You can find him in the Confucius Temple area on weekends, and during pleasant seasons, outside Da Guang Elementary School on weekdays.

In Tainan’s Confucius Temple district, a specially designed tricycle and its eye-catching sign often draw the attention of passersby. Sitting on the tricycle is Mr. Guang-Xiang Su—a master of sugar painting, who uses sugar as his ink and a spoon as his brush. With steady hands and focused expression, he carefully shapes fine lines of caramel. For him, sugar painting is not only a nostalgic street-side memory of childhood, but also a cultural craft that he carries a mission on.

From Grocery Shop to Sugar Painting 

Mr. Guang-Xiang Su’s career began with a family-owned grocery store. After getting married, he and his wife managed the shop together, but the meager profit and exhausting labor pushed him to seek a new path. He then taught himself the craft of seal engraving, working hard to make a living with his hands. Yet as technology advanced, handmade seals were gradually replaced by machine engraving. 

“Both of my trades were swept away by the times,“ he says with a gentle smile—without bitterness, but with a realization: he needed to master a skill that could not be easily replaced. That‘s when he turned to the traditional art of sugar painting—an ancient craft that blends sweetness with artistry. 

From Grocery Shop to Sugar Painting 

Mr. Guang-Xiang Su’s career began with a family-owned grocery store. After getting married, he and his wife managed the shop together, but the meager profit and exhausting labor pushed him to seek a new path. He then taught himself the craft of seal engraving, working hard to make a living with his hands. Yet as technology advanced, handmade seals were gradually replaced by machine engraving. 

“Both of my trades were swept away by the times,“ he says with a gentle smile—without bitterness, but with a realization: he needed to master a skill that could not be easily replaced. That‘s when he turned to the traditional art of sugar painting—an ancient craft that blends sweetness with artistry. 

Over the years, he has taught many students, some mastered the skill in just one day, while others struggled even after four years of learning. “You need talent, but even more, you need patience,“ he says kindly, always reminding them: “Don‘t rush, it takes time and practice.“  Among his many experiences, one story left a deep impression: a professor from New Zealand learned the art in just a single day. He didn‘t learn it for profit, but simply to share this Eastern craft with friends back home. For Mr. Su, knowing that sugar painting could become a bridge of cultural exchange brought him immense joy. 

Changing Times, Enduring Legacy 

“In the past, I once promised my teacher not to pass on the craft. But now I realize that was too closed-minded,” Mr. Su says with conviction. “If we don’t teach the skills to the next generation, they’ll slowly fade away.” He hopes sugar painting can be preserved like European crafts being passed down generation after generation, and continuously enriched as cultural nourishment, rather than declining out of rigid tradition.  Now at 78, his strength is not what it used to be, but his passion remains. “Maybe I‘ll retire in two or three years, but I hope someone will carry it on.“ 

Whenever someone is willing to learn, he teaches wholeheartedly. And for those with disabilities, he never charges a fee.

“Because I know how tough it is—I’ve been through it myself.” 

Wings of Mobility 

More than thirty years ago, he transitioned from a manual wheelchair to a power wheelchair, which was a turning point in his life. “I’ve already used four different wheelchairs. Now I’m using the KP-40,” he says with a smile. “My kids walk, I roll—we go shopping, visit exhibitions. From morning to night, the battery still isn’t half used!” His words carry deep gratitude for both family and life. 

The power wheelchair has given him freedom, allowing him to continue creating and passing on his craft. Whether it’s riding the train, visiting art museums, or seeing friends, he can go wherever he wants. To him, the wheelchair is more than just a tool—it is a pair of wings, opening up a broader horizon for his life. 

Not for a Living, But for Living for Himself 

Today, Mr. Su no longer struggles for survival. Instead, sugar painting has become his passion and his mission. With his wheelchair, he expands the boundaries of freedom; with sugar threads, he safeguards the roots of tradition. His story is not just about a wheelchair or a craft—it is about how an elder, within the limits of his body, creates boundless possibilities. 

Through his life, Mr. Su shows us that a body with limitations can never restrain a steadfast heart. In his hands, sugar threads are more than art—they carry responsibility, time, and love. 

