The upcoming National Day for Helping the Disabled marks the 10th anniversary of the OUC School for the Disabled. Over the past 10 years, the OUC has embraced a number of ambitious disabled youths, helping them fulfill their dream of going to university; it has cultivated a great number of exceptional disabled university students, equipping them with knowledge and skills; and it has said farewell to scores of promising disabled graduates, enabling them to serve society and work hard to achieve their dreams.
The OUC School for the Disabled( former the School for the Disabled of China Central Radio and TV University) (RTVU) was founded in February 2004,provided degree education and on-the-job training, in order to meet the actual needs of disabled people in China.It has cooperated with disabled persons’ federations and given support for the disabled to improve their quality of life, acquire skills, assimilate into society, and seek development. Today, the School for the Disabled offers distance education in cooperation with local disabled persons’ federations at different administrative levels. By the end of 2014, the school had set up 42 branches or study centres in provincial capital cities or central cities throughout the country, offering three undergraduate programme courses –Social Work, Advertising and Law – and six junior college programme courses –Digital Media Design and Creation, Accounting, English, Social Work, Law, and Online Marketing.A total of 12,030 students have been enrolled at the School, of which 5,361 have graduated.
Yang Bozun: A “flying fish” in the water
Yang Bozun, a 1.86 m tall young man with a silvery laugh, wears fashionable sunglasses. It would be impossible to tell that he is blind were he not feeling his way around.
In September 2005, 19-year-old Yang Bozun became blind in both eyes as a result of an illness. In March 2006, he joined in the training of China Swimming Team for the Disabled as a national swimmer. Sports helped to clear his mind and cheer him up. In June 2006, Yang Bozun took part in the World Swimming Open for the Disabled for the first time. He won three gold medals and one silver medal, and broke two Asian records. To date, Yang has achieved a total of 59 medals and become a grand slam winner in the Olympic Games, World Championships, Asian Games, and China National Games, holding four world records and several Asian and national records.
Yang Bozun is also a hard worker outside the sports arena, taking pains to improve his own cultural quality. In 2009, he entered the OUC Disabled School of Tianjin RTVU. During the course of learning, he found that knowledge brought him endless strength, broadened his vision, and constantly awakened his mind. The school formulated a special learning scheme for him, and Yang persevered in three-hour English learning sessions every day after training. To learn “by ear instead of by eye”fostered his strong autonomous learning ability.
At the 2012 London Olympic Games, Yang accepted interviews given by CCTV, BBC and other national and international media in fluent English and was highly praised. Mr. Xin Lee, a BBC producer, said in a letter dated September 21, 2012:“It is a great pleasure for me to have Chinese athletes speak directly in English to the UK audience. Yang is perhaps the only Chinese athlete accepting English interviews during the London Olympic and Paralympic games.”
Yang also takes parts in social and charitable activities. He sold his gold medals twice at auction and gave the money to student dropouts in Sichuan earthquake-stricken area.He joined Tianjin Sunshine Volunteer Love Community and makes donations to help orphans, the elderly, the disabled, the poor, and students.He also made a speech to encourage disabled students on the 21st World Disabled Day. Finally, he founded Shimao Bozun Fitness Centre and offered university students job opportunities and business guidance.
Yang Bozun’s efforts have not gone unrewarded. He has been presented with a number of advanced titles in Tianjin and China, including the First Top 10 Self-Improvement Youngsters of Tianjin; Model Worker of Tianjin; May 4th Medal for Outstanding Chinese Youth; National May 1st Labor Medals; Advanced Individual in China; and Excellent Athlete in China.