Their world, artistic or autistic?
- By Zhang Junmian
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, April 3, 2013
The word "autism" is applicable only in the medical sphere, not in the field of art, Li believed.
|
|
|
Professionals from different academic fields, including psychology, sociology and arts, were invited to discuss how the families dealing with autism and the public can pull their strengths together to create a tolerant and inclusive social environment for the growth of autistic children. [Photo by Zhang Junmian/China.org.cn] |
Children suffering from autism, a disorder of neural development, usually shun away from positive communication with others due to their impaired social interaction skills and noticeable language loss.
Li said, "This urges us to think about what should be taken as the criteria for art and how we can create an inclusive standard to measure something challenging the stereotyped concepts."
Professionals from different academic fields, including psychology, sociology and arts, were invited to discuss how the families dealing with autism and the public can pull their strengths together to create a tolerant and inclusive social environment for the growth of autistic children.
|
|
|
Visitors attend the academic salon following the exhibition [Photo by Zhang Junmian/China.org.cn] |
Li, also the father of an autistic boy well-versed in playing the piano, is the initiator of art exhibitions for autistic children in China.
When recalling his motivation, Li said, "I hope art can become a vehicle for families dealing with autism to explore the potential of their children, and I also hope that art can help the gifted autistic children to integrate into society and feel they are useful people."
"It's through art charity, rather than common charitable undertakings, that these autistic children can earn respect in society."
|
|
|
A painting by Yi Xingjian [Photo by Zhang Junmian/China.org.cn] |
A father of an autistic girl echoed Li's point, saying that he hoped his daughter could become a useful person thorugh her own strength.
"What we need is respect, not pity," he said, stressing that he also hoped people can stop looking down upon autistic children.
Changchang's mother said, there's still an urgent need to raise people's awareness of autism. "Only when they know something about autism, can they understand it, and show more tolerance when autistic children display abnormal behavior."
It's lucky that society is becoming increasingly inclusive, she added.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)