Talking with a pen
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![Disabled volunteers of Asian Para Games Cao Huapeng, Peng Zhaoying, Chen Yang and Lin Yongjie （from left to right）. [China.org.cn]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20101219/0019b93bd68d0e78038a01.jpg "Disabled volunteers of Asian Para Games Cao Huapeng, Peng Zhaoying, Chen Yang and Lin Yongjie （from left to right）. [China.org.cn]") |
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Disabled volunteers of Asian Para Games Cao Huapeng, Peng Zhaoying, Chen Yang and Lin Yongjie （from left to right）. [China.org.cn] |
Cao Huapeng patrols the volunteer stations in Guangzhou's Tianhe District every day during the Asian Para Games. In uniform, with a smile on his face, Cao is always ready to help. But he'll ask you to write down your questions in his notebook. Cao lost his hearing from tonsillitis when he was a baby.
Cao makes great use of his notebook, his main method of communication. "I thank the organizers [of the Games] for giving me the chance to serve the games as a citizen of Guangzhou," he wrote. "I'm doing my best to fulfill my duty."
The Asian Para Games has recruited 500,000 volunteers, more than 100 of whom are physically disabled. The disabled went through the same strict training and exams as other volunteers and offer services from reception, translation and communication to audience services and media support.
Cao's duties – he has been promoted to deputy captain of the inspection team – include inspecting volunteer stations every day. He greets other volunteers with his inspector certificate and his notebook with a message that reads, "I am the inspector in the district, and I need to write down your names. Thank you." He then praises their hard work and gives them encouragement.
Cao knows and even teaches sign language, but he still thinks talking with a pen and paper is more convenient.
"As a volunteer, I'm ready to help no matter whether I'm on duty or not," Cao said. "I serve the Games like any other volunteer."
"The work is hard but also rewarding. The biggest reward is that I communicate with others equally."
Cao volunteered at the international basketball championship for deaf people in 2007, where he had to get used to signing in different languages to communicate with players from other countries.
"The disabled volunteers know more about what the disabled need most," said Chen Yang, chairman of the Guangzhou Association of the Blind, who is also a volunteer and trainer at the Asian Para Games.
