December 3 marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which was founded by the United Nations in 1992. 

It was established with the goal of promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life. This year's theme is "empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality".

Life is often not easy for people with disabilities, and some face challenges in daily life that can be beyond the imagination of others. For many of these people, their disability hasn't stopped them from leading fulfilling lives. And some of the most outstanding minds, such as Stephen Hawking, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Helen Keller, provide examples of people who achieved greatness despite disability.

The "CCTV Spring Festival Gala" in 2005 remains vivid in the memory of many Chinese people. The most highly-watched program on TV that year, it included a dance called the "Thousand Hand Buddha" performed by 21 deaf-mute dancers moving in unity. The dance was first performed at the closing ceremony of the Athens Paralympic Games in September 2004. They showcased Chinese culture to the world on behalf of the 60 million people across China with a disability.

Luo Yu's right leg was amputated following a car accident when she was three years old. That didn't stop her from dedicating herself to pursuing her passion for sports such as mountain climbing, skiing, and bungee jumping. She's found fame online in China for her optimism and perseverance. She shares her story online in the hope of encouraging other people with disabilities to reach their full potential.

Yuan Haijun, was a businessman in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, when an accident in 2011 resulted in paraplegia. But this severe disability didn't put an end to his life. This year, he started another business, breeding snails from Luoyang. And with the help of supporters, he established a support center staffed by volunteers along with a restaurant that provides support to people with disabilities.

According to the "Research Report on Career of People with Disabilities in China (2018)" released on Wednesday, China has achieved positive results in promoting the development of career opportunities for people with a disability. The data shows that there were 706,000 people with a disability receiving technical training last year, and more than 20 million people received a social security subsidy.

Enterprises are taking a share of the community's responsibility to improve the lives of people with a disability. China's e-commerce giant Alibaba has implemented a plan to hire people with a disability as customer service staff. And restaurants staffed by waiters with a disability can also be found across the China. At one hotpot restaurant in Chongqing, 90 percent of the employees are deaf-mute people. Signboards with words like "tissue","tea","bill" are provided to customers, and they can call for a waiter by pressing a service button on their table.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is an opportunity to raise awareness of people's different needs. Living with a disability can pose unique challenges, and the day acts as a reminder that people with a disability deserve respect and an equal right to participate in community life.

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