Your current location:HOME >health >Art Class Enables Children with Autism to Socialize 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 10:11:18 Source: Internet compilationEdit:health
Contact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom
A child applies color to pictures under the guidance of a teacher at a school for children with autism in Huainan, Anhui Province, on April 2. [Xinhua] |
Half an hour before class, art teacher Dong Fangyi starts to prepare for the day, putting out brushes and canvas with the help of his 14-year-old student Dazhi (pseudonym).
Later, the scene in the class is a little out of the ordinary, as some students are silent and concentrating while others are restless and excited, banging on their desks.
All the children in the class have been diagnosed with autism. The painting studio was founded by a public welfare service center in Xi'an, the capital city of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, which mainly involves parents of neurodiverse children, or those with mental difficulties, from more than 600 households.
With an operation model of mutual assistance, the parents are not attempting to rehabilitate their children, but are allowing them to develop their abilities through proper social interaction.
"Through painting, they can improve their artistic creativity and concentration while gaining some confidence," says Chen Ao, founder of the center, also the mother of a child with autism.
Having taught the children for more than five years, Dong is now one of their best friends. He himself has a family member with autism, and organized the art class in conjunction with other parents.
"For those showing stronger learning abilities, they are given more free rein to create. We guide those with weaker self-control with one-on-one help," Dong says.
"We give more detailed painting subjects for quiet personality types and use some different coaching skills to lead the others. For instance, motivating their hand movement by tapping the table or even putting the pigment on their hands," he adds.
After years of training and guidance, the children have gradually gained some basic self-care abilities and some can even do housework, like cooking meals, by themselves.
Autism in China has an incidence rate of 0.7 percent, and more than 2 million children under the age of 12 are diagnosed with autism. The figure is rising by about 200,000 each year, according to a report released in 2019. This year's World Autism Awareness Day fell on April 2, aiming to raise public awareness to show respect, love and care for neurodivergent minors.
"I hope that, after undergoing a long period of interactive training, they can depend on themselves to earn an income, find a sense of achievement, true respect and the platforms and opportunities to do so," Dong says.
(Source: Xinhua)
32.3KPlease understand that womenofchina.cn,a non-profit, information-communication website, cannot reach every writer before using articles and images. For copyright issues, please contact us by emailing: [email protected]. The articles published and opinions expressed on this website represent the opinions of writers and are not necessarily shared by womenofchina.cn.
Pentagon vows to keep weapons moving to Ukraine as Kyiv faces a renewed assault by Russia2024-05-21 09:33
Nadal tested in 32024-05-21 09:31
Ecuador announces complaint against Mexico at top UN court in diplomatic spat2024-05-21 09:24
7 Minnesotans accused in massive scheme to defraud pandemic food program to stand trial2024-05-21 09:04
Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection after closing some restaurants2024-05-21 08:50
Entire mall in Georgia is closed after 'shots are fired inside2024-05-21 08:22
UN human rights chief condemns killings of women and children in Rafah2024-05-21 08:16
Hamas official says no agreement with Israel if war continues in Gaza2024-05-21 07:56
Elon Musk gets approval from FDA to implant his Neuralink brain chip into a second patient2024-05-21 07:36
Ecuador announces complaint against Mexico at top UN court in diplomatic spat2024-05-21 07:28
The unstoppable duo of Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos2024-05-21 10:01
A bomb attack in northern Kenya kills 5 people near the border with Somalia2024-05-21 09:46
Nvidia to buy Israeli AI company for estimated $700M2024-05-21 09:14
Songs of celebration hail anniversary2024-05-21 08:37
Mohammad Mokhber: Who is Iran’s acting president?2024-05-21 08:21
2 policemen killed, 1 injured in 'terror' attack in SE Iran2024-05-21 08:04
China's sci2024-05-21 07:42
At least 15 killed in Israeli airstrikes on Rafah2024-05-21 07:39
Georgia Republicans choose Amy Kremer, organizer of pro2024-05-21 07:34
Chinese military ready to boost ties with Indonesian counterpart: defense spokesperson2024-05-21 07:31