disability

Between Two Needles

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

A retired oncologist opened a garment workshop above his Guangzhou dialysis clinic to employ kidney patients who had struggled to find work elsewhere. The factory provides income, routine, and community, but its future remains tied to the treatment that keeps its workers alive.

Jiang Xinyi

Cleft Lip: The Long Road to Repairing a Smile

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

As a Beijing charity hospital faces closure, cleft lip and palate patients and their relatives are sharing their stories to bring hope to more families.

The Paper

The Shanghai School Opening Hearts and Minds on Autism

At Shanghai’s Aihao Center, parents and teachers are equipping autistic children with the skills they need to thrive in society.

Airport Controversy Sparks Accessibility Conversation in China

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

A well-known disabled Taiwanese singer called out airport staff online for the difficulty he had boarding a plane while using a wheelchair, leading to a national discussion on public accessibility.

Li Xin

Real Talk: Why China’s Deaf Creators Feel Pressured to Sell Out

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

Short video apps can be a lifeline and a tool for telling Deaf stories. But what happens when hard truths don’t translate into views?

Lu Pengyun & Guo Zhiling

In China’s Brain-Computer Clinics, a Long Wait for a Second Chance

Thousands of paralyzed patients are signing up for brain computer interface trials, but only a handful meet strict medical criteria as doctors balance demand with science.

A Toast to Inclusion: The Shanghai Pub Setting a New Standard for Accessible Social Spaces

Visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization.

MULTIMEDIA

Lü Xiao

The Promise and Pitfalls of China’s AI Sign Language Interpreters

Broadcasters have embraced the tech in the name of boosting accessibility. But few bother to stop and ask what China’s Deaf community thinks about the interpreters.

Zheng Xuan

Sail of the Century: One-Armed Skipper’s Global Odyssey

After “dancing with death” in a solo around-the-world race, Chinese sailor Xu Jingkun aims to inspire a new generation of dreamers.

What Does Climate Justice Look Like in a Language Without Sound?

Blending sign language, digital art, and public space, Night Bloom reimagines who gets seen — and heard — in climate conversations.

Fan Yiying

Test of Will: The Disabled Students Striving to Access Higher Ed

A partially sighted student who felt he was pressured to quit university in his first semester highlights gaps in educational equality.

Beijing Youth Daily

The Poet Changing China’s View of Disability — Through Dance

Yu Xiuhua became a sensation with her raunchy poetry that redefined Chinese perceptions of disability. Now, she’s taking her art a step further.

Dark Humor: Comedian Shines Light on a Rare Disease

Gao Xiang, a rising standup comedy star in Shanghai, has won acclaim for sharing his struggles living with severely impaired vision.

Shanghai Observer

Signs of Unity: Can China’s Deaf Community Find a Common Language?

While many deaf people in China want a standard sign language, there has also been resistance.

Luo Yahan

Throwing Shapes: The Rave Experience for Deaf Clubbers

BassBath is a clubbing experience in Shanghai designed to be deaf-friendly while promoting knowledge of sign language.

Ding  Jiayue

Can China Promote More Accessible Public Spaces?

A handful of entrepreneurs are opening clubs and founding workshops designed around inclusivity for disabled Chinese.

Cao Shuyun

China’s Paralympians Storm to Top of Medal Table in Paris

Team China has run up a huge lead during the opening days of the 2024 Paralympics after a string of record-breaking performances.

He Qitong

Learning to Walk — In an Exoskeleton

Liu Zhuo’er

China Makes More Films Accessible for Blind People

Several of this year’s summer blockbusters include audio description for blind and visually impaired cinemagoers, as China’s film industry begins to embrace accessibility.

Li Miaoran

The Disabled Student Entrepreneur Swapping Toys for Tech

A student with brittle bone disease has launched a startup in eastern China to develop a smart exoskeleton that will allow him and others to walk.