Though it was winter vacation, 17-year-old Yangyang started his day early and returned home to whip up a bowl of seafood noodles for his younger sister. To outsiders, he seemed like a caring and responsible older brother with a passion for cooking, yet only his parents truly understood the immense effort involved in helping Yangyang, who lives with autism, reach this level of independence.
Yangyang is now enrolled in a special education middle school, and his mother hopes that he will one day secure a job in the food and beverage industry after graduation. Since the first case of autism was reported in China in 1982, awareness of this neurological and developmental disorder has grown steadily. According to data, the prevalence rate of autism among children in China ranges from seven to ten in a thousand.
China's autism narrative has long focused on minors, fondly nicknamed as ""children of the stars." " But as that generation comes of age, addressing the employment and social integration of adults with autism is emerging as a new priority. Zhang Jianli of the Kangnazhou Autism Family Support Center told Xinhua that the institution is dedicated to supporting autistic adults. It offers training to develop vocational skills such as baking and coffee-making, assigns employment counselors, and helps connect students with potential employers.
Xiaoming, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three, graduated from college and secured a position at a kindergarten. ""Although he lacks experience in handling conflicts among children, he is constantly learning and adapting,"" Zhang said. ""Pursuing one's talents in a beloved field is not only a personal achievement but also a testament to the effectiveness of inclusive education and support systems.""
Ren Shaopeng, program director of the One Foundation, noted that autistic adults are among the most challenging groups to serve in terms of care services, yet they are also the most in need of social support. According to Wen Hong, founder of Kangnazhou, autistic adults typically have three options: institutional care, day services and employment. Wen believes that employment enables individuals with autism to engage with society and achieve self-fulfillment.
Ren said that in response to growing demand, the One Foundation's Ocean Paradise Project will support autistic adults in areas such as daily life and social adaptation skills, vocational training, social engagement, personal care and emotional well-being. However, Wen found that employment conditions for this group have generally been unsatisfactory. ""I hope that organizations working with individuals with autism and their families can build a platform to connect job seekers with more potential employers,"" Wen added.
Chen Zhuoying is the father of a young man with autism named Xiaoye. Through Kangnazhou, many parents expressed their children's desire to learn music. In 2024, Chen formed a band for them, which performed over 20 times in 2025. Currently, Chen's company has five bands for autistic individuals, comprising 28 members. From teaching them musical instruments to arranging commercial performances, the company provides this community with opportunities to showcase talents. Xiaoye now works as a teaching assistant for one of the bands and is also responsible for video editing and sound system setup.
""Forming bands isn't just about giving them a job opportunity. It's about helping them grow together,"" Chen said. ""They've been performing together since childhood, and I hope they'll still be together when they're 50, rather than becoming isolated individuals.""