Liu Ying puts on flower-shaped balloons to decorate a balloon arch with the help of an assistant at a youth activity center in Hongkou District, east China's Shanghai, May 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
SHANGHAI, May 21 (Xinhua) -- 42-year-old Liu Ying, hearing-impaired, always carries an electric pump and bags of balloons. Within two minutes, she can blow up a balloon and shape it into a vivid bear or a duck, bringing joy to children.
During a treatment for pneumonia shortly after she was born, Liu Ying's auditory nerves were damaged due to improper medication, resulting in hearing impairment. For years, Liu Ying's mother, a Chinese language teacher, insisted on communicating with Liu Ying by writing cards to train her writing skills and increase her vocabulary. Those training laid a solid foundation for the demolition of communication barriers for Liu Ying.
In 2011, Liu Ying grew interested in making magic balloons when she was a customer service staff member. She bought materials and learned how to make magic balloons through teaching videos. She even signed up for training classes to strengthen her skills. By shaping the balloons into arches and other ornaments, she decorated her brother's wedding site and left a great impression on all the guests. Later, Liu Ying registered her own company and started her own business in making decorative balloons. Together with other hearing-impaired assistants, she is busy decorating sites for various activities with magic balloons nowadays. Liu Ying wants to be a happiness creator, spreading positive energy to people with her balloons.
Liu Ying makes balloons at a youth activity center in Hongkou District, east China's Shanghai, May 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Xin Mengchen)
Liu Ying communicates with Ke Shuichang (R), her mentor in starting her own business, through typing on a mobile phone at an office in east China's Shanghai, April 14, 2023. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
Liu Ying communicates with an assistant through sign language at a youth activity center in Hongkou District, east China's Shanghai, May 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Xin Mengchen)
Liu Ying adjusts the position of a balloon arch at a youth activity center in Hongkou District, east China's Shanghai, May 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
Liu Ying makes flower-shaped balloons at an office of the employment service center for disabled people in east China's Shanghai, May 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
Liu Ying writes down "My name is Liu Ying. I cheer myself up" on a flower-shaped balloon after finishing the construction of a balloon arch at a youth activity center in Hongkou District, east China's Shanghai, May 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
Liu Ying (back) and her assistant (2nd, L) teach a handicraft lesson at an activity center in Hongkou District, east China's Shanghai, April 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
Liu Ying demonstrates a balloon bow and a balloon arrow at a charity fair activity center in Huangpu District, east China's Shanghai, April 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
