The girl in a wheelchair: Up and giving

Editor's note : China Mosaic looks into the diversity and complexity of China. In the second episode, we focus on the lives ofthe disabled peoplein China.

"When I jump from 3,000 feet, I feel free, free from the wheelchair. I'm also released and I can see the vastness of land. Falling straight down through the clouds is thrilling," Pan Meihao. This 27-year-old girl has been in a wheelchair ever since she was a child due to the spinal cord injuries.

Growing up in a small town in the city of Anyang, central China's Henan Province, Pan had limited chances to interact with other people or the outside world when she was young. "Before I came to Beijing, the only people that I spent time with were my family. I thought that nobody had disabilities and everybody could walk," said Pan. At that time, she thought that she would never live on her own because she was a "patient" and she had to be taken care of by others throughout her life.

However, Pan changed her mind after she came to Beijing to participate in a charity project that encourages and helps young people disabled by rare diseases be independent. Thanks to the project, Pan got the chance to make new friends who share similar experiences and she came to realize that she was not alone. "When I'm in trouble, nobody around me says, 'Oh, you're not up to it,' or 'You won't make it.'" We encourage each other instead," Pan stated.

Pan now works for a company and her job involves helping people in rehabilitation hospitals who are, like her, wheelchair-bound because of spinal cord injuries. "I also share my company's medical philosophies with them to help everyone choose a lifestyle that's healthier and suits them better," said Pan.

Outside of work, Pan also devoted herself to charity work which aims to help more people with disabilities to maximize their potential and helping them be a part of mainstream society.

China now has around 85 million people with disabilities according to the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF). For years, the country has committed to improving the conditions for the disabled people. Yet, more efforts are needed and more attention should also be paid to the mental health of people with disabilities.

Pan is the founder of a charity organization which helps women with disabilities to cultivate self-awareness through art.

"Many people may wonder why physically challenged people like me don't just stay at home, or why these people do things that are out of the ordinary for everyone. So the whole thing is about breaking stereotypes. Disabled women actually live in a cocoon and need to let out their emotions. So they note down their feelings through, say, drawing or writing, and then come up with really nice ideas," said Pan.

(CGTN)