Fallen from the stars
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A day in the life
Life in this group home is fixed. The six get up at 6: 30 am and go to bed at 9 pm and take a walk before class and a nap after lunch.
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A Stars and Rain staff member (right) comforts an autistic boy disturbed by a stranger's presence. |
The walls, tables and doors all have labels or cards to show them what they should do. For example, if they are given a card showing a child lying on a couch, it means "take a rest."
Anything unexpected, a sound, a stranger or a change in routine, can cause anxiety and make them extremely nervous and upset.
Ma Xin, who has been living here for four years, is extremely shy and sensitive. He covers half of his head with clothes in an effort to distance himself from unexpected visitors. Whenever the strangers approach, he starts bleating like a lamb.
"It is interesting to see the way they get along with each other," Xing Lipan, one of the three therapists for the project, told the Global Times, "They never fight or argue among themselves because they are living in their own worlds.
"Their world is simple and peaceful, but we try to bridge their world with ours," she said.
Patience is paramount
Julian Klauke , 20, from Germany, joined the project for a year as a volunteer.
Klauke tried to hug Ma Boqi,11,the youngest child, who was goose-stepping around in the room. Ma stopped, raised his head and looked at Klauke, then quickly stepped back. He did not even blink.
"To get along with them, you have to be more patient," he said. "You teach them the same thing again and again, but they do it differently, react differently, each time."
Autism is usually diagnosed by the age of 3. The organization also provides a parent-training course, which teaches parents how to communicate with children aged between three and six, the optimum time for treatment.
"But what can these children do when they grow up? And who will take care of them after their parents die?" asked head teacher Wang.
"This group home project is a test to show how to train older autistic children."
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