In world of silence, she has soothing touch

Gao Xiaodi never allows herself to feel sorry, even though she has lived with a hearing impairment since childhood.

The only feeling of guilt she harbors is for sending her only daughter to be raised by her parents some 25 years ago - so that she could throw herself into painting.

Now one of the nation's top artists, Gao, 53, is the first physically-challenged person from Sichuan province to attend an annual session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference as a member of its national committee.