Across China: People with disabilities keep working despite coronavirus

Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Lian Dong, 38, has been working from home since the novel coronavirus epidemic broke out in China in January.

Though the outbreak has put a pause on many businesses, Lian managed to get his usual salary of about 4,800 yuan (690 U.S. dollars) last month.

"It didn't affect the livelihood of my family because I can still work from home during the period thanks to the computer my employer brought to me," he said.

Lian works as an online customer service staff at an employment base affiliated with the China Foundation for Disabled Persons (CFDP) in the northwestern city of Zhangye, Gansu Province.

The base has cooperated with YTO Express, a major courier service company in China, since 2017 to offer online customer service jobs to more than 50 people who suffer from limb paralysis.

Liu Weiping, who is in charge of the base and suffers from paraplegia himself, said during this special time, employees who used to come to the office have been offered computers to work from home.

Shortly after the outbreak, Liu and his wife drove their own car to send computers to the disabled workers for their convenience to avoid their risk of infection.

Liu, also a qualified psychological consultant, provided disease prevention knowledge and psychological counseling for them via mobile phone and messaging app WeChat.

Amid the outbreak, package delivery business was busier as many people who stay at home opt to online shopping, making members in Liu's base even higher in demand for their services.

"We cannot stop working as we need to solve clients' concerns about their packages," Liu said. "Besides, no work means no money."

"I am happy and relieved to have a steady income at this time," said Tang Xiaopeng, another worker at the base who earned 4,150 yuan last month.

Recently, as positive signs started emerging in the battle against the outbreak and the courier industry gradually recovered, the base is getting back to normal with the staff returning to offices.

Meanwhile, special measures have been taken to avoid the risk of infection, including strict temperature monitoring, staggered office hours and scattered seating.

The base has received donations including face masks and disinfection gels from local government and the CFDP and has resumed operation.

Statistics showed that the base has provided nearly 320,000 high-quality telephone services to YTO Express customers.

"We have already received much care from society. And now we are so proud to do our part and pay back the kindness," said Tang.