With severe mental challenges and amblyopia (弱视), Xu Haofang’s idea of the world was limited to her home. Apart from her parents, interacting with others often proved to be a painful experience.
But Xu’s reality was changed when she started receiving help from the Zhang Xinya Rehabilitation (康复) Center in Shanghai. “She used to be totally dependent on us and barely spoke. Now, she has learned how to write in Chinese, how to wash the dishes and how to do the laundry herself,” says Yan Ping, Xu’s mother.
Founded in 2012 by Zhang Xinya, the center since its establishment has helped dozens of individuals like Xu with 21 of them eventually securing a job. Besides those having challenges, the center also provides assistance to those who are visually or hearing impaired (受损的). “We can unearth their potential and teach them the ability to take care of themselves,” says the 73-year-old, “By doing this, I also hope that their parents can be hopeful of their children’s future.”
Zhang Xinya herself is also a mother to a girl with mental challenges. To help her daughter build meaningful connections with society, Zhang took her to a government-funded center to learn physical exercises that would improve her motor sills Zhang later decided to volunteer at the center, which eventually inspired her to open her own rehabilitation facility (场所).
The center provides various classes conducted by professional teachers and psychological counselors and everyday skills are included in the syllabus (教学大纲). More than 400 lawyers, public health professionals and doctors have been invited to the station to give lectures. These individuals with special needs also receive heath checks at Zhang’s center.
“Many of the individuals could not take care of themselves when they first came, but now they can hold chopstick or spoon and eat by themselves. Some used to remain silent all the time but they can now sing and dance,” says Zhang. “Seeing them make progress is what makes this all worthwhile. This is what drives me to keep going.”
【小题1】What’s the challenge in her life before Xu Haofang went to the center?| A．Her unemployment. | B．The pressure from the society. |
| C．Her disability and dependence. | D．Lack of trust in others. |
| A．discover | B．remove |
| C．change | D．admire |
| A．Her desire to see the disabled make progress in daily work. |
| B．Her experience as a volunteer in a government-funded center. |
| C．The encouragement she got from parents of those with special needs. |
| D．Her intention to help her daughter build meaningful connections with society. |
| A．the center mainly helps those who have mental challenges |
| B．all of the classes in the center are given by professional teachers |
| C．the center will secure jobs for the individuals with special needs |
| D．many individuals in the center have made progress in many aspects |
