"Voice for Love" Special Fund Launched in Beijing to Support Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Annually4Month2World Autism Awareness Day is approaching. On this occasion, the China Children and Teenagers’ Fund hosted“Speak Up for Love”Special Fund Launch Event at3Month31held in China at the China National Children's Center.The press conference was hosted by the China Children and Teenagers’ Fund, co-hosted by the China National Center for Children’s Welfare and Education, and supported by Yaen Education, Legend Capital, and Aier Times. Notably, Legend Capital provided support to the fund’s development in its own name, with funding contributed by its employees.

Zhu Xisheng, Secretary-General of the China Children and Teenagers’ Fund (CCTF), introduced that “Voice for Love” is a special fund established by the CCTF for children with autism and communication disorders, aiming to pool social compassion and integrate expert resources., Launch a series of public welfare initiatives under the “Finding Friends” theme, such as “Parent Sharing Sessions” and “Compassion Passports,” to encourage children with communication disorders to participate in more social activities, break out of isolation, and integrate into society; organize nationally recognized authoritative experts to provide professional guidance, helping parents enhance their understanding of communication disorders; and simultaneously offer parents a platform for exchange and mutual support, fostering a caring community built on mutual aid.

According to VCBeat, the number of individuals with autism in China has currently exceeded100010,000, among which14children under the age of20010,000. In this regard, Professor Jia Meixiang from Peking University Sixth Hospital pointed out that in recent years, the incidence of autism has been increasing year by year, at a rate of nearly20growing at a rate of ten thousand.

However, public awareness of autism remains far from adequate. Many parents of children with autism fail to recognize the condition early and confront it courageously, thereby missing the optimal window for intervention. For children with autism, while they isolate themselves from others, they also become internally withdrawn. This not only leads to social disconnection but also exerts a profound impact on their physical and mental well-being, even undermining the overall happiness of the entire family.

Professor Jia Meixiang calls for greater public awareness and compassion toward autism, urging more organizations and individuals to join efforts in supporting families affected by autism. She encourages everyone to befriend children with autism and help them and their parents emerge from the shadows of this condition.

At the press conference, Professor Gao Liqun of Beijing Language and Culture University pointed out that, compared with developed countries, China faces a shortage of professionals specializing in autism spectrum disorder, with an acute scarcity of qualified speech-language pathologists and rehabilitation therapists, thereby necessitating concerted action from all sectors of society.

Taking the United States as an example, the United States has14approximately 10,000 professional practitioners in related industries, while China only has500around people, China's population is still that of the United States5times, and the gap is self-evident.. When VCBeat interviewed Gao Liqun, heIt also stated that the causes of autism remain unclear, and there is still no cure., the only viable approach is early detection and early intervention, striving to help the child gradually return to or approximate a normal life.

This process most urgently requires understanding and tolerance from parents and society.Children with autism are a special group. Parents need to accept this reality and avoid pushing their children to do things that are nearly impossible for them. With proper understanding, increased care, and intervention treatment from reputable hospitals or institutions, the condition can improve. However, autism is currently a lifelong condition, so families and society should offer understanding and tolerance.

The China Children and Teenagers' Fund was established in1981Year7Month28China Women's Development Foundation is China's first national-level public fundraising foundation, affiliated with the All-China Women's Federation, and has been rated as the highest grade by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.5A Foundation. Adhering to its mission of nurturing, fostering, and educating children and adolescents, as well as supporting the state in developing educational welfare initiatives for this demographic, the Foundation has established a public welfare platform to pool societal goodwill. It has meticulously developed and expanded programs such as the “Spring Bud Project,” the “Ankang Project,” and the “Action to Eliminate Infant and Toddler Anemia.” HELLOcharity brands such as “Children,” with projects benefiting people across China2000Over 10,000 impoverished children.

Scan the QR code to learn more about the “Voice for Love” Special Fund.