SHENZHEN -- For wheelchair-bound Dong Ming, all the inconvenience she has to endure couldn't stop her from contributing to the World University Games in Shenzhen.

The 25-year-old girl from central China's Hubei Province is one of the 26,000 volunteers at the August 12-23 Universide, which is open to student athletes between the ages of 17 and 28 who are still studying in university or have not been out of school for more than a year.

"I'm involved in media service, reception and psychological aid for volunteers," Dong told Xinhua during a break from her work at the swimming venue. "The Universiade last less than two weeks, I really cherish the opportunity of being a volunteer here."

Dong was formerly a diving athlete and paralyzed in a training accident at the age of nine. For the ensuing 10 years, she was stranded in bed and even couldn't speak a word, but she finished college courses by herself and earned an advanced pshchotherapist certificate.

"A qualified volunteer requires not only passion but expertise as well," said Dong. "Psychological aid is my major, and what I am doing here is just to make the best use of that."

In 2007, Dong launched a volunteer squad and set up a psychological consultancy in her hometown, offering psychological aid free-of-charge to more than 5,000 people plagued by troubles varying from lay-off to divorce. Out of gratitude to Dong, as many as 500 who received her aid have joined her squad to help others.

"A lot of people think that the disabled persons are the most needy group, but it doesn't mean people like me cannot make a contribution," said Dong, who donated 10,000 yuan (about 1,562 dollars) to the victims in earthquake-hit Sichuan Province in 2008 and provided psychological aid to those who were left paralyzed after the quake.

An advocate for the disabled in China, Dong said that sometimes physical disability may turn into an advantage.

"Able-bodied volunteers often have difficulties in persuading others into obeying traffic rules, but when I am on duty on the streets, it works well," she said.

Dong has devoted herself to volunteer service at a dozen of international events including the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai and the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.

"Being a volunteer is not just a temporary job, it should be a lifetime cause," said Dong, who is dubbed the "smiling angel on the wheelchair" by fellow volunteers.

"I really like the theme of the Shenzhen Universiade - 'Start here, Make a Difference'," she said. "I would love to paraphase it with my life-long volunteer work."