Paralympics bring boon to Beijing´s disabled

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Another teacher is Xu Junxian.

The former accountant was laid off more than ten years ago.

Xu Junxian, Beijing resident said "I went through a long period of depression at home after I was let go, until I took this job. Although the job is simple, it makes me feel I am useful and equally important. These students here are also hard-working, they need that determination to survive. This place gets us involved in society."

Li Jinhua loves doing handicrafts in her spare time.

But in a country where the handicapped population totals 83 million, tackling disability issues is not easy.

And the Paralympics provides a golden opportunity to make changes happen.

Beijing is striving to be a city without barriers. For the Paralympic host, it means more than upgrading homes and public facilities, it means removing the barriers in people's hearts. That is, getting disabled people more involved in public life, for now, and long after the medals are awarded.

Editor:Xiong Qu