On September 16, Guangming District opened its first community-based service center for children with autism in Dongzhou Community, Guangming Subdistrict.
It adopts a dual service model of “early screening + professional intervention” and “daycare + family counseling.” It provides one-stop support including rehabilitation training, family education guidance, special childcare, and psychological counseling, laying the foundation for a sustainable, community-based care system.
As Guangming's first “publicly built, privately operated” neighborhood center, the facility is managed by professional social organizations in partnership with rehabilitation institutions. It offers free psychological consultations, early screening, and rehabilitation services for children with autism. Weekly services include family education sessions, early rehabilitation programs, and daycare support, along with monthly integration activities.
Within just one week of trial operations, the station served 26 families, alleviating the challenges of “difficult screening and costly intervention” and bringing timely, accessible support directly to local households.
The center's team of psychologists and rehabilitation therapists follows a complete “screening–assessment–intervention” process. Children receive personalized rehabilitation plans and one-on-one training to improve language, communication, and social skills. For example, a 5-year-old boy, identified as Xiaotong, showed significant speech and social difficulties during initial screening. After assessment, therapists designed a program focused on play-based and speech-enhancement activities. Within just a week, he began using short phrases to express needs and making eye contact with trainers. His mother shared: “The center not only gives our child effective therapy, but also makes daily drop-offs easier for grandparents, giving us real hope.”
In addition to rehabilitation, it provides “daycare + group counseling” services, creating a safe, supportive environment for children while easing the care burden on working families. Regular family training sessions equip parents and caregivers with knowledge and skills to better support children's rehabilitation and social integration.
Guangming Subdistrict is also building a nature-based therapy model. In partnership with the city-level “Light Up the Stars” project, the newly established Huaguoshan Community Service Station and surrounding natural spaces are being developed into the district's first autism-friendly nature therapy base. Programs include outdoor sensory training, horticultural therapy, and animal-assisted therapy, with 12 sessions planned and 10 children already enrolled.
Looking ahead, Guangming plans to establish a 2,400-square-meter comprehensive community service center in Dongzhou, with about 500 square meters dedicated to a specialized autism therapy facility. Professional rehabilitation institutions will be selected through open bidding, with services supported under a “government purchase + performance-based subsidy” model to ensure both quality and sustainability.