are being undertaken to promote employment opportunities for people belonging to specific groups.

The seventh National Vocational Skills Competition for Disabled People took place in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, last week. The event attracted 950 competitors from across the country and among them was Lan Yuanhua, a skilled 38-year-old barista hailing from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Undeterred by her physical disability, she said, "My physical disability doesn't prevent me from making good coffee."

Despite being diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta, a congenital condition that renders bones prone to fractures, Sun Shengru from Shandong has defied all odds. Over the course of a decade, she dedicated herself to mastering the art of carving and established her own studio specializing in crafting exquisite purple-clay teapots.

"I am selling my works across China," she said. "I hope that more people like me can find their way, and lead fulfilling lives filled with happiness and confidence."

During the three-day competition, a job fair particularly for people with disabilities was also held in Jinan, with nearly 2,500 job positions available for interested candidates.

The rise of live streaming e-commerce in China has also brought more job opportunities. At present, about 2.4 million people with disabilities are working in online stores or engaged in live streaming sales in the country.

Wang Ting, from the northwestern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, had spent eight years working in the internet industry, before delving into live streaming in 2016.

Along with six friends, she embarked on a venture selling handicrafts created by people with disabilities in the region. Their offerings include exquisite works of embroidery and intricate paper-cutting.

Similarly, chef Li Yuanyuan from Guizhou had a heartfelt desire to extend support to others. On the national day of assisting disabled persons, which is observed on the third Sunday of May every year, he would distribute the dishes he prepared among fellow community members with disabilities.

"Before reaching where I am today, I received immense help and encouragement. Therefore, I am determined to pay it forward, to assist and inspire others. Only through such actions can my life acquire true meaning," said Li, reflecting on his journey. 

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