Non-profit kindergarten gives hope to autistic children
By Pan Zheng and Li Yi |
December 26, 2009, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
IN District 10 of Jing'an New City, Qibao Town, there stands a three-story building with a little garden. The building is home to more than 30 children aged between two to nine who suffer from autism.
Like the character of Raymond in the 1988 American movie "Rain Man," these children are autistic.
Shanghai Aihao Children Recovery and Training Center is a non-governmental and non-profit organization founded by Yang Xiaoyan, whose son is autistic.
Since these children aren't usually accepted by normal kindergartens, Yang set up Aihao center in March 2005 to create opportunities for children like her son to get a possible early education.
Since the very beginning, Yang and other teachers at Aihao have witnessed every step and progress of children's growth.
Recently, a transnational enterprise held community games for autistic children, to which children at Aihao were also invited.
When a child named Beibei got up to sing on stage, he became nervous at seeing so many members of the audience and sang out of tune.
Progress
However, his teachers and parents felt extremely happy because they have seen his progress so far, because many autistic children find it difficult to recognize emotions in other people and have difficulty relating to children and teachers.
But when a child feels nervous in front of an audience, it's a sign that he recognizes the outside world.
Since there is still no systematic courses and resources on early education and recovery for children with autism in China, teachers at Aihao had to design their own study courses and practical routines for the children in their care.
Their goal is to ensure these children can progress to be taught in normal schools.
"Early education is the best way for children with autism to recover and become part of society," says Yang.
"But since each child may have his own special needs, our education also needs to be well-targeted."
Now there are about 20 teachers at Aihao.
In the past four years, it has accepted more than 100 children, and sent over 30 graduates into normal primary schools after intensive training.
Some pupils recover within just a couple of months of being at the kindergarten.
High costs
As a non-governmental and non-profit organization, Aihao still has to meet huge maintenance costs -- facilities, rental and salaries.
Although the training center is not free for children, the income doesn't meet the costs but luckily Yang's husband has been successful in his career, and has been offering his wife economic support.
Several months ago, because of the high cost, Yang had to consider raising charges for pupils.
But her husband preferred to solve the problem with more economic support. However, Yang has her reasons.
"We're able to support the center by our own, but it doesn't mean that other recovery centers have such conditions," says Yang.
"Now they have to raise their charges because of great economic pressure. But if we keep our charges low, it adds pressure to other kindergartens and if they can't survive, more children will lose their opportunity of education."
So Yang reached a compromise -- her center raised charges but she helps subsidize costs for families who can't afford the higher fees.
For families who can't send their autistic children to Aihao, the kindergarten holds a lecture twice a month on the latest theories helping children to recover from autism.
Every second Saturday, experts help families make life easier for their children, illustrating practical examples that allow autistic children to function more normally with a good range of social interaction.
After establishing the center, Yang tries hard to communicate with media, volunteers and her children.
She realizes that her pupils will spend at most several years at her center but will probably need ongoing help and care from society.
Fortunately, the center has received help from Qibao Town government, which has offered to redecorate the classroom, and a professor of special education named Hua Youjia often gives lectures in his spare time.
"I hope more and more people will become concerned about these special kids," says Yang.
"It would be great if the government could issue some policy to preserve the education rights for autistic children.
"We're expecting a better future for these children," she says.
Like the character of Raymond in the 1988 American movie "Rain Man," these children are autistic.
Shanghai Aihao Children Recovery and Training Center is a non-governmental and non-profit organization founded by Yang Xiaoyan, whose son is autistic.
Since these children aren't usually accepted by normal kindergartens, Yang set up Aihao center in March 2005 to create opportunities for children like her son to get a possible early education.
Since the very beginning, Yang and other teachers at Aihao have witnessed every step and progress of children's growth.
Recently, a transnational enterprise held community games for autistic children, to which children at Aihao were also invited.
When a child named Beibei got up to sing on stage, he became nervous at seeing so many members of the audience and sang out of tune.
Progress
However, his teachers and parents felt extremely happy because they have seen his progress so far, because many autistic children find it difficult to recognize emotions in other people and have difficulty relating to children and teachers.
But when a child feels nervous in front of an audience, it's a sign that he recognizes the outside world.
Since there is still no systematic courses and resources on early education and recovery for children with autism in China, teachers at Aihao had to design their own study courses and practical routines for the children in their care.
Their goal is to ensure these children can progress to be taught in normal schools.
"Early education is the best way for children with autism to recover and become part of society," says Yang.
"But since each child may have his own special needs, our education also needs to be well-targeted."
Now there are about 20 teachers at Aihao.
In the past four years, it has accepted more than 100 children, and sent over 30 graduates into normal primary schools after intensive training.
Some pupils recover within just a couple of months of being at the kindergarten.
High costs
As a non-governmental and non-profit organization, Aihao still has to meet huge maintenance costs -- facilities, rental and salaries.
Although the training center is not free for children, the income doesn't meet the costs but luckily Yang's husband has been successful in his career, and has been offering his wife economic support.
Several months ago, because of the high cost, Yang had to consider raising charges for pupils.
But her husband preferred to solve the problem with more economic support. However, Yang has her reasons.
"We're able to support the center by our own, but it doesn't mean that other recovery centers have such conditions," says Yang.
"Now they have to raise their charges because of great economic pressure. But if we keep our charges low, it adds pressure to other kindergartens and if they can't survive, more children will lose their opportunity of education."
So Yang reached a compromise -- her center raised charges but she helps subsidize costs for families who can't afford the higher fees.
For families who can't send their autistic children to Aihao, the kindergarten holds a lecture twice a month on the latest theories helping children to recover from autism.
Every second Saturday, experts help families make life easier for their children, illustrating practical examples that allow autistic children to function more normally with a good range of social interaction.
After establishing the center, Yang tries hard to communicate with media, volunteers and her children.
She realizes that her pupils will spend at most several years at her center but will probably need ongoing help and care from society.
Fortunately, the center has received help from Qibao Town government, which has offered to redecorate the classroom, and a professor of special education named Hua Youjia often gives lectures in his spare time.
"I hope more and more people will become concerned about these special kids," says Yang.
"It would be great if the government could issue some policy to preserve the education rights for autistic children.
"We're expecting a better future for these children," she says.
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