Autism groups lack staff, funding

Updated: 2012-03-26 07:38

By Huang Yuli in Shenzhen (China Daily)

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She said the survey found that many autism organizations lack government support, professional teachers and therapists. The groups have called for increasing social awareness and support.

The survey also found there is a huge imbalance in resources. Some organizations have more than 100 teachers, while some have only three staff.

Most teachers in such organizations have less than five years of experience in this sector. Many of them do not hold a bachelor's or higher degree in special education.

They have meager incomes as well - between 2,000 yuan ($320) and 3,000 yuan a month - with few training opportunities or chances for promotion. Many autism organizations have high staff turnover, according to the report.

Unlike many autism organizations in Hong Kong and Taiwan, which are run by non-governmental organizations, the majority of organizations on the mainland are founded and operated by autism families, said Kenneth Sin Kuen Fung, associate professor with the special education and counseling department of the Hong Kong Institute of Education, which provided technical support for the survey.

Sin said that family-based financing is unsustainable, and he urged the government to offer more subsidies, such as for staff salaries.

Ni Chidan, a teacher at Shenzhen Polytechnic, had 16 students place questionnaires with about 200 autism families in Shenzhen. Ni said the survey shows the families want social understanding most.

"At the top of the list of needs of these families comes social understanding and respect, not money," he said. "We found when a child has autism, his or her whole family tends to become unsociable, afraid of encountering discrimination. The husband and wife are likely to complain to each other and many get divorced."

Chen Hongle, program director of One Foundation, said on Sunday that relevant activities will be held on March 30 to contribute to World Autism Awareness Day.

Chen said that on April 2, several landmark buildings, including the Water Cube in Beijing and the Oriental Pearl TV tower in Shanghai, will turn blue to show support for autistic patients.

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