An Oral History of the Special Olympics in China Volume 3: Finding and Keeping a Job (Economy and Social Inclusion)

This open access book brings together oral histories that record the experiences of individuals with intellectual disabilities in Shanghai as they participate in their careers. Employees with intellectual disabilities describe their experiences seeking, attaining, and maintaining employment. Their managers, colleagues, and family members also provide keen insight into the challenges and opportunities these individuals have encountered in the process of securing employment. An appendix provides a compilation of employment policies related to people with intellectual disabilities, particularly with respect to Shanghai.-- Provided by publisher Preface 8 Contents 11 About the Editors 13 Worries About His Future 15 Interview with Mr. QJ’s Family 15 Government-Mandated Relocation from Pudong Airport 15 A Cute, Starry-Eyed Child 17 Being Bullied All the Way and Having to Quit School Early 18 Changing Jobs Frequently 22 Worrying Obsessively About Losing Job 24 Difficulty in Learning to Take Care of Himself 31 Multiple Interests Including Travel and Photography 32 Hoping to Have a Wife and Kids 35 Insurance Purchase Out of Worry 37 Interview with QJ’s Co-Worker (I) 40 Interview with QJ’s Co-Worker (II) 41 Interview with QJ’s Co-Worker (III) 42 Interview with QJ’s Co-Worker (IV) 42 Interview with QJ’s Co-Worker (V) 45 Interview with Mr. QJ 47 Observation of QJ at Work 51 Traveling for Auto Shows 54 Interview with Mr. JL’s Parents 54 Regret not Having Had Time to Take Care of the Petit Baby 54 Rejected by Both Kindergarten and Elementary School 56 Uneventful Time at Special Education School 59 Slow-Paced at Work, but with Positive Attitude 61 Long-Time Obsession with Cars and Trains 65 Self-Dependent and a Comfort to Parents 67 Self-Esteem, Self-Dependence and Friends as Priorities 69 Less Time on Sports and More Time on Computer Games 72 Worried About Old Age and Hoping for Better Policies 73 Interview with JL’s Co-Worker (I) 75 Interview with JL’s Co-Worker (II) 76 Interview with Mr. JL 77 Observation of JL at Work 80 It Is What It Is 82 Interview with Ms. ZZ’s Mother 82 Predestination 82 Combing Newspapers for a job 87 Watching Her Dating and Marriage for Protection 89 Happy Family 91 Interview with ZZ’s Co-Worker 96 Interview with Ms. ZZ 99 Observation of ZZ at Work 103 Simple Goal of Having a Stable Job 107 Interview with Mr. W’s Parents 107 An Introvert Child 107 Bullied in Middle School 110 Obtaining a Disability Certificate 111 Going to the Sunshine Home 113 Six Months Working at a Supermarket 114 Joining Papa John’s 115 Hoping for Stability in the Future 120 Interview with W’s Co-Worker (I) 122 Interview with W’s Co-Worker (II) 126 Interview with W’s Co-Worker (III) 129 Interview with Mr. W 135 Going to School 135 Dropping Out of School 137 Working 137 Special Olympics 140 Life 140 Observation of W at Work 141 I Am Capable, So I Will Do More 145 Interview with Mr. QZ’s Mother 145 Delayed Development and Fragile Bones 145 Free Rein in Developing Intellect and Building Self-Dependence 148 Special School Education at a Cost of Sponsership Fee 150 Overcoming Temporary Autism 156 Thriving at Yang Fan School 157 A Good Member of the Sunshine Home 160 Working like a Person Without Disability 162 Harmonious Family on Its Way to Stability 166 Interview with QZ’s Co-Worker (I) 168 Interview with QZ’s Co-Worker (II) 169 Interview with QZ’s Co-Worker (III) 170 Interview with Mr. QZ 174 Observation of QZ at Work 179 Live Strong 182 Interview with Ms. ZH’s Father 182 A Special Family 182 Getting Spoiled due to Childhood Sickness 186 Hoping to Work for Independence 191 Bittersweet Marriage 195 A Dad with a Physical Disability and Strong Will 201 Interview with ZH’s Co-Worker (I) 208 Interview with ZH’s Co-Worker (II) 210 Interview with Ms. ZH 211 One Out of a Hundred Thousand 211 Spending My Own Money 214 Being a Wife and a Mom 217 Important People 219 Observation of ZH at Work 222 Disability Certificate Acquired as an Adult 224 Interview with Mr. L’s Mother 224 Major Complications from Dystocia 224 Huge Challenge in Regular School 226 Difficult Time Looking for a Job 229 A Rare and Cherished Opportunity 231 Encouragement to Boost Self-Confidence 236 Interview with L’s Co-Worker 239 Interview with Mr. L 241 Observation of L at Work 244 Hope to Visit Co-Worker’s Hometown 246 Interview with Mr. H’s Family 246 Poor Health After Choking on Amniotic Fluid 246 Tagging Along in Third Grade 249 A Student Leader at Special Education School 251 A Car Accident 254 Learning to Make Appetizers After Getting into a Vocational School 257 Hardworking and Outgoing 259 Entertainment Needs and Multiple Interests 263 Cherishing the Present and Envisioning the Future 264 Interview with H’s Co-Worker (I) 267 Interview with H’s Co-Worker (II) 269 Interview with H’s Co-Worker (III) 271 Interview with H’s Co-Worker (IV) 273 Interview with Mr. H (I) 274 Interview with Mr. H (II) 281 Observation of H at Work 283 Never Treat the Child as Someone with a Disability 286 Interview with Ms. LJ’s Mother 286 Fate Changed by a High Fever 286 