On the occasion of the 15th World Autism Awareness Day which falls on April 2, the Amity Foundation held a charity art exhibition, aiming to raise the awareness and attention for the people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
In cooperation with Nanjing Metro Operation Co., Ltd., Nanjing Yuhua Ruize Service Center for the Disabled, and the Amity Child Development Center, the Amity Foundation exhibited 30 paintings created by more than 100 autistic children and teenagers at Nanjing Metro No. 2 Line stations. Different from previous art exhibitions, there was also a "Reach the Moon Area" and a "Gift Claim Counter" to attract the public to experience the charm of public welfare activities in person through brief interactive sessions, the foundation reported on its official WeChat account.
He Wen, deputy secretary-general of the Amity Foundation, said that his organization had been providing direct services for the development of children with autism for 14 years, and had been promoting support for this group for over 30 years. Many people in today’s society have misunderstandings about ASD, considering it as a disease. But in fact, ASD is just a disorder that each of us might have in a certain area. Yet, disorders of the autistic group were more special. The top way to promote the development of this particular group would not be through therapy, but through the education of language acquisition, social interaction, and sports, which would enable them to develop in all aspects.
From April 2 through May 10, the public is welcome to the scene to experience how the autistic group conveys the beauty in their hearts to the world in silent language.
A resolution was adopted by the General Assembly in December 2007 deciding to designate April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day, to be observed every year beginning in 2008.
- Translated by Shuya Wang
