Original Title: Their Struggles Are Particularly Touching – A Visit to Zhangye Jishan Leye Disabled Supportive Employment Center

Wearing headphones to answer calls, typing attentively on keyboards, or practicing pronunciation meticulously—at the Zhangye Jishan Leye Disabled Supportive Employment Center, over 70 customer service representatives patiently handle hotline calls from across the country, managing their tasks with efficiency and order.

A closer look reveals some using crutches, others in wheelchairs, and some communicating through sign language. Due to congenital conditions or accidents that left them with disabilities, they once faced despair and a challenging path to employment.

Here, they’ve found their workplace. The Zhangye Jishan Leye Disabled Supportive Employment Center is the provincial implementation unit of the China Disabled Persons' Welfare Foundation’s "Jishan Leye" employment project. It integrates skills training, online employment, physical and mental rehabilitation, and care services, serving as a comprehensive and standardized national internet training and employment hub for people with disabilities.

"Everyone calls this place the ‘base.’ From nothing to something, from one to many, the base embodies the dedication of many and carries the special care and attention of society for people with disabilities," said Liu Weiping, Party Branch Secretary of the center. To him, the center not only provides stable internet-based jobs but also functions as a loving family, witnessing individuals transform from self-isolation to social integration and from dependency to self-sufficiency.

From "I Won’t Give Up" to "I Can Do It" In 2006, Tang Xiaopeng had to drop out of school due to health issues after finishing elementary school.

As he grew older, he realized he was different from other children, leading to silent frustration and sadness.

"I don’t know how I got through those years—just lying at home, feeling useless and closed off," Tang recalled.

To him, being an adult meant being able to work and support a family. In the summer of 2015, he set up a stall selling water and drinks near a construction site—his first attempt to step out of his comfort zone.

"I earned over 6,000 yuan in two summers—my ‘first bucket of gold.’ I thought I saw hope, but it didn’t last. When the construction ended and my health couldn’t keep up with the long hours, my plan stalled." Yet, the experience of earning money on his own left Tang restless.

Fortunately, in July 2017, Liu Weiping, also in a wheelchair, visited Tang’s home. That meeting changed Tang’s life. "Teacher Liu told me about a job opportunity that could offer long-term stability and dignified self-reliance," Tang said. Eagerly awaiting news, he hoped to carve out a future with his own hands.

Three months later, Tang joined the base and has stayed for eight years, with his salary rising from 400 yuan to over 3,500 yuan.

Now, Tang handles recruitment and interviews, adhering to the principle of "never giving up on anyone," warmly welcoming and assisting new employees.

To him, the base is not just a workplace but a home for restarting life. Recently, Tang traveled alone to Jinan and Jining, Shandong, for a two-week training program. "We used to keep our heads down, full of insecurity. Now, we can explore the world. This is where I find my most grounded and fulfilling happiness."

From "I Resist" to "I Accept" "Dark night / countless stars / a lonely sheep / waiting for dawn / waiting is the moonlight for the sleepless / waiting is the slowest clock in the world"—this is a poem Peng Yu wrote in her notes.

The 27-year-old loves documenting life through words, filling pages with emotions and stories around her.

Born prematurely, Peng was different from other children from the start, undergoing five surgeries by age 10. As a child, she couldn’t understand why she couldn’t walk normally.

Her parents trained her rigorously to help her walk like her peers. "My mother would stand in front of me as I practiced stepping down. If she moved even slightly away, I’d freeze in fear," Peng recalled.

Growing up, she became quieter, her eyes reflecting both insecurity and defiance.

"I refused to admit defeat—I wanted to prove I could do it." After college, Peng left home to seek work. "I interviewed everywhere but failed repeatedly. Even when I found a job, I had to leave because I couldn’t meet targets."

In 2023, after over a year of drifting, Peng returned home. "My mother cared for me without complaint, but she was always cautious around me."

Peng knew that without a stable income, she’d remain trapped in self-doubt, affecting those around her.

Finally, a friend recommended the base, where she became a customer service representative.

"At first, my impatience made me frustrated with mistakes. I didn’t know how to handle upset customers, but the teachers here helped me immensely," Peng said. "I came here just to try, but their guidance helped me excel at work and accept myself."

Liang Xingjun, one of her mentors, had lived a vibrant life until an accident left him paraplegic at 19. Yet, he persisted—undergoing treatment, rehabilitation, and finding work to add color to his life.

His optimism and sincerity drew Peng in, and the two eventually became a couple. "Work is improving, and we’re ready for a new chapter," Liang said with hope.

From "I’m Useless" to "I Can" "Hello, how may I help you?" At her desk, Liu Haijun listens intently to customer calls, occasionally typing notes—just like any other customer service agent.

Liu is multiply disabled, with both physical and intellectual challenges. "Callers don’t know who I am or my condition, so I must perform like anyone else."

Now, after two years, she handles calls with ease. But the start was tough. "Training was hard—memorizing unfamiliar terms and solving customer needs felt impossible," she admitted.

While others mastered the job in weeks or months, Liu took eight months of relentless practice to work independently. "When I struggled, I’d tell myself: cherish this chance, give it your all, and stand on your own."

For those with intellectual disabilities, employment is even harder. "But the base didn’t turn me away, and the teachers never belittled me. Here, I’ve received so much kindness," Liu said.

To her family, Liu has always been a diligent and caring daughter—cooking meals for her mother after farm work and contributing her earnings to the household.

"Gratitude" was a recurring theme in her interview. She downplayed her hardships but expressed deep thanks to teachers, classmates, and friends. "They helped me shift from ‘I’m useless’ to ‘I can’—something I never imagined. I cherish this job and am forever grateful," Liu said with a smile.

From "I Want" to "I Have" At 18, Xia Xiaobin is a project team leader—cheerful, articulate, and mature beyond his years.

When we met, he was wrapping up unfinished team tasks, displaying remarkable focus and precision.

Born with a dislocated hip due to delayed treatment for an umbilical cord complication, Xia relied on a walker as a child. But this never dimmed his aspirations; instead, it forged his resilience.

"My parents taught me never to expect special treatment—everything must be earned." This mindset drove Xia to demand excellence from himself in school and work.

"Joining the base, I wanted to prove myself, grow quickly, earn a stable income, and ease my family’s burden." His diligence paid off—within a year, he rose from a novice to a team leader, training newcomers and managing operations.

"Calm, quick to learn, and patient, he loves solving problems and helping others," colleagues remarked.

Despite his stable job, Xia harbors one regret: "As a kid, I dreamed of being a teacher or writer. My disability cut my education short, but I haven’t given up."

His roadmap is clear: "I’m young—I’ll keep improving, save for adult education, and one day, with advanced medicine, undergo surgery to walk unaided."

At the base, dreams are reborn, value is realized, and love is found. As Liu Weiping said, "This isn’t just a workplace—we’re building a home, a place of hope for people with disabilities."

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