Preferring Play to Study 288 Non-Challenging Curriculum at Special Education School 290 Gratifying Supermarket Job 295 A Precious Daughter 297 Reluctant about Going to the Sunshine Home 300 Good Rapport with Co-Workers 302 Dependence on Mom 310 Ordinary People for Friends 311 Bittersweet Emotional Life 314 Expectations for a Better Life 317 Interview with LJ’s Co-Worker (I) 319 Interview with LJ’s Co-Worker (II) 321 Interview with Ms. LJ 322 Observation of LJ at Work 327 Be Content and Cherish the Present 335 Interview with Ms. C’s Parents 335 A Lovely Newborn 335 Showing Signs of Intellectual Disability 338 The Tough Treatment 341 The Lonely Journey of LRC 342 A Smooth Path at Special School 344 Hardworking and Kind-Hearted 347 Simple Relationship and Family Trips 351 Deep Love and Worries over the Future 353 Interview with C’s Co-Worker (I) 355 Interview with C’s Co-Worker (II) 358 Interview with C’s Co-Worker (III) 359 Interview with Ms. C 360 Observation of C at Work 367 Giving Is More Rewarding Than Taking 371 Interview with Mr. S’s Mother 371 Where It All Started: Trying Time for a Loving Couple 371 Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy: A Crushing Blow 372 Forced to Move: To Make Matters Worse 374 Treatment and Therapy: Hope Means Not Giving up 376 Helping Hand: Friends in Need, Friends Indeed 378 In the Face of Bullying: I Could Only Change Him 380 As a Student: Studying Hard to Make up for the Disability 381 Exposure to the Outside World: A New Phase of Growth 383 Vocational School: Pursuing Knowledge and Struggling Along the Way 385 Supporting Each Other in Despair 386 Giving up Free Money: One Can’t Always Just Take 389 Work Experience: Opportunities and Struggles 390 Dating and Marriage: Let Them Be 393 Expectations for Society: Practical Help 396 Interview with S’s Co-Worker 397 Interview with Mr. S 400 Childhood 400 Middle School 401 Vocational School 402 Employment with Papa John’s 404 Budding Love 406 Interests and Friendships 408 Observation of S at Work 410 I Treat Him as My Own Son 413 Interview with Mr. QB’s Father 413 Forced to Drop Out After Two Years of Regular School 413 A Top Student in Special Education School 415 Only Appearance of the Biological Father in Eighteen Years 419 A Stable Job and Close Co-Workers 420 Treated Better Than a Biological Son 424 What Happens When the Parents Grow Old? 427 Interview with QB’s Co-Worker 429 Interview with Mr. QB 430 Observation of QB at Work 432 Eager for but Fearful of Communication 435 Interview with Ms. Y’s Mother 435 A Precious Baby Long Overdue 435 Difficulties in Learning at Regular School 437 Thriving at Special Education School 438 A Scholarship Recipient at Vocational School 440 Adapting to a Demanding Job 442 A Lonely Girl’s Love for Dogs 448 No Forced Marriage and No Plan for Kids 452 Different Bonding Among Four Family Members 454 Grateful for the Help Received 458 Interview with Y’s Co-Worker (I) 459 Interview with Y’s Co-Worker (II) 462 Interview with Y’s Co-Worker (III) 462 Interview with Ms. Y 465 Observation of Y at Work 469 Appendix A Interview with Papa John’s HR Management 473 Appendix B Interview with the Brand VP of Papa John’s 479 Appendix C Interview About the Preferential Policies Benefiting Papa John’s for the Hiring Persons with Disabilities 482 Appendix D Compilation of Employment Policies for People with ID in Shanghai 487 Front Matter ....Pages i-xvi Worries About His Future (Xinhui Chen)....Pages 1-39 Traveling for Auto Shows (Ting Song, Yuan Gu)....Pages 41-68 It Is What It Is (Qiangyu Lu)....Pages 69-93 Simple Goal of Having a Stable Job (Jingjing Shen)....Pages 95-132 I Am Capable, So I Will Do More (Mei Liao)....Pages 133-169 Live Strong (Chenyi Tang)....Pages 171-212 Disability Certificate Acquired as an Adult (Qianyu Lu, Mengyuan Yu)....Pages 213-234 Hope to Visit Co-Worker’s Hometown (Qi Lin, Yi Zhang)....Pages 235-274 Never Treat the Child as Someone with a Disability (Zhen Wei)....Pages 275-323 Be Content and Cherish the Present (Zhuojun Zhang, Xiangmeng Huang)....Pages 325-360 Giving Is More Rewarding Than Taking (Buyun Chen)....Pages 361-402 I Treat Him as My Own Son (Jiaying Xiao)....Pages 403-424 Eager for but Fearful of Communication (Ting Song, Liting Mo)....Pages 425-462 Back Matter ....Pages 463-489 This open access book is unique in presenting the first oral history of individuals with an intellectual disability and their families in China. In this summary volume and the two accompanying volumes that follow, individuals with an intellectual disability tell their life stories, while their family members, teachers, classmates, and co-workers describe their professional, academic, and family relationships. Besides interview transcripts, each volume provides observations and records in real time the daily experiences of people with an intellectual disability. Drawing on the methodologies of sociology and oral history, the summary volume provides an unprecedented account of how people with intellectual disabilities in China understand themselves while also examining pertinent issues of public policy and civil society that have ramifications beyond the field of disability itself