How did it start?
Better World for Kids with Autism Fundraising Campaign
"Hello, my name is Samantha Lee, and I am a Grade 10 student from the ISF Academy in Hong Kong.
In July 2022, I was able to have the opportunity to intern at a speech therapist's office in Hong Kong. There, I watched how kids of all ages (2-12 years old) with Autism behaved. Throughout my experience as an intern at a speech therapist's office, I understood that autistic children and adolescents have significant differences in social skills. Thus, it is vital to use different materials to help train those kids through their distinct autistic journey.
Despite having an enjoyable learning experience this summer, sometimes I would occasionally hear the interaction between the speech therapist and the parent(s), discussing what to do in the future as the said child grows up. One of the critical points that left a deep impression on me was when the speech therapist and parent(s) discussed how the child might be bullied in different environments, typically school. Yet, throughout the entire conversation, their tones were equally calm, demonstrating how bullying autistic people is inevitable and, sadly, a common thing to see daily."
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It is no doubt that autism awareness in Hong Kong is low; autistic children and their parents are being blamed and discriminated against due to common misconceptions. In addition, many underprivileged families in Hong Kong cannot afford for their children to receive therapy, thus missing the critical period to learn vital social skills, making Autism more challenging to manage. So, why not take one small step to make a big difference?