Ms. Zhang Haidi, Vice-Chairperson, State Council Working Committee on Disability, and Chairperson, China Disabled Persons’ Federation, Beijing, China

 

With a strong sense of mission and commitment to promote the wellbeing of persons with disabilities in China, Ms. Zhang Haidi, Chairperson of China Disabled Persons’ Federation, actively advocates the establishment of a sustainable mechanism for the development of work for persons with disabilities in China.

In addition, Ms. Haidi has used her role as member of the Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh CPPCC National Committee to call for improving the livelihood of persons with disabilities and protecting their human rights. In 2014, Ms. Haidi was elected as the next President of Rehabilitation International for the period 2016-2020.
 
Ms. Haidi is also a prolific writer. She has published full-length novels, including“Dreams in the Wheelchair”, “The Topmost”, “Enduring as the Universe”, and short essays, including “Window to the Sky, Inquiry about Lives”.

Ms. Haidi has been awarded many titles in China and internationally, including “Outstanding Woman” by the All-China Women’s Federation in 1983, “Model of Self Improvement” by China Disabled Persons’ Federation in 1997, “World’s Five Outstanding Persons with Disabilities” by NHK in 1997, “Model Worker” by the State Council in 2000, “One of the Most Influential Twenty Women in the World” by Global Magazine.