Mom dedicates life to autism education, founds Asperger’s Syndrome Association
Mom dedicates life to autism education, founds Asperger’s Syndrome Association
2023-06-07
Today we meet a new immigrant who has spent almost 30 years supporting families with life with autism. Chen Hsi-chen came to Taiwan from China’s Sichuan province. Her daughter was just 5 years old when she was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. At first, Chen was devastated, but over the years the family has found ways to live happily with the condition. Chen founded the Asperger Syndrome Association to support others on similar journeys, and now she tours the country providing education and training to parents.
Chen Hsi-chen came to Taiwan many years ago for marriage. But when her first child was still just a baby, her husband died suddenly of heart disease, leaving her with no family nearby to turn to. Before long, Chen realized her daughter had delayed speech development and emotional difficulties. Eventually, her daughter was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Chen Hsi-chen
Chinese immigrant
When she was very small, she had no language at all. When she was two or three, she wouldn’t say “mommy.” She would hit herself and have big emotions – perhaps she wanted to express something, but we didn’t understand.
Chen has been at her daughter’s side ever since. And from those early days of nonspeaking, her daughter has gradually developed more and more social skills. As Chen quickly realized, there are many families living with autism, and she found lots of encouragement from other parents. She founded the Asperger Syndrome Association, helping other families through the panic that can follow a diagnosis.
Rather than bemoaning her lot, Chen discovered within herself more and more energy, not only for parenting, but also to support more and more families on their journey.
Chen Hsi-chen
Chinese immigrant
I’ve been here for 28 years, so lots of people have helped me. When we have the capacity to help others, I think in the years I have left to me I want to do more to give back to society. We are the mothers of Taiwan’s children, we are the daughters-in-law of Taiwan, so we play our part, and reduce a little bit of the discrimination that we receive as new immigrants.
As Chen looks back on her work, she says that raising a child with autism means a lifetime of learning and care. She hopes that more families will join in her efforts to come together and support the families who need it most, creating a social safety net where nobody drops through the cracks.
This story was provided by the program "We Are Family"
Funded by New Immigrant Development Fund
中配媽媽逆境慈暉 為亞斯伯格症家庭編織支持網
2023-06-07
來自四川的陳習珍嫁來臺灣多年，先後歷經早年喪夫、女兒5歲被確診自閉症、自己罹癌等逆境人生的考驗。為母則強的她，為了亞斯伯格症的孩子，深入特殊兒童的教育專業領域，引領女兒從重度自閉症，慢慢適應社會環境。她將自身多年累積在教育、自閉症兒童適應訓練等方面的豐富經驗，考取多張專業證照，成為一名自閉症巡迴宣導講師，更將小愛化為大愛，為亞斯伯格症家庭建構支持網。
早年陳習珍從四川嫁來台灣，先生因為心臟病發驟然離世，留下了襁褓中的孩子。在台舉目無親的她，發現了自己的孩子不僅語言學習遲緩，還有情緒障礙，被診斷為自閉症兒。
[[中國新住民 陳習珍]]
“這個孩子她很小的時候，就完全沒有語言，就是2歲3歲也不會叫媽媽，她會打自己然後她就會情緒，可能她想要表達什麼，我們不明白。”
一路悉心陪伴引導，女兒夢緣漸漸地從重症，慢慢能夠融入適應社會。艱辛的養育過程，她發現社會上原來還有許多跟她一樣的自閉症家庭，於是在大家的鼓勵下，陳習珍創辦了亞斯伯格症協會，幫助更多與她一樣曾經倉皇失措的自閉兒家庭。
這位身處逆境的媽媽不怨天不尤人，將小愛化為大愛，挺身而出，幫助許多自閉症的家庭走出困境。
[[中國新住民 陳習珍]]
“因為我已經來了28年了，所以從很多的人伸出援手來幫助過我，那我們有能力幫助別人的時候，是不是我想我有我在我有生之年，我想做更多的回饋這個社會。我們真的是台灣之子的媽媽，我們是台灣的媳婦，所以我們就做到我們應該的本分，對我們這些新住民的偏見，就是減少一些歧視啦。”
回首來時路，陳習珍說自閉症的孩子是一輩子的牽掛與課題，她也期待未來有更多人加入，幫助許多急迫的自閉症家庭，編織一張密實的社會支持網。
以上內容由《我們一家人》節目提供 內政部移民署監製
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