“With resilience and a never-give-up spirit, I‘ve made my later years truly sweet!“ 

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A Fragile Body, but a Strong Mind

Yu-An was born with a rare condition called osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease. It causes her bones to be very fragile. She grew up surrounded by braces, casts, and rehab sessions, where she learned to endure pain — and, more importantly, not to complain. Despite her condition, she attended public school like everyone else. She couldn’t join PE lessons and often faced alienation from classmates.

“Sometimes I wished I’d get sick, just so I didn’t have to go to school.”

That was her childhood coping mechanism — until one day, she discovered her passion through art and design class.

A Fragile Body, but a Strong Mind

Yu-An was born with a rare condition called osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease. It causes her bones to be very fragile. She grew up surrounded by braces, casts, and rehab sessions, where she learned to endure pain — and, more importantly, not to complain.

Despite her condition, she attended public school like everyone else. She couldn’t join PE lessons and often faced alienation from classmates.

“Sometimes I wished I’d get sick, just so I didn’t have to go to school.”

That was her childhood coping mechanism — until one day, she discovered her passion through art and design class.

Her Wheelchair Isn’t Just Mobility — It’s Freedom

Yu-An got her first power wheelchair during her high school years. With support from her rehab team and family, she was fitted for her first customized KP-12T at KARMA’s headquarters.

Years later, when KP-12T retired, she upgraded to the long-distance power wheelchair Saber GT. With a lithium battery, suspension system, USB ports, hooks, and a custom tray table, it’s a perfect fit for her lifestyle as an outdoor artist. While her friends call her power wheelchair her Ferrari, she prefers to see Saber as her identity.

“It represents the independent part of me. When I take great care of it, it will take great care of me.”

To her, a wheelchair isn’t just a device — it’s an extension of her freedom.

Market Life Is Not Always Sunshine and Smiles

Since 2013, Yu-An has traveled across Taiwan to join artisan markets and pop-up events in department stores.

She has met all kinds of people: shoppers who criticize her designs, kids who bite her artworks, and grumpy men who shout at her. But also… she’s met lots of kind-hearted customers, loyal fans, and even a stranger who once asked:

“Which one’s your favorite? I’ll buy it for you as a gift.”

She laughs:

“When I was younger, I took discrimination too personally — like, ‘Why are people treating me this way?’ But now I know, making a living isn’t easy. I’ve learned to let it go.”

Her humor and grace keep her going, one booth at a time.

“Try to Do What You Love, While You Can.”

Even with her passion for creating, she admits sometimes she wonders what she is doing all this for. But she doesn’t want to stop.

To her, success isn’t about making big money — it’s about having a small, stable corner to call her own.

A space where she can keep crafting, keep chatting with people, and simply keep being herself.

Yu-An’s Message

“I can eat and shower by myself. That means a lot to me.”

Yu-An values her independence deeply. Through her artwork and her presence at markets, she hopes more people can get to know her — and understand her.

When asked what she’d say to others with disabilities, she pauses and smiles:

“Go for what you want to do. Don’t be afraid of regret!
But also, it’s okay to regret — that’s life.”

This is her humor. This is her honesty.

She is Yu-An — a creator, and a spirit that refuses to be boxed in. If you ever run into her at a market, don’t just say hello. Also say: “You’ve got this.”

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I was an ordinary, introverted, family-oriented man with hobbies like planting flowers, raising birds, and fishing. However, I had to give up these hobbies due to physical limitations.

I didn’t believe studying hard was very important when I was younger, then I became an apprentice and worked on assembling steel frames. Unfortunately, accidents occurred during my work.

One day, while working at a construction site, I climbed to the third floor. I had taken my usual safety measures but didn’t realize that the safety hook had become unhooked. As a result, I fell from the third floor, and everything went blank.

After arriving at the hospital in a coma, I woke up the next day and couldn’t feel my lower limbs, as if they were gone.

The doctor informed me that I have T9-T11 spinal cord injuries and may be paralyzed for the rest of my life. I will be bedridden for the remainder of my life.

My initial thoughts were:  Why me? What should I do next? The following week, I was completely immobile and didn’t eat. I was immersed in negative emotions and could not accept the accident, and I was always in great physical pain.

