SUN Jinyao is the "father" of 43 children whom no one wanted.

Before Sun came along they were all homeless, mostly abandoned by their parents because of their disabilities. Aged from two to 19 years, they are deaf, mute, blind, paralyzed, epileptic, and have mental and developmental disabilities. Some physical disabilities are relatively minor, like a club foot. But rearing a child with any disability is costly and can be heart-breaking.

"These orphans are my babies. They are the most beautiful gifts God sends me," said 57-year-old Sun. "I'm doing all I can to give them a sweet home."

Since 1998 their home has been the Shanghai Abundant Grace Disabled Children's Welfare Center in remote Situan Town in Fengxian District where it's peaceful and green and there's lots of space.

It's Shanghai's only private and free residential care center for disabled children who are orphaned or abandoned by their parents.

The children are all from Jiangxi Province, which cooperates with Sun. When they turn 18, they return to Jiangxi because that's where their hukou (residential registration) and benefits are. Employment and care arrangements are made. Some will never be able to function independently. Sun hopes others will have the skills to earn a living. And he promises to fund further education for children without mental impairment.

Around 83 million Chinese of all ages were reported in 2006 to have physical or mental disabilities. Among those, the reported number of children was almost 8.2 million (up to 14 years old), according to the Ministry of Health. Current statistics are not available but experts say actual numbers and the number of unreported cases are much higher.

Though there has been some progress, their unmet needs are enormous, the funding shortfall is great, and there is still widespread discrimination against people with physical and mental impairment. Many are stigmatized. Few companies want to hire them, even as cleaners.

Sun, a former civil servant, doesn't have to worry about money at the very beginning.

Sun inherited the estate of his mother Liu Yongzhi who returned from Hong Kong in the 1950s, working with Madame Soong Ching Ling to help orphans with disabilities.

"It was my mother's wish to help homeless children, and it's the call of duty," Sun said.

Liu died in 1998 and her will stipulated that Sun use the income to help disabled children. That year he quit his job and dedicated himself to Abundant Grace. Now, he and his daughter's jewelry family business also supports the charity.

A cobble-stone path leads across a carefully mown lawn to a three-story, bright yellow villa that looks like a fairy tale castle with towers. Sun himself designed it as a beautiful place for special-needs children. It's a home, not an institution.

In a garden they grow fruits and vegetables for their kitchen. In summer they make sugar sorghum juice and in autumn children pick oranges. In spring, the fragrance of magnolias fills the air.

"They love farming," Sun said. Everyone can take part and it's very calming and therapeutic.

Every night after dinner is happy hour when everyone gathers on the terrace to sing, dance and play flutes. Sun and nannies serve fresh grapes and peaches. In cold weather they move together inside where it's cozy.

Nearby is a 200-square-meter building containing classrooms, a fully equipped rehabilitation and therapy room, a kitchen and laundry room.

"I want to build a real home for my children," said Sun who moved with his wife Wang Qiuping from downtown Huangpu District to the suburb. "A home is not only a house, but a loving father and mother."

Since 1998 Sun has spent 10 million yuan (US$1.6 million) on Abundant Grace. Over 13 years he has cared for 101 needy orphans.

He is father, protector, nanny and teacher. Though he employs seven full-time caregivers, Sun himself is a hands-on dad. He lulls the children to sleep at night, drives them to the downtown hospital, works in the kitchen, compiles learning materials and teaches them how to read and write.

"My biggest wish is that they can learn a skill or two so they can earn a living when they turn 18," he said.

Many children have epilepsy. One boy had a seizure at lunch when he got angry to find his desk mate got an extra biscuit.

"He is very sensitive. Anger and the fear that he is not loved overwhelmed him at that moment, but he couldn't express himself, so he reacted with a seizure and fainted," Sun said. From then on, he would always slip the boy an extra toy or snack to calm him and reassure him that he is loved.

But occasionally there's violence. Some children hit, yell, cry, smash things, beat their heads against the wall, run about in the garden and beat and bite Sun.

"I was really scared when we got the first orphans in 1998," his wife Wang recalled. One girl chewed Wang's sweater and urinated around the house. "She smashed things and yelled when anyone came near."

Wang gave up her comfortable life to work as a nanny. Because of long hours working in the garden, her skin is darkened and wrinkled.

"I married him, so I followed him and learned to be a good person just like him," she said. "Gradually I got to understand my husband and felt the joy of being with these angels."

"They call me mum," she said, beaming.

In the early 2000, there was a girl who easily lost her temper and became violent. One night she smashed a window, screamed and rushed outside. Sun ran out and finally calmed her.

"It was her way of getting attention and care. She got mad because one of her needs wasn't met," Sun said. To pacify her, he gives her treats and toys and walks with her in the garden. If she is still upset, she goes into a cushioned room full of plastic toys and cushions.

"If she wants to vent her anger, she is free to throw and destroy things," Sun said. Before accepting the girl, he visited an institution for patients with serious psychiatric disorders. He was shocked.

"They tied a patient to the bed with ropes and iron handcuffs; they gave him electro-shock therapy and nameless pills that made him drool and gave him a dull expression," Sun recalled. "I would never do that to this little girl and I would never send her to that horrible place."

"I can proudly say my children live better than many local Shanghai kids," he said.

Each child has four private locking drawers under their bed. They keep clothes and personal items. Everyone has individual clothing.

"They don't wear a uniform - this is a family, not a school," Sun said. He encourages the girls and boys to dress differently, to suit themselves, and care for their own property.

"I tell them my stuff is mine and yours is yours. Everyone has a right to privacy and must respect others and their privacy. This is very important when they leave and enter society."

Girls ask Sun to buy them new skirts and accessories, boys ask for soccer balls and skates.

On weekends, they visit places like the Children's Palace, theme parks and Chenghuang Temple (City God's Temple).

"I don't allow them to eat fast food at home, so these outings are their only chance to have fried chicken and fizzy drinks," Sun said.

Children with physical disabilities go to nearby schools. You Daifa, a blind 10-year-old, is a straight-A student and another boy Xiao Jun with a club foot always gets top scores.

"Sometimes I can't help but think that life is so unfair for my boys and girls," he said.

Few disabled people can get a decent job, including those without mental impairment or just minor disabilities, he said.

"Businesses won't hire someone who looks unattractive or walks in a twisted way, though he may be smarter than others," he said. "Even if they get jobs, handling office relationships and fitting in are still big problems."

Children with mental disabilities stay at home, taught by Sun. They learn to assemble a ball-point pen and string beads together to make a bracelet. Simple activities help them calm down, focus and strengthen coordination between the hands and the brain.

The items are sold regularly at charity bazaars. Proceeds are returned to the children as savings. When they leave the orphanage, they take the savings, and money from Sun.

"I can't keep them forever because I'm getting old," Sun said. "All I want is that one day they can stand on their own feet."

"In general, more people are showing concern for this disadvantaged group," said Sun. "But when it comes to specific cases, the situation is not that positive."

Though people with mild intellectual impairment can do simple jobs, they face another problem. "These children are so simple and naive that they do whatever they are told. They are easily exploited, which is inhumane."

Greater tolerance, acceptance and inclusion are very important, he said.

"Showing love and care is not just a slogan."