A positive influencer

Long way to go

According to the latest statistics from the China Disabled Persons' Federation, as of February 2020, the total number of disabled people in China reached 85 million, accounting for 6.21 percent of the country's total population.

Zhao says education and employment are the two major hurdles for the disabled group around her.

She uses her college experience as an example. The school she attended has no accessibility facilities, so she had to be carried up the stairs and accompanied by a nursing assistant at school. Overcoming countless difficulties, she applied for a separate dormitory to enable the assistant to live with her.

"The whole thing may not be particularly difficult, but I could feel my family was anxious and worried during my high school years, which put great pressure on me throughout my education," she says.

Yet, most people with disabilities are not as lucky as Zhao.

"After I started working, I realized that not everyone had the same experience as me. I didn't think my disability was that special before, and I thought everyone had to face the same challenges and overcome similar difficulties to achieve what they did," she says.

But the fact is, most disabled people cannot make it that far.

Zhao explains that she has heard many stories about disabled people dropping out of school because no one in their families was able to take care of them at school, and the families might think it was meaningless for them to go to school anyway. Then, some students with good grades were rejected by their chosen universities or were persuaded to change majors because of their disabilities.

Beyond that, some people with minor disabilities, which may not affect their daily life at all, were being dismissed by companies, due to their physical examination reports reflecting their issue.

She points out that the rights of disabled people to receive education can be better protected. "It is unfair for us as individuals to bear the consequences of insufficient public facilities," she adds.

The good news is that equality has improved over the years, with many colleges and universities initiating, or creating, facilities for disabled students, according to Zhao.

In addition, the construction of accessible facilities has started in the country, but because it is still at a relatively early stage, there is a gap between cities in the level of construction.

"Shanghai is the city where I have the best experience as a wheelchair user, but it still cannot guarantee that I can go out alone," she says, adding that only with deep understanding and recognition can the system be implemented better.

After experiencing all of this, Zhao says she has developed a new perspective for her videos. "I hope to be a bridge between the wider society and the disabled. I want people to be able to truly experience the life of the disabled and to develop a greater understanding of the group," she says.