With time, my wife and my friends kept me company. My daughter was still young and needed me. After approximately three months, I gradually came to terms with my situation. I began to cheer up and learned to face my challenges.

My philosophy is to “let it be” and accept what has happened. We should focus on the future instead of dwelling on the past. Our only option is to take our current situation and live life fully.

When the accident happened, he was in pain, and I also experienced some discomfort, albeit to a lesser degree. My daughter and I are both very supportive. We tried to be understanding and encouraged him.

We are glad he can live with joy, no longer in much physical pain.

After recovering, I went to the hospital for treatment. When I saw other patients in the rehabilitation room, I realized how fortunate I was. I can move from the waist up, which is a blessing compared to completely paralyzed people. I felt happy and grateful. If they can still do rehabilitation despite being completely paralyzed, why can’t I try it too?

Apart from receiving rehabilitation treatment at the hospital, a therapist is coming to my home to teach me simple exercises like pulling elastic ropes and standing. I used a Gaiter and stood at a right angle when practicing standing.

When using the Gaiter for rehabilitation, I would feel tired after standing for a short time, and my feet would start to bend. Then, my coach (my wife) would urge me to stand straight by staring at me. The duration of my standing practice gradually increased from 30 to 40, 50 minutes, and eventually to 1 hour, which was the limit. My wife had to tie the Gaiter for me daily, a complex and laborious task.

Later, my family nurse noticed that I was standing crookedly and was concerned that the rehabilitation effect would not be significant. As a solution, he recommended Karma’s standing wheelchair Ergo Stand.

KARMA’s Ergo Stand enabled me to stand up and release the tension on my feet, significantly reducing the discomfort and pain caused by cramps. Additionally, I no longer required previous assistive devices, saving me much time and effort. This new standing wheelchair has also benefited my rehabilitation, as I can now stand upright.

Also, I don’t have to worry about having enough strength to push the wheelchair after using my “Ergo Stand” because it’s an electric wheelchair. With simple operations, I can drive the wheelchair for a walk at any time.

With the “Ergo Stand“, he can carry things alone without our help and ease our workload. Sometimes, he goes to the market alone to buy something, and I don’t have to worry too much or push him around like before; it also allows me to attend to my affairs.

On the birthday of my discharge from the hospital, my daughter surprised me by buying a sponge cake. At first, I was disappointed by the cake’s appearance and thought, “Why did they get such a simple cake for my birthday?”

However, I was overjoyed when I discovered that my daughter and wife had hidden a surprise inside for me to pull out. The more I pulled, the happier I became. I felt grateful for their thoughtfulness.

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“The Zwarte Cross was one of the most beautiful festivals I’ve experienced in the past twelve years,” Sanne said. “I could stand ten meters away from the main stage. It was so much fun and a great experience.” 

Her friends were so moved to see her standing that they decided to set up a crowdfunding campaign so that she could buy her standing wheelchair. “We are going to do everything we can so that she can continue to do this,” says her friend Monique. “This should not be a one-off event for Sanne.” 

They received the money within three days; from now on, Sanne can stand whenever she wants!

Sanne: “It’s special that I can now look into the pan while cooking. I haven’t been able to do that for 12 years with my other wheelchair.”

Source and special thank to:  

Life & Mobility & Zwarte Cross project

Read how it all started at: Sanne kan na 12 jaar eindelijk weer staan: ‘Dit voelt heel emotioneel’

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Hi guys, It’s Hannah. I have been asked by KARMA Mobility to talk about my wheelchairs and the experiences they have given me. 

I have had a wheelchair since I was tiny, and now have 3 different chairs for different occasions (1 being a KARMA wheelchair). Without a wheelchair, I would have no life. I would literally be stuck in my house all the time, with nowhere to go and no big dreams to dream.

Traveling to sunny places is my favourite thing to do, and having my manual chair has made this possible. I have seen many countries and lots of my favourite sandy beaches, my KARMA chair is definitely up for this challenge.

It is also important to me, that my chair feels comfortable but looks cool, you know? I would always make sure I had the coolest looking chair to go with my style.

KARMA focuses on a future where everyone can have a wheelchair that is right for them. This makes me so excited for mini me’s and the future of wheelchair users. Their page also helps discuss funding, which I know is a big part of it.

