April 2, 2025—World Autism Awareness Day—marked a special moment for 10-year-old autistic child Sui Yanzhen. Invited by Jiahui Health, he walked onto the pitch of Shanghai Shenhua Football Club’s home stadium with the players, singing the national anthem alongside Shenhua players in front of tens of thousands of spectators.

"I loved it, because I love Shenhua. Being part of this event is a particularly beautiful memory," Sui later typed out.

For his father, the experience was even more meaningful. He said, "Practicing at home or school can’t compare to being in the real match environment. This was another milestone for him."

This event, organized in partnership with Jiahui Social Work, aimed to promote social integration and boost confidence in children like Sui. As part of the social integration initiative, Jiahui Social Work also organized hospital visits for autistic students to alleviate their fear towards medical treatment, a charity sale of autism-related art, and workshops that promoted autism awareness.

This moment was part of a larger effort. The World Health Organization estimates 1 in 100 children worldwide has autism; due to social communication difficulties and fear of unfamiliar environments, they often struggle to integrate into society as adults. Since last year, Jiahui Health has expanded its focus beyond diagnosis and intervention for autistic children to address their deeper challenges—from accessing medical care to social inclusion.

Hospital visits (part of Medical Experience Day) help alleviate children’s fear of medical settings, making routine check-ups less intimidating.

Beyond sports, Jiahui’s efforts span multiple dimensions to foster inclusion:

• Medical adaptation: Hospital visits (part of Medical Experience Day) help alleviate children’s fear of medical settings, making routine check-ups less intimidating.
• Public engagement: Charity sales of autism-related art (including “A Football Match Under the Starry Sky”) and awareness workshops raise understanding.
• Long-term support: New programs—creative design competitions, volunteer roles, and career experience days—aim to integrate autistic children into daily life and prepare them for future employment.

On April 2, Jiahui Health invited an autistic child (far right in the left photo) to serve as ball boy, singing the national anthem together with the players and watching the game.

These initiatives are rooted in both empathy and science. "Exercise releases dopamine and serotonin, boosting pleasure and reducing anxiety," explains Jiahui pediatrician Dr. Catherine Yue. "For kids with sensory issues, it also regulates sensitivity and lowers stress hormones."

At the core of these efforts is a clear philosophy. "Social integration isn’t about making autistic children conform to rules," says Dr. Teng Guoliang, Jiahui’s VP of Clinical Service Innovation. "It’s about building a world where they’re accepted at their own pace." This requires collaboration across families, schools, institutions, and society.

Jiahui Health partnered with Shenhua football players and children with autism to create the charity painting “A Football Match Under the Starry Sky”.

Jiahui’s goal is to move beyond treatment to empowerment" through early screenings, professional intervention, and daily support, with the aim to ease not just medical and social barriers, but also lay groundwork for autistic families’ long-term well-being—including future employment.

As Sui’s story shows, small steps—whether singing an anthem, kicking a ball, or painting a starry sky—can spark big change. With continued effort, inclusive spaces where every child thrives are no longer just a vision, but a growing reality.