Chongqing - When the music rises and the lights sweep across the stage, something remarkable happens. From her wheelchair, She Min moves with effortless rhythm—hands carving arcs in the air, body and wheels gliding as if guided by an unseen force. Her calm, confident smile radiates a fierce love for life.
She Min prepares for a flower-arrangement competition.
Diagnosed with polio at the age of one and permanently losing the use of her legs, She Min’s beginning could easily have been a story of despair. Instead, she turned it into a story of strength. Today, she is the captain of Chongqing’s first wheelchair dance team, a role model for countless people with disabilities, and a mentor who is helping many of them build new livelihoods through short-video content and livestream e-commerce.
December 3 marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, let’s step into She Min’s world to see how she transformed adversity into a new beginning—proving that disability is not a limitation, but another way to shine.
Growing up, She Min often overheard people urging her parents to “give up” on her.
“Some would say, ‘She’s only a year old—how will she live like this?’” she recalls.
But her parents chose a different path. They doubled down on love, support, and expectations. Her mother told her, “I won’t just raise you well—I’ll make sure you can live well on your own.”
From that moment, She Min made herself a promise: she would never live a life defined by dependency.
Her family trained her from childhood to manage daily tasks independently. At 16, she underwent a series of corrective surgeries and confronted physical challenges head-on.
“I might have a disability, but that doesn’t stop me from living fully,” she says. “I want my life to be brilliant.”
After finishing school, she refused to settle for safe paths chosen by others. She launched her own businesses—running a clothing company, a hotpot shop, and later a tobacco and alcohol retail business—building more than two decades of entrepreneurial experience.
“I’m no longer someone others need to take care of,” she says proudly. “I can support myself, my parents, and my child.”
She Min performs a dance together with her teammates.
She Min rehearses a dance routine with her teammates.
Entrepreneurship did not stop her from seeking growth. She immersed herself in painting, calligraphy, singing, photography—and dance.
One dance instructor quickly recognized her talent: “She has great rhythm and very expressive hands.”
Dance, however, required extraordinary effort. Every movement demanded dozens or hundreds of repetitions. With only her upper body to rely on, she had to master rhythm, posture, coordination, and group synchronization through sheer willpower.
Her perseverance paid off. In 2023, She Min became the captain of Chongqing’s first wheelchair dance team, leading rehearsals, training sessions, and stage performances. Under her leadership, the team’s signature piece “The Sun Rises With Joy” won an Excellence Award at the Seventh Disabled Arts Showcase.
“Through dance, I can express emotions with my eyes and movements,” she says. “It’s a kind of self-redemption. On stage, I no longer feel different from anyone else—I feel like I can bring light to others.”
In 2024, at a gathering of people with disabilities in Pengshui County, She Min met a woman who struggled to harvest her orchard due to limited mobility. Many of her ripe pears simply rotted on the branches. The scene stayed with She Min.
She Min hosts livestream sessions to help promote and sell products for people with disabilities.
This year, she and several partners founded a studio focused on helping people with disabilities and rural farmers sell specialty agricultural products through short videos and livestreaming. After field research, the team launched livestream campaigns across multiple districts and counties in Chongqing.
“The pears from that woman in Pengshui were all sold this year,” she says with joy. “They didn’t go to waste.”
Today, the studio helps people with disabilities secure stable income and improve their quality of life. More are joining the effort each month.
“Life may test us harshly,” She Min says, reflecting on her journey. “But the fire of our dreams should never be extinguished. True strength comes from within—and the rainbow after the storm is always worth waiting for.”