My wheelchair is freedom, it is me, it gives me equal and endless opportunities.

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Jack and Aaron are brothers, both KARMA wheelchair users, they share with us the importance of their relationship, their jobs, their hobbies, and their life.

Jack: Being disabled makes you learn a lot because you see the world differently to somebody else; because our conditions life limiting you want to do everything that you can do, that you can still try and live a normal life.

Jack: My name’s Jack I’m 22 and I’m from Birmingham.
Aaron: My name’s Aaron I’m 24 years old and we’re brothers, we’re like conjoined twins we’re not.
Jack: Never apart.
Aaron: It gets on my nerves a bit.
Jack: Aaron thinks he’s the comedian.
Aaron: I’m the funny one, that’s all.
If you’re not feeling good like at least we’ve got one another there to reassure each other. It’s just good to have somebody else to talk to and hit me.

Jack: I’m a Cat technician and I work in the roads department.
Aaron: I’m a Cat technician too but in- for a different department that’s for bridges and structures. I think I’m quite shy but once I get to know people I’m all right.
Jack: I’d describe myself as chatty.
Aaron: He’s got a loud one, we call him chatty man.
Jack: Try not to be negative.
We would rather be positive people. I don’t like negative energy. I’ve got a good sense of humor, motivated.

Jack: My hobbies are playing computer games, wheelchair football. I think about chair preparations thinking before you even touch the ball that would be two steps ahead you know thinking, that’s my next run gonna be and you have to think about pace or things like that.
Aaron: No time to ball much really.
Jack: West Bromwich Albion Powerchairs, that’s the name of our team.
Aaron: Get your mind going and keep your mind off what’s going on the outside.
Jack: It gives you a purpose like you know you’re there for one reason and you know it’s to try and win games.
My football wheelchair is used purposely just for football, not made for comfort but for sport. It’s like driving a tin can.

Jack: I definitely prefer the KARMA. So, my Karma wheelchair is used for everyday life, it’s like the Rolls.
Aaron: Royce of wheelchairs, it’s a part of you basically, it’s my legs.
Jack: Sometimes when you feel like you’re asking for too much, makes you feel like a burden but I think having this independence gives me the freedom to do what I want to do, have to just think about the things you can do not worry about things you can’t do.
Because everything’s possible if you put your mind to it.

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My name is Eboni. I think the night I gained my confidence was at my prom. I have a Karma chair, it went to prom with me and I just felt so beautiful and free like birds kind of thing.

I’m studying Sociology and English a-levels. I like learning about people and understanding how they work. It feels really good, it’s mine and it’s what I can do no one else can do it for me.

I never had a social life before I had this chair. I was suffering from depression and was on the very edge. I never felt like I had a future and but this chair felt like it’s given me a long happy future and changed the outlook of life.

My relationship with my mum, she is the best thing that has ever happened to me. She is like my best friend, very strong and brave, that’s mainly where I get it from. She’s very compassionate and just very kind and caring. As long as I have my mum, I’m complete.

I want to go to university and do mental health nursing at Cambridge. I’m really looking forward to it because I can finally be myself and age doesn’t matter. I’m drawn to helping others mentally and learning different ways because mental health is so different and it’s just really unique.

When I did GCSE’s I was in hospital for most of it because I put so much stress on myself, so it is going to take a lot from me but I know I can 100% do it.

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EVO Lectus

I’m Martyn Sibley, I am the co-founder of Purple Goat Agency and generally an inclusion activist.  An inclusion activist for me is just generally educating the world on how to be more accessible and inclusive for disabled people and also empowering disabled people to go and grab their best life as well. So I landed in my spacecraft from Mars about 20 years ago.

The solution to the perception problem is representation, so when we have disabled people in TV, films, marketing, but also teachers, lawyers, doctors etc. That’s when those stereotypes are broken down, and social media has been a game changer because disabled people have had a voice and can curate the conversation more for ourselves which has been phenomenal to see.

I suppose my story does start around having a disability growing up with SMA definitely molded parts of my experience of the world. And bringing that up into university was a really big leap for me. I did economics and a master’s in marketing there.

Then, after that, my first job was a charity called Scope where I did five years that really I suppose gave me a  grounding in disability inclusion and disability rights, and set me up for what’s been about a decade now of working at the intersection of inclusion entrepreneurship and social media.

