A sense of belonging

Xia is not the only one breaking boundaries. His efforts bridge groups with various disabilities, helping more people find comfort and gain new inspirations.

Among the pub's dozens of regular customers, 30-year-old visually-impaired Gong Jinghua, better known as Mao Mao, is an active and impressive one. He attended the pub's opening and much of his advice on its accessibility design, especially the Braille signs, was adopted.

Like Fu, Gong has also explored beyond his boundaries, mostly on his own, before coming to Pub HandyCup. Despite the countless difficulties visually-impaired people face in leaving behind familiarity, Gong bravely relocated to Shanghai from his hometown in Shanxi province in 2022. He experienced many anxious days in the unfamiliar city until he found a sense of belonging at the pub.

Gong's passion and potential were recognized when he helped with the pub's Braille design. He was invited to be the pub's resident event planner, offering diverse activities to promote accessibility and inclusion, including Braille workshops, crossover collaborations, blindfolded pint-pulling games, wheelchair block tours, Braille riddles, and more.

Such activities have helped turn abstract barriers into tangible experiences, bringing people from diverse groups and worlds together in subtle, clever ways. During this process, Gong is also building his self-esteem, making more friends, and expanding his limitations.

"I particularly enjoy visiting exhibitions and art galleries, but I need someone to describe them to me. We have many artist friends. When I go to their shows, they explain their works to me," says Gong excitedly.

From Fu's perspective, he sees Gong as a representative of those breaking boundaries at the pub, summarizing Gong's success on three levels: when Gong became an event planner instead of being a masseur; when he started working with other disabilities rather than confining himself to the blind community; and when he joined discussions on broader topics in the wider world of disabilities.

Even though he cannot see, Gong tells China Daily, "Pub HandyCup is 'colorful'. It is diverse, equal and inclusive."