Productive inclusion

He articulates his assembly tasks for automotive parts with detail and pride, a stark contrast to his previous life repairing bicycles on the street, a job that the 38-year-old inherited from his father.

For Sheng, the job provides more than just purpose, it offers a critical social safety net. "The job helps with my social security payment," he said, noting this was previously a significant financial burden.

This long-term stability has empowered him to look forward, nurturing the ambition to one day "move to a company that pays even better".

As the factory's reputation has grown, so has external interest.

From 2017, an increasing number of companies began approaching the Inclusion Factory, seeking to hire individuals with disabilities and requesting professional support to do so effectively.

Now, the factory works with more than 100 local and transnational corporations.

In response, the program has developed a robust consultancy arm, the UShine Charity Center, which provides partner companies with workplace assessments, role-matching advice and management training to foster an inclusive environment.

The program also provides immense relief and hope for families.

Mu Yan, a leader in the parent organization at UShine, has witnessed this change firsthand through her daughter's experience.

For Mu, the Inclusion Factory represents a beacon of hope that was transformative enough to compel her family to drive 1,500 kilometers from Huludao in Northeast China's Liaoning province to Taicang.

After learning about the factory while her daughter was still in middle school, Mu saw a viable future she had previously dared not imagine. "When my daughter graduated, we felt there was nowhere else she could go," Mu said.

The decision paid off. She has witnessed her daughter, who had been diagnosed with developmental delay as a child, blossom through employment, developing crucial social skills, self-awareness and a powerful sense of autonomy.

"She believes going to work is the best," said Mu, noting that her daughter now enjoys the independence of earning and managing her own money.

This transformative experience inspired Mu's own career shift. Recently, she joined the factory's parent nonprofit as a social worker, after first securing her daughter's blessing to become her colleague.

From her unique dual perspective as both a parent and a professional, Mu is channeling her personal experience into broader advocacy. Her mission is to promote the Inclusion Factory model nationwide, empowering other families to believe that, with the right support, their children can lead fulfilling, self-determined lives that are central to society.

The factory is part of a Jiangsu initiative to promote quality employment for people with disabilities, who often face barriers like workplace discrimination and a lack of accessible facilities.

Provincial authorities are pursuing several strategies. In Huaian, for instance, the local government has created jobs by establishing cafes staffed by individuals with hearing loss.

Officials have praised the strategic placement of these cafes inside government buildings, such as public service centers, as an innovative move. Situated in hubs frequented by professionals, the projects integrate people with disabilities into the professional world, visibly demonstrating their capabilities to potential employers.