It looked like an ordinary baking class. A group of teenagers dressed in chef outfits were attentively preparing the dough on the counter. One of the boys, Boya, agreed to team up with CGTN's Zhao Wenjing. A moment later, with childlike delight, he proudly declared that his cookie-making skills were better than our reporter's.

Another boy coyly told the crew his name was Zhang Shuwei. But after Zhao introduced herself, Shuwei repeated her words. It appeared that he did not understand the meaning of their conversation. That's when it became apparent that these youngsters were different.

They suffer from autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a developmental disability characterized by difficulties with communication and social interactions. With around 1 percent of the world's population born with autism, it is estimated that more than 13 million people in China suffer from the congenital condition, including 2 million children between ages 0 to 14. According to the China Disabled People's Federation, it is the most prevalent mental disorder in the country.

The baking class was part of a non-profit program organized by the Beijing Association for Rehabilitation of Autistic Children (BARAC) to help young patients build life skills and self-worth through fun and creative activities. The Autistic or Artistic? Art (AOAart) studio in Beijing's 798 Art District has been hosting regular exhibitions and sales of artwork created by autistic children since April 2, 2008, the first Autism Awareness Day.

The art exhibition, known as "Art of the Innocent," was the idea of Chinese-Japanese Rika Ishihara, who believes autistic children's simple and solitary inner world enables them to express their creativity in surprising ways. 

"In art, there are no normal and abnormal children. They are all equal," Dr. Jia Meixiang, founder of the BARAC, was quoted as saying on the organization's website. "We want to explore a path that's suitable for these (autistic) children, so that they are able to make a living and realize their potential," Jia said.

Accompanied by their parents, kids like Boya and Shuwei come to the AoAart studio to attend a variety of free courses such as music, handicraft and cooking. Some parents believe these classes teach them much more.

"In a baking class, he follows the instructions, interacts with volunteers and trains his hands-on skills. It is an improvement of all-round ability," Boya's mother told CGTN.

With a big smile on his face, Shuwei carried a tray of freshly baked cookies into the room, where the teens and their parents laughed as they shared a bite.

But for millions of affected families in China, happy moments like this are far from their everyday reality.

In China, autism is also called "loneliness disease." It was officially recognized as a mental disability in the country in 2006. Until recent years, the condition was commonly blamed on bad parenting. The misunderstanding and social stigma have caused immense distress for affected families and even breakups of parents.

"This situation can happen to any family. It's unfortunate, and it has nothing to do with the family's wealth, status or education level," Ishihara said in a 2016 speech.

Caring for an autistic child can strain a family financially. But the biggest challenge for these families, according to Ishihara, is that autistic children cannot grow up to lead independent lives, a heartbreaking reality many parents struggle to come to terms with.

"What does the future hold for my child? Where does she belong? It's a question that keeps me awake every night," said the mother of Dandan, another teenager at the baking class. "It's impossible not to think about it," she told CGTN.

Thanks to growing public awareness and the work of charity and special education organizations, more autistic children in China are getting the help they need from society. However, parents believe more needs to be done at the national policy level.

"These kids have varying degrees of autism and different needs. For example, for those with high-functioning autism, they could use some training and help to get jobs. And for those who can't work, they can take special classes so they don't stay at home every day," said Dandan's mom.

With the prevalence of autism in children on the rise every year, there is a severe shortage of medical and educational resources to meet these children's needs. Autism has no known cure, but medical experts agree that early intervention is crucial to help an autistic child function normally later in life. 

However, early diagnosis and treatment for young children is out of reach for the majority of low-income families and those living in remote areas, Dr. Jia said.

"Parents in remote areas with a lack of medical facilities usually discover something is wrong when the child reaches school age. Then it will be too late. The older they get, the more difficult to intervene," Jia said.

During this year's Two Sessions, the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party put forth a proposal on improving the condition of families with autistic children. A deputy of the National People's Congress named Wang Xinhui, who manages a rehabilitation center for autistic children in Inner Mongolia, also proposed more subsidies for autism care.

As China marks the 11th Autism Awareness Day, the general public is increasingly showing acceptance and support for autistic children and youths, who have been dubbed "children of the stars." But the reality for them and their families is still far from stellar.

Guo Ying, a teacher at the art studio, told CGTN that an organization like AoAart often faces difficulties to stay open, as it is funded entirely by social donations.  

At least for now, for these youngsters and their parents, a glimmer of hope shines in this welcoming corner.

(Top image: Zhang Shuwei carries a tray of freshly baked cookies at the AoAart studio in Beijing. /CGTN Photo)