On 2 April 2024, the 17th World Autism Awareness Day, something quietly extraordinary happened at the British Consul-General’s Residence in Guangzhou.

A painting called Qingdao, created by a young man named Dahai, was installed on the wall of the Residence, on loan from the Zhuhai Autism Society for the duration of Consul-General Sarah Mann’s posting. And then four of us sat down together, in front of that painting, for a filmed conversation about autism, about art, and about what it means to truly see the people around us.

Three of us were Sarah Mann, British Consul-General in Guangzhou; Charles He, President of the Zhuhai Autism Society and Dahai’s father; and me, as Chairman of Come Together Community, the charity that has partnered with the Zhuhai Autism Society since 2014.

The forth, Dahai himself, he also appeared in the video, a remarkable presence.

Who Is Dahai?

Dahai is Charles He’s son. He lives with autism. He is also an exceptionally gifted painter, the kind of talent that stops you in your tracks the moment you see his work. Qingdao is a landscape painting, and looking at it you would have absolutely no idea it was painted by someone the world might once have dismissed or overlooked.

The UN’s theme for World Autism Awareness Day 2024 was: Awareness, Acceptance, Appreciation: Moving from Surviving to Thriving. Dahai’s painting hanging in the British Consul-General’s Residence was, to me, a perfect expression of that theme. Not a statement about disability. A statement about capability.

The Conversation

The video, produced by the British Consulate-General Guangzhou’s communications team, led by Head of Communications Sophie Guan, was intentionally informal. Sarah asked the questions. She, Charles and I talked. We moved between English and Chinese, following wherever the conversation led.

We talked about Dahai’s story, about the realities of raising a child with autism in China, about the work of the Zhuhai Autism Society, about CTC’s decade-long partnership with Charles and his team, and about what it means for a city, and a community, to truly embrace people with autism rather than simply tolerate them.

Charles spoke mostly in Chinese, because there are things that are simply easier to express in your mother tongue when you are talking about your son.

I have known Charles He since 2014. Watching him speak about his son, Dahai, the pride, the love, the quiet determination, reminded me again why CTC pivoted so significantly toward autism support that year. Meeting Charles changed the direction of our charity. It changed me.

A Note on the Video

The video was shared on the British Consulate-General Guangzhou’s WeChat channel and reached a meaningful audience across South China. Sadly it is currently locked within that platform and I have not yet been able to obtain a downloadable copy, but I am working on it with the Consulate team. When I have it, I will share it here and on my other platforms.

If you work in autism support, if you have a family member living with autism, or if you simply care about building a more inclusive society, this conversation was for you.

Statistics Worth Knowing

Between 5% and 10% of children with autism have exceptional talents, in music, painting, memory, and other fields. Around 50% have normal intelligence, with their own distinct strengths and capabilities. Autism does not equal intellectual difficulty. And it certainly does not place any ceiling on what a person can create, contribute, or become.

Dahai’s painting on the wall of the British Consