'Silent riders' thrive, show resilience in digital era

Under current regulations in China, people with hearing impairments can apply for a small-car driver's license if they meet specific hearing requirements, such as being able to hear car horns from different directions, with the help of assistive devices. After passing the necessary tests, they are also eligible to work in the ride-hailing sector.

While a small number of passengers may have doubts, most are understanding. "Some even use sign language to say 'thank you' to me," Zhao said.

Ride-hailing drivers and delivery workers represent new forms of employment that have emerged with the growth of internet technologies and the digital economy. As of March, more than 80 million people were engaged in these flexible jobs, including 12 million delivery workers and nearly 7 million ride-hailing drivers.

Compared with traditional job options for people with disabilities, these roles offer not only more equal access but often higher pay.

Last year, more than 10,000 people with hearing impairments worked as delivery workers for Meituan.

In Shanghai, a Meituan delivery station on North Sichuan Road established a dedicated branch for workers with disabilities in the autumn of 2024. The station also employs a sign language instructor to support daily communication with its 17 employees with hearing impairments.

Before becoming a delivery worker, Sun, who is originally from Henan province, spent four years working at an electronics assembly factory. The job was exhausting, she said, and paid only 2,000 yuan ($292.6) to 4,000 yuan per month.

She described on-demand delivery work as more equitable, noting that people with hearing impairments are not discriminated against and can perform just as well as others.

When Sun began working as a delivery rider in October last year, she was unfamiliar with the delivery system and the electric motorcycle, earning only about 3,000 yuan a month.

With guidance from more experienced colleagues at the station, she gradually improved. She now completes more than 1,200 orders per month, and her income has risen to around 8,000 yuan.

In December 2024, Meituan upgraded its accessibility features for delivery workers with hearing impairments. The updated system includes functions such as speech-to-text conversion and AI-powered voice calling.

While making deliveries, Sun wears a vest labeled "Silent Rider". When people notice it, they will often step in to help her find her way if she is lost.