I’m disabled I’ve had a wheelchair since I was about three years old. It’s fair to say the world hasn’t been designed by a wheelchair user. There are a lot of barriers to getting onto transport and buildings. Another barrier is from the perception and the attitudes of people, and another barrier is around organizational policies.

Thus, I’ll still be Martyn who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, but I’ll also be Martyn that can get in buildings people don’t judge me because I’m in a wheelchair and there’s no policies holding me back.

I think on a really basic level my wheelchair is my legs, it’s how I get around physically. I got my Karma chair around three years ago, and so I was shown that the Karma had the EVO Lectus. It looked amazing, had features and functions that I had not really seen before, and ultimately decided that was going to be the next chair for me.

I suppose in other ways it just enables me to be a good fiancée to help look after our dog, Sunny. To travel the world which I’ve  done a lot of, and thoroughly enjoyed and to do all of my work and my advocacy work.

I remember when I was three years old, and I got my first power wheelchair that feeling of liberation, freedom and independence was really powerful and that still remains today.

When I was growing up there wasn’t a whole lot of disabled role models. For me, role models are vital, not as an unattainable role model but an example of what everyday life and living very attainable dreams can look like.

Thus, I started blogging because I wanted to be that outlook that I didn’t have when I was in my teen years, so even today I’m very motivated and driven to know that I am inspiring the next generation of disabled people.

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EVO Lectus

I am Johnathon. I’ve always had a passion for animals. Before then I’d only ever seen animals in zoos, I want to see that every day. It sounds weird, but they just talk to me. I’m not Dr. Dolittle or anyone like that but it’s just something about animals. I want to work in conservation, to have a positive impact on the environment and the animals, and also to inspire others to be passionate like I am.

I was on a guided tour. We went through the gate, and the first thing we saw right near the gate was a group of lions, I was like okay I’ve seen a lion now.
Like what else can we see? Just to the camp which was about an hour drive we saw elephants.

So, I was held quite far back. I never thought I’d be smart enough to go to university. But I didn’t bother. Later on in life, I wanted to do something. I thought I’d go into veterinary nursing and they told me that they weren’t sure how my limitations would enable me to do the job, and actually suggested the program, or the course that I took part in.

Throughout my course, I did visit South Africa and I knew that’s where I wanted to be! So when I finished my degree, I knew that I wanted to focus more on conservation projects. I’ve found what I want to do.

I didn’t overly enjoy my schooling years just because mentally I’m able to do like academic work like everyone else. But the school that I was sent to was more aimed I think with people like sensory needs, and people with learning needs that weren’t able to learn at the level that I was able to.

Without my wheelchair, I can pretty much say I wouldn’t have done anything that I’ve wanted to do. It’s great that I can go anywhere I want in the chair! I love the fact that I can turn in small spaces. My Karma chair enables me to go on all kinds of terrain. I’ve been in the bush um on sand, on dirt, muddy weather…

I’m a massive Norwich City fan. I think I’ve been a Norwich fan since I was a child. I’ve been a season ticket holder now for about five-six years.

Whether it’s right for me or not, I push myself forward; I’m determined; I don’t like to be told I can’t do something(which I don’t know if it’s a positive or not).

I like to help other people like myself. I know I can do these things and when I see people they’re like “oh I can’t do this because I’m in a wheelchair or because of my disability”, I’m like you can do that. I’ve done it myself even
if I haven’t done something myself and I’m able to enable somebody else to do that, or at least point them in the right direction or offer them advice I’d always do that I think.

At the moment, I’ve just been doing my course with Bushwise which is a South African company to qualify to become a field guide where I’ll be licensed to take safaris and bushwalks myself, and enable people to experience the wildlife in South Africa,. You know, I’ve always experienced it.

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EVO Lectus

“I am a jazz singer and the chair is lightweight, and easy for me to bring to performance venues! I have MS and I can still walk short distances, but I got the Karma chair so I can keep saying YES to adventures that involved longer distances!”

Thank you Ann for sharing your experience with us! Make sure you follow Ann on Instagram and check out her website: www.annassarsson.com

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Ergo Lite 2