Asia Pacific Humanitarian Emergency Rescue Organization (APHERO) was recently invited to participate in The 3rd Annual Autism Community Summit, engaging with international and local Hong Kong experts, educators, and representatives from various sectors to explore innovative approaches to autism support systems.

The summit focused on full-lifecycle support for individuals with autism, spanning from childhood through adulthood. APHERO believes the support system for autism is undergoing a profound transformation — moving away from a single focus on “medical intervention” toward a comprehensive model that encompasses education integration, vocational development, family support, and broader social inclusion. Hong Kong’s mature experience in Special Educational Needs (SEN) support, vocational training, and full-lifetime family assurance offers valuable reference and inspiration for mainland China, which is currently at a critical stage of development in this field.

China currently has a large population of individuals with autism, exceeding 13 million, among whom approximately 2 million are children under 14 years old. Despite the significant challenges, APHERO observes encouraging progress: more families are receiving support, while advances in technology and policy improvements are gradually bridging social awareness gaps and creating a more inclusive environment for individuals with special needs.

APHERO upholds a people-centered humanitarian philosophy and firmly believes that: “Every unique soul deserves to be treated with gentleness by the world. Our goal is not to ‘fix’ them, but to understand and adapt to their world, and to build a more tolerant and accessible society together.”

This vision is fully aligned with APHERO’s core mission — while maintaining its focus on humanitarian emergency rescue, disaster prevention and reduction, and emergency response, the organization actively extends its efforts into humanitarian care and social inclusion. Through international exchanges, capacity-building training, and cross-sector project collaboration, APHERO is committed to contributing to a more resilient and inclusive Asia-Pacific region.

By participating in this summit, APHERO further strengthened partnerships with various stakeholders. The organization will continue to leverage its regional platform to promote the sharing of international best practices and drive practical cooperation for the benefit of individuals with autism and other special needs groups.