‘I couldn’t be a burden’: Man in China uses social media to raise disability awareness, help others

CHANGSHA - A man from Qidong county in Hunan province has gained popularity online after posting about how he lives with a disability in the countryside.

Mr Luo Yaping, who contracted polio at a young age, lives a fulfilling and rewarding life in Caoyuan village, where he contributes to the community by repairing electrical items and selling produce online.

Although the 35-year-old had already been considered a pillar of his community and a “guardian of the village” where he lives, his foray into social media gave him a new wave of exposure.

He has been using this platform to show the world beyond his daily living with a disability, as well as share and promote the stories of others.

Mr Luo’s Douyin account, Village Guardian Old Luo, has 48,000 followers and received 795,000 likes.

In his early years, he isolated himself after polio caused the paralysis of his legs. That all changed one day when he chanced across a TV programme featuring a person with a disability who was self-reliant and living a full life despite adversity.

Inspired, Mr Luo convinced his mother to allow him to return to school, where his teachers and classmates embraced him, offering their unwavering support and even carrying him to classes.

This kindness ignited his determination. “I couldn’t be a burden,” said Mr Luo. “I had to repay society by helping others.”

In 2012, after attending a vocational training programme for people with disabilities, Mr Luo opened a small appliance repair shop in his village, charging minimal fees, or even nothing for minor fixes.

Eventually, he became a trusted figure, especially among elderly residents struggling with loneliness and outdated technology.

Mr Luo said many of the elderly villagers live humble lives and do not like to throw away faulty home appliances. Moreover, he said he enjoys giving old appliances a little extra life.

Over the past 13 years, he has travelled on his red tricycle – repaired and upgraded numerous times – to countless homes. “Whether it’s a broken TV or a faulty signal receiver, he comes whenever we call,” said Mr Jiang Xunlai, a villager whose television Mr Luo recently repaired.

In 2022, on the recommendation of his cousin, Mr Luo decided to start an account on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, where he shared short videos about his life.

His posts quickly garnered attention, and soon others were messaging him to share their stories.

In 2024, he helped a 22-year-old woman with congenital heart disease crowd-source 30,000 yuan (S$5,370) for life-saving surgery.

“Her life was just beginning. I had to act,” Mr Luo said. The surgery was a success and she is on the road to recovery, he added.

Mr Luo is also using his platform to tackle rural poverty. By live streaming from local farms, he has promoted cabbages grown in Caoyuan, selling over 50 metric tonnes annually. For many farmers, this has meant turning once stagnant harvests into income.

“Previously, many couldn’t sell their crops. Now, they have hope,” Mr Luo said.

From using social media to highlight the plight of the needy, he has moved on to actually providing help to them directly, such as covering the living expenses of orphaned children and aiding families caring for disabled members. To date, he estimates he has assisted around 100 families.

Married with two children, Mr Luo attributes his success and happiness to being grateful for whatever he has in life.

“Academic success isn’t everything. But being a good, thankful person is,” he said.

“I’m disabled, not useless,” said Mr Luo, who credits the kindness he received as a youth for starting him on his journey. His Douyin profile encapsulates his mission – to pass on the warmth he once received, proving that even the faintest light can guide others through darkness.

“Being disabled only means that it is a bit harder for me to do things, not that I cannot do them. It only takes me more time, and I have all the time in the world.

“If I can ease someone else’s hardship, even a little, it’s worth it.” CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK