Deaf student's struggle helps inspire kids to defy disability

Tsinghua PhD candidate spends spare time visiting special schools in her native Hunan

Jiang Mengnan's story is one of triumph over adversity. Deaf almost since birth, she has overcome myriad obstacles to achieve her dream of studying for a PhD at one of China's most prestigious schools.

More importantly, she is helping inspire disabled children in her native Hunan province and beyond to strive for success and defy the low expectations some in society still place on them.