Lawmakers with disabilities advocate AI and robotics to improve lives

Three national lawmakers with disabilities are advocating for the use of artificial intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, and robotic arms to improve employment and living conditions for the country's 85 million disabled population.

Jia Hongguang, a deputy to the National People's Congress who lost both arms at 6, used a robotic arm for the first time during the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympic torch relay — marking his first time holding an object in nearly 30 years. "It was an incredibly emotional moment," said Jia, who is now a national legislator advocating for the use of AI and robotics to help people with disabilities find work and start businesses.

NPC Deputy Wang Jiapeng is pushing for special education legislation. "With legal protection, people with disabilities can receive quality education, which is essential for good employment," he said.

Wen Xiaoyan, also an NPC deputy, has called for easing driving license restrictions, noting that autonomous driving features in domestic electric vehicles could benefit drivers with disabilities. "The real barrier is in our own minds. Don't set limits on yourself," Wen said.