December 3 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities

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.