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Keynote and Hong Kong Autism Institute announce UNESCO collaboration to broaden World Autism Awareness Day reach
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Summary
Fatima de Quandt framed autism as human diversity and called for dignity and inclusive systems; Damien Green of the Hong Kong Autism Institute announced a 2026 partnership with UNESCO East Asia Regional Office and Special Olympics East Asia to expand World Autism Awareness Day observances across Chinese cities.
Fatima de Quandt, an autistic journalist and advocate, told attendees that autism is a form of human diversity and not an illness to be cured. Drawing on decades of masking and personal trauma, she said designing societies for all minds requires shifting from fixing individuals to transforming environments and institutions.
"Autism isn't new...It's my life," Fatima said, adding that governments must "understand the value of an autistic life and our contribution to their communities." She urged inclusion of autistic people of all ages and support for families without fear.
Following Fatima's keynote, Damien Green, founder of the Hong Kong Autism Institute, described regional ambitions and data estimates intended to guide outreach. He said Hong Kong estimates "1 in 39 children are autistic," and that China may have "over 10,000,000 people with autism, including 2,000,000 children," with about 160,000 new diagnoses each year. Green said the institute has entered a 2026 collaboration with the UNESCO East Asia Regional Office and Special Olympics East Asia to coordinate observances in multiple Chinese cities and to run employer and public awareness initiatives.
Green described plans for an April 2 plenary and employer awareness sessions, plus a large light‑up initiative across the Hong Kong skyline. He said the goal is to "drive awareness, greater empathy, empowerment, respect and dignity for autistic people" and to encourage policymakers and employers to adopt inclusive practices.
The event closed the segment with thanks to organizers and a note that World Autism Awareness Day observances are evolving from simple awareness toward systems change and dignity.
