Lighting the path to inclusion: How a Chinese school founder empowers individuals with autism

Editor's note:

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges in social communication, interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors. Most individuals with ASD require sustained rehabilitation training and specialized educational support. CGTN spoke to a school founder who is working to provide structured support for children with ASD.

Every March, Zhang Chengjing's schedule becomes overwhelmingly busy. For the past 16 years, she has organized various events in Handan, north China's Hebei Province, to mark World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, striving to increase public understanding of the condition.

Her journey began in 2008 when her first child was diagnosed with autism. Like many parents in similar situations, Zhang initially knew little about the disorder and struggled to accept the reality.

"The pressure was immense. I didn't know how to care for my child's future and felt utterly helpless," she recalled.

At the time, Zhang was an executive at a leading garment company in Handan. However, her daughter's diagnosis redirected her life's path.

She first founded a special education school to provide early intervention for children with autism. To fund the project, she sold her house, took out loans and rallied support from compassionate donors.

"Despite the hardships, seeing the children make progress – uttering their first words or learning to pour a glass of water – made every effort worthwhile," Zhang shared.

As these children grew older, Zhang expanded her vision, establishing multiple institutions offering rehabilitation, day care, vocational training and employment opportunities. Today, over 100 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities learn and work in her centers, which have also provided space for parents raising children with autism to take a break.

Exploring possibilities

Living in Shijiazhuang, the capital city of Hebei Province, Dong Ying spent years searching for institutions across China to support her son's education and care. In October 2023, she finally found hope at the rehabilitation center founded by Zhang.

"It exceeded my expectations," she said. Currently a teaching assistant at the center, her 29-year-old son Qiangqiang thrives on the position.

Qiangqiang experienced almost no developmental delays in his childhood, so it never occurred to her that he might have the condition of autism.

"At that time, I had no knowledge of the condition," said Dong. "We missed the window of early intervention."

She and her husband regret pushing their son so hard for good school grades, unaware of his social communication challenges. Bullied in school, Qiangqiang hid his pain. Gifted with memorizing routes, Qiangqiang worked as a food delivery rider for two years but faced complaints due to communication barriers with customers.

"He longs to work and be independent, but society offers too few opportunities for people like him," Dong said. "But things are looking good as people like Zhang are exploring possibilities."

Embracing wider acceptance

For Wang, who prefers to be known by her family name, being a mother to a 26-year-old son with autism has been more challenging since her marriage ended shortly after his diagnosis.

"My boy Haohao was already a teenager when I finally accepted that he had this condition," said Wang, who lives in Handan.

The childhood of Haohao was marked by missed milestones. He didn't speak until he was four, despite many hospital visits. In elementary school, classmates initially included him in games, but the gaps between him and his peers widened over time. She transferred him to a special education school later, giving up all academic hopes.

Her son stayed at home for about three years before entering the rehabilitation center founded by Zhang. In the center, he discovered a talent for intricate beadwork and lunar calendar calculations.

"Give him a solar calendar date, and he'll tell you the day of the week and the corresponding lunar date," Wang smiles. "I think his experience in the center helps him integrate into society."

Over the past two decades, Wang has also noticed greater societal understanding and inclusion toward autism.

Once, a traffic officer recognized Haohao's meltdown at a bus stop and helped to calm him down. "Leave him with us at the post if you need help," the officer told Wang when she picked up her son. To Wang, this small gesture signaled a seismic shift in societal acceptance.

Aiming for personalized support

Also living in Handan, Pei Shuli's 16-year-old son, Kefei, is a boy of contradictions: a chatterbox with autism, a social butterfly struggling to navigate conversations.

Born in 2009 alongside his twin sister, hypoxia left him with mild developmental delays. While his sister spoke at seven months, Kefei uttered his first word at 18 months. The frustration of misunderstanding often explodes into an emotional meltdown.

According to Pei, her son experienced isolation and discrimination at schools, and his bond with his sister is also fractured by the boy's condition.

However, at the day-care class in one of Zhang's schools, the boy found acceptance – memorizing staff names, charming everyone with his warm greetings – yet progress plateaued as local resources hit their limits.

"My son loves singing, which needs personalized intervention, but we don't have a local institution to develop his interest," said Pei.

With a high income, Pei is not worried about being able to support her son in the future. But she dreams of inclusive workplaces where autistic talents shine beyond pity – a world where his value, not his struggles, defines him.

A national award, a mission

This March, Zhang's Starlight Special Education School was honored with a collective award from the All-China Women's Federation. Zhang credits the achievement to her dedicated team of teachers, most of whom are women in their 20s and 30s.

"They are highly skilled, nurturing the children's growth and giving families hope. They also see profound meaning in their work," she said.

Government policies now give subsidies for the rehabilitation training of young children with autism. Zhang hopes for increased social resources and policy support in creating work opportunities for individuals with autism in the future.

"Looking back, I believe fate gave me this opportunity to help autistic children and families. Perhaps this is my life's mission," Zhang reflected.

China's response

The prevalence of ASD has risen globally, with males affected more frequently than females. Official data shows that the number of people with autism in China has exceeded 13 million. The incidence rate of ASD has become the highest among mental disabilities.

In recent years, China has significantly strengthened its support for children with autism through enhanced funding, policy reforms, and educational initiatives.

Annual support per autistic student during compulsory education rose from 6,000 yuan ($825) to over 7,000 yuan under a 2024–2028 national action plan.

To strengthen inclusive education for children with autism, a national monitoring system ensures tailored education and accommodations, and major cities are urged to build specialized autism schools and improve access to early childhood and vocational education.

In 2024, a new initiative has allocated an initial funding of 3 million yuan to train educators and provide services in central and western regions of China.

(At the request of the interviewees, Dong Ying and Qiangqiang are pseudonyms. All pictures are provided by interviewees.)