CHILDREN FROM THE STARS
RM 2020 Blessings from visually impaired college students video
Today is the 13th World Autism Awareness Day. The UN General Assembly passed a resolution in December 2007 to make April 2 World Autism Awareness Day.
Autism is a complex, lifelong developmental disability that is thought to begin before birth but is often not recognized until ages 2 or 3 when it’s noticed a child appears to have persistent difficulty communicating with others and interacting socially. Individuals with this diagnosis are said to be on the autism spectrum because their perceptions, emotional control, language skills, behavior, sensitivity to the environment, and their ability to understand and interact with other people can vary greatly. They might be observed to have restricted and repetitive behavior patterns, activities and interests. Some with mild cases are able to live successfully on their own as adults but many others will face great challenges with self-care, self-support, work, and interpersonal relationships the rest of their lives. Currently, the cause of autism has not been found. There is no known cure.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the prevalence of autism among children aged 3 to 17 in the United States is 1/45 (2.2%), while the prevalence of autism in China is about 1%. However, the number in China might be underreported because of the stigma related to the disorder and limited therapeutic resources. More than 10 million are on the spectrum. There are more than 2 million children with autism in the world; nearly 200,000 new diagnoses are added to the statistics each year.
Many people describe children on autism spectrum as “children from the stars. 🌟 ” One of the reasons is that we are unable to comprehend their “world” from their perspectives. Such a beautiful metaphor reveals a deep sense of loneliness which we often don’t understand.
Children with autism are innocent and cute just like other children. They are not deaf, but they may shut out voices, preferring to stay in their personal inner world. They may not speak because they’d rather not or not know how to express themselves. They often avoid eye contact because it makes them uncomfortable. Since they can’t understand their relationship with others, it’s also difficult for them to comprehend the emotions and feelings of others. They are living in their own world. Just like the stars in the sky, they are shining alone. Yet, their world is cold, and they often don’t feel the warmth from those around them.
Thankfully, rehabilitative training has been clinically proven to be very helpful to people on the autism spectrum. Early intervention is of course the most ideal. However, rehabilitative training for children at different times will also have different positive effects. At present, the most effective treatments for autism are one-on-one intensive behavior training and sensory integrative training through occupational therapy, through which they can gradually acquire basic communication skills, slowly get out of their closed world, and learn to take care of themselves.
The following is a very touching story shared by Jane, a parent at our autism center in CC.
“I am the mother of a child on the autism spectrum. My son was diagnosed with autism in 2012 when he just turned two. It caused me much pain and despair not knowing how to help him. I decided we needed professional help, so I enrolled him in an established rehabilitation institution in the city. The truth was, I didn’t know much about autism or how it affects children differently. Day after day I took him to school thinking the teacher would rehabilitate my child. He progressed in his ability to communicate; however, his behavior and emotions were still very unstable. He would cry uncontrollably in public and frequently lost his temper, which made me very nervous. He needed intervention, but I didn’t have the skills to help. To make our situation worse, my husband suffers from a variety of diseases. He often needs to stay in the hospital for treatment. We don’t have much support from our friends and relatives. I felt lonely, desperate, and despair. Eventually I fell sick and was diagnosed with anxiety disorder. There were days I didn’t dare leave my home; I laid in bed without the motive or strength to get up. I just peered out the window looking at nothing in particular. As such, my son trapped at home and was unable to release his pent-up energy. He cried often, especially in the middle of the night. Many times, he would cry himself to sleep due to exhaustion. This was what I have experienced for the first five years after I learned that my son was diagnosed with autism. I dared not think about the future. What I could see was just despair and complete darkness.
“At this time, friends from Angel House came to visit me. They taught me practical techniques to deal with the situation and even helped clean my house. The teachers of Rainbow Missions supported me with psychological counseling when they were in town. Slowly but surely, I started seeing a glimmer of hope again.
“In 2017, my child began rehab training at Angel House. The weekly parent class was very helpful. I learned that autism impacts each child differently and they provided me techniques to help parent my son. I felt Angel House gave me support like a large family. I was no longer helpless, and my anxiety symptoms started to diminish.
“The leaders of Angel House learned of our financial struggles; they worked with Rainbow Missions to help offset the cost of our son’s tuition. We were so happy that he would be able to continue his training. I am confident he is on the right path to recovery and I also need to practice the techniques so I can support him at home. Our situation has been improving and I love my new wonderful life. I hope no one else will have to go through the pain and despair I experienced. In the future, I want to help other children and their families who are in need. I am also incredibly grateful for the support provided to me through Angel House and Rainbow Missions. My family now lives each day with gratitude. We know we are not alone learning how to cope with a family member with autism.”
Because of the coronavirus pandemic in China that began around the time of Chinese New Year’s celebrations, all cities were blocked, and everyone had to stay home. However, our field worker YY helped make a video chip to share with you showing all the improvement Haoran, Jane’s son, experienced in 2019. I believe you will enjoy watching it.
Our prayer is that more people will be aware of the needs and extend their loving care for these children who are called “children from the stars.” God’s love works miracles. We believe they will have an equal opportunity to integrate into society one day and live a life with dignity and happiness. Thank you!
To watch Haoran’s progress.
來自星星的孩子
RM 2020視障大學生的祝福視頻
今天是第十三個「世界自閉症關注日」，在2007年12月聯合國大會通過決議，從2008年起，將每年的4月2日定為 World Autism Awareness Day 「世界自閉症關注日」。
自閉症（或稱孤獨症）是一種複雜的、伴隨終身的發展障礙。在出生前就開始，但直到2或3歲時，因為孩子似乎與他人交流和社交方面存在持續的困難時，才被發現。經過診斷，他們被稱為自閉症患者，但他們的觀念，情緒控制，語言技能，行為，對環境的敏感，以及他們對他人的理解和互動的能力可能會大不相同；他們的行為模式，活動和興趣可能會受到限制和重複。有些情況較輕的人能夠成功地獨立成長，但許多其他患者卻將在餘生中面臨著自理、維持生計、工作和人際關係的巨大挑戰。目前，還沒有找到發病的原因，也沒有根治的方案。
根據美國國家衛生統計中心的數據，美國3至17歲兒童中的自閉症患病率為1/45（2.2％），而國內的自閉症患病率約為1％。然而，由於傳統的禁忌和有限的治療資源，中國的人數可能被低估。目前世界上自閉症患者超過1000萬，自閉症兒童超過200萬，並以每年近20萬的速度增長。
很多人將自閉症兒童形容成為「來自星星🌟的孩子」，其中一個原因是因為大家都無法得知自閉症兒童眼中的世界。這樣美好的比喻，透露出的，是他們不能被常人理解的深深的孤獨感。
其實他們大都跟其他小孩子一樣，既天真又可愛。他們不是聾子，但卻對世界的聲音充耳不聞；他們不是啞吧，但卻不知道該如何表達自己。他們也許擁有可愛的臉龐和漂亮的雙眼，卻眼神飄忽，時刻躲避與人目光接觸。由於不能理解自己和他人的關係，所以難以體會別人的情緒和感受。他們活在自己的世界裡，猶如天上的星星，一人一個世界，獨自閃爍。他們的世界是冰冷的，感受不到世間的溫暖。
感恩的是，經過臨床試驗，康復訓練對自閉症患者確實有極大的幫助，早期干預當然最為理想，但在不同時期以正確的方法對患兒進行康復訓練，也會得到不同程度的積極效果。目前，自閉症最有效的治療方法，是透過職業治療，針對不同患兒進行「一對一」的強化行為及感統訓練，讓他們逐漸學會基本的交流技能，慢慢走出封閉的世界，學會自理生活。
以下是長春自閉症中心的一位家長Jane分享她過去幾年艱辛曲折的心路歷程： 「我是一名自閉症患兒的母親，孩子是在2012年被確診的，在經歷了一番驚愕、失落、痛苦、絕望、掙扎之後，毅然的領他走入了康復之路。其實當時的我對這個疾病，還是不了解，我帶著他起早貪黑，日復一日的進行康復訓練。當時我心裡壓力很大，一方面是孩子雖然語言上的進步，但是行為、情緒上極其不穩定，時常在公眾場合哭鬧、發脾氣，這讓我精神很緊張。另一方面孩子的父親患有多種疾病，經常出入醫院 ，身邊也沒有親人的關照和幫助。我當時總是感覺很孤單、很無助、很絕望。就這樣，我也病倒了。通過檢查才發現自己患了焦慮症。病得很嚴重的時候，我連家門都不敢出，天天在床上躺著，沒有精神更沒有力氣，總是望著窗戶發呆。最可憐的是孩子也被困在家裡，他的精力得不到釋放，經常半夜起來，然後大哭，哭累了再睡。這段艱難的歲月發生在領他康復的第五個年頭。五年，對於自閉症患者來說，只是生命中的一小部分。但卻足以拖垮一位患兒的母親。將來的路要怎樣走，想都不敢想。
就在這個時候，天使之家來到家裡看望我， 教我一些訓練的方法，彩虹工程的老師又給我做心理疏導，慢慢我又能夠看到了一絲絲的希望。
在2017年中我把孩子送到了天使之家進行康復訓練，每週一次的家長課堂也開始了，我才從真正的意義上理解自閉症，也找到了正確的康復之路。無論孩子有什麼行為或情緒上的問題都會有相對應的方法，這讓我欣喜若狂。同時，我也感受到了這個大家庭的溫暖，不再像以前那樣無助，自己的病情也減輕了不少。
中間也有一段時間因為學費的問題想過退學，後來又是彩虹工程伸出了援手，資助了學費，讓孩子和我沒有離開這個群體，讓孩子能夠繼續在正確的康復之路上進行訓練 。 同時，我也要學好學習理論，並且希望能盡快的實踐出來，也能活出自己的精彩。 盼望將來有一天，我也有能力去幫助更多的孩子，幫助更多有需要的人。因為我自己這一路走來所經歷的痛苦、心酸和絕望，真的希望不要再有别人有同樣的經歷。同時，我更感恩能夠認識天使之家和彩虹工程，謝謝！在將來的日子裡，我會好好的愛孩子、愛家庭，心懷感恩去過每一天。孤獨症的康復路上並不孤獨。」
由於在春節前後冠狀病毒開始在中國爆發，所有城市都被封鎖，每個人都必須待在家裡。我們的本地同工YY趁著留守家中的機會，製作了一個視頻與您分享，展示了Jane兒子浩然在去年所經歷的進步。我相信您會喜歡的。
我們的禱告，就是盼望有更多的人能夠關注愛護這些被稱為「來自星星的孩子」，讓他們可以融入社會，有機會過上正常、平等而有尊嚴的生活。謝謝！
觀看浩然的進步。