Children with autism and their families participate in an event at the Guangming District Civil Affairs Comprehensive Service Center.

The Guangming District Civil Affairs Bureau and Disabled Persons' Federation held a special event March 31, named "Light Up Stars: You Are Not Alone," at the Guangming District Civil Affairs Comprehensive Service Center, in an effort to support children with autism and their families.

The afternoon was filled with activities including games, an area to learn about rehabilitation, and classrooms that shared knowledge about autism. The goal was to help everyone become more understanding and supportive of those with autism, bringing hope and warmth to affected families. More than 20 families from the local area took part.

"I'm delighted to have the opportunity to bring my child to this event. Seeing my child playing happily and actively interacting with other kids and staff members, I feel very reassured. The event has opened the door for my child to learn about and discover new things. I hope such events can be held more frequently!" said a mother of a child with autism.

The bureau plans to continue these efforts, partnering with local hospitals, universities, libraries, charities, and businesses to create a range of engaging activities for children with special needs.

Among the planned activities are:

Fly Wishes, Embrace Nature: A farming and nature activity to help children bond with nature, improve family ties, and enhance their growth through outdoor gaming and farming tasks.

Rehabilitation Knowledge Classroom: Sessions led by experts from Sun Yat-sen University and local hospitals to educate parents and caregivers about enhancing rehabilitation care for children with special needs.

Caring Activities for Children with Autism: To include visits to the Guangming District Library for book reading and craft making, aimed at encouraging children with autism to engage more with the community and social environments.

Charity Fundraising: The event will also feature a sale of T-shirts printed with artwork by children with autism, with the proceeds going towards supporting those with autism.