Band for autistic children in Beijing hopes to improve communication

World Today

Volunteers in Beijing have put together a small musical band to help autistic children and young adults come out of isolation. CCTV’s Liu Li reports.

Wang Yupu, 19, travels from Tianjin to Beijing, a distance of 134 kilometers (83 miles) every week for group musical practice.

For Yupu, who has autism, playing the drums is a way to express his feelings.

The percussion band he’s part of is aimed at encouraging him to communicate with others.

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“They have no classmates, no friends. Through these activities, they can feel what it’s like to be together with friends. They can feel the happiness in the group. As parents, we are quite moved,” Wang Yupu’s mother said.

The band was created only a month ago and has six members, but the volunteers behind it are thinking bid. They hope one day the group can even perform commercially.

“We want to help them, proving to the public they have talent. They deserve what other children are enjoying from society. They should be valued and they can also earn a living,” Volunteer Wang Yuhang said.

For the parents of the band members, the most important thing that the children find some joy in playing, and bring happiness to others.