Breaking down the barriers of autism
- By Zhang Junmian
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 3, 2013
The 6th Annual Art Exhibition by Autistic Children opened on Tuesday at the National Aquatic Center (Water Cube) in Beijing, calling on the public to help autistic children break through the barriers of autism with art and love. The charitable event, themed "Love under the blue sky," is held in honor of the 6th World Autism Awareness Day, which falls on April 2 of every year.
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The 6th Annual Art Exhibition by Autistic Children opened at the National Aquatic Center (Water Cube) in Beijing on April 2, 2013. [Photo by Zhang Junmian/China.org.cn] |
The exhibition, which will last until April 30, was sponsored by the Beijing Disabled Persons' Federation (BDPF), Peking University No. 6 Hospital and the National Aquatic Center.
It captivated visitors with more than 60 brilliant works produced by autistic children from around the world, creating a precious opportunity for people to explore the inner world of children with autism, a disorder of neural development which is characterized by impaired social interaction skills, noticeable language loss or other behavioral limitations.
Visitors develop a better understanding of autism and see what children with development disabilities can achieve when given more opportunities in an inclusive society.
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The 6th Annual Art Exhibition by Autistic Children opened at the National Aquatic Center (Water Cube) in Beijing on April 2, 2013. [Photo by Zhang Junmian/China.org.cn] |
The children, touching upon various subjects related to life and nature, showcase how they perceive the world, as well as their unpretentious emotions and what they are thinking, through their innocent yet vivid and imaginative brushstrokes.
"Art opens a window for autistic children to have a dialogue with the outside world. They express themselves and communicate with others through their paintings, a dream once blocked by their mental disorder. " Jia Meixiang, vice chairman of the Beijing Association for the Rehabilitation of Autistic Children (BARAC), said.
At the opening ceremony, famous fashion designer Flora Cheung's dancing team, singer Wang Tian and several foreign musicians took to the stage in a bid to encourage more people to care for autistic children and help them to lead more independent and productive lives.
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Famous fashion designer Flora Cheung's dancing team took to the stage. [Photo by Zhang Junmian/China.org.cn] |
Huang Fengxiao, a woman from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region shared her sad story and extended her deep gratitude to those who have helped her throughout the years. Host Wang Yi then called on people to offer more help to those families dealing with autism, especially the poorer ones.
Huang is the mother of eight-year-old twins, a girl and an autistic boy called Weizhuo. Weizhuo's father is currently suffering from intestinal cancer.
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