I began to tutor students in my spare time at my home in 1978, when the national college entrance exam restarted after more than 10 years. At that time, many of my neighbours living in dark and humble houses asked me to help their children with their studies.

I was a teacher and thought I should pass on knowledge to as many people as possible. So I agreed to teach them in the evening or at the weekend. With too many students to teach I felt exhausted and my health deteriorated. In the last few years I accepted only children whose parents are disabled, many of whom were referred by the municipal or district disabled people's association.

On average I tutor 15 to 20 students every year, ranging from middle school to university students. Most are not doing well academically at school, partly due to their family situation and partly due to the fact that their parents are illiterate themselves and ignore their children's studies. I not only teach them maths but also tell them that they should study well because studying can change the fates of themselves and their families.

What kind of students do you like most?

I like students who study hard and are willing to listen to my instructions. I feel proud of some students. One is now in his 20s and enrolled at a private university several years ago. He is well-motivated, not only to study but also to take part in activities in campus clubs. I heard that he applied to join the Communist Party recently.

Another student is a female who is not attending my classes now and has been a volunteer at a disabled people's association for three years.

I feel relieved about their progress. I tell them that although they are at second- or third-class schools, they can still succeed in life if they don't give up their dream and continue their hard work.

There are good students from bad schools, just like there are bad students from good schools. I have seen students at Shanghai Jiaotong University, one of China's most prestigious ones, score only 18 per cent in a test.

But there are some students without such willingness to improve themselves. Once a boy was so addicted to playing internet games that no matter how much I instructed him, he never listened. Then I refused to tutor him because I thought my effort was wasted. Also there are some students who are impolite and never say hello to me.

What do you think of attitudes towards disabled people?

The situation for us disabled has got better in the past few years. Each year we can apply to a national scheme for products designed for disabled people. There are more obstacle-free facilities in public venues. But discrimination is still there when handicapped people hunt for jobs.

I think I am lucky because I am an intellectual and had a decent job. I was accepted into East China Normal University's maths department in 1956 and got a job as a teacher at Shanghai Jiaotong University after graduation.

Many years ago some handicapped people would drive a kind of motorised pedicab, which made it easier for them to get around and had room for another person too. So some made a living charging passengers. But several years ago, the Shanghai government banned the pedicabs to improve the city's image. I heard this decision cut incomes for those people and put them in great difficulty.

Tell us about your family

I have a happy family. My husband also had polio and is an intellectual. He was an editor at an encyclopaedia publishing house before his retirement. He had a job with a lot of responsibility and spent a lot of his spare time researching the history of Chinese painting. We have a daughter in her 40s, and she is healthy. My daughter does not support my decision to tutor students. She says I should rest more and pay attention to my health.