Students with wheelchairs learn darts, patients with unknown rare diseases: people with disabilities

Chen Jiamin from the Luxiang Disabled Persons Association suffered from an unidentified rare disease five years ago, and her body function was constantly deteriorating, and she needed to rely on a wheelchair to travel; but she has been trying different sports, including taekwondo, diving, etc. This time she was learning darts and encountered a lot of difficulties during the period. People in wheelchairs often didn't have enough energy to successfully pick darts. She continued, and then tried to practice using badminton instead of darts, and practiced step by step to success. She believes that "if the format can be changed, anyone can play (different activities), and the right to try for the disabled should not be exploited."

Wanjun Huizhi Middle School, the Association for the Disabled and Swire Properties and two primary schools jointly organized the "Flying Life-Everyone is a Volunteer Dart Project". A total of more than 70 volunteers were sent to learn to fly, including primary and secondary schools. Students and wheelchair users will share their experiences with the public on Fun Day.

Students and wheelchair users learn darts together

Preparations for the event began in May this year. Six organizations sent more than 70 volunteers to participate, including students from Wanjun Huizhi Middle School and volunteers from the Luxiang Disabled Persons Association. They will learn how to throw darts and prepare for the fun day. ; Swire Properties, one of the participating groups and the sponsor of the event, arranged a tutor to teach a group of volunteers about dart skills, and took a total of 6 lessons.

Zheng Weijin, vice principal of Wanjun Huizhi Middle School, stated that the school has launched a school-wide volunteer program since 2003, requiring students to participate in off-campus volunteer services for 10 hours a year from Form Three to meet the promotion requirements.

29-year-old Chen Jiamin comes from the Luxiang Disabled Persons Association and is also one of the volunteers. She suffered from an unidentified rare disease five years ago. Her body functions including limbs, speech, hearing, and eyesight continued to deteriorate. She described that "It's difficult to do anything. If you can do anything today, you may not be able to do it today." She added that it takes a long time to find out the cause of the disease. Recently, the fingers have begun to be unable to straighten and the brain function has also deteriorated, but the reason is still unexplained.

Enthusiastic to try different exercises, patients with unknown rare diseases: at least there is a memory and a feeling in the mind

She is currently in the fourth year of a degree in Chinese and Philosophy. She is keen to try different sports, including taekwondo, diving, canoeing and parachute jumping. For her, all of these are "existent memories", "Even if I don't do it in the future, At least there is a memory and a feeling in my mind." This time learning darts is no exception. She emphasized that it takes years for people with disabilities to prepare to participate in an activity, and the non-disabled people "want to play today, just listen to it."

Chen Jiamin said that in the process of learning darts, he also encountered many difficulties. He explained that it takes a lot of strength to throw a dart. In addition, because the target is too high, people in wheelchairs often don't have enough energy to successfully throw a dart. She continued, and then tried to use badminton instead of darts to practice, step by step, "Finally, everyone is very happy."

Chen Jiamin believes that "if the format can be changed, anyone can play (different activities), and the right to try for the disabled should not be exploited."

Touched by wheelchair users　Participate in student volunteers: Persevere in trying to accomplish one thing

Cai Huiyi, a Form 4 student from Wanjun Huizhi Middle School who was preparing for the event, said that she was responsible for the rehearsal of the wheelchair dance performance on the fun day. The school students will perform wheelchair dance with a total of 12 people in wheelchairs. She loves dancing since she was a child. She injured her foot in 2019 and was forced to suspend dancing for a year. Until now, when she participated in dance rehearsal at a volunteer activity, her old troubles have relapsed; her family persuaded her to give up dancing.

Cai pointed out that during the rehearsal process, getting along with people in wheelchairs had a great feeling. "He doesn't give up because of his physical disability. Instead, he insists on working hard to accomplish one thing." She continued that the rehearsal was cancelled due to the No. 8 typhoon. "It's a good hurry, so I can't catch up with the progress." But in the end, the Zoom video rehearsal "breaks through difficulties."

Swire Properties, both sponsors and participants of the event, arranges all expenses including equipment, tutor fees, volunteers, student subsidies and other expenses for the entire event, which is about 100,000 yuan. Swire Properties’ Community Relations Manager Leung Po-en said that he hopes to connect with the community and achieve inclusiveness through activities, so that students can learn through the volunteer service platform without stress.

The fun day of this activity will be held at Wanjun Huizhi Middle School at 2 pm this Saturday (23rd). It will be open to the public to experience darts, use wheelchairs and watch wheelchair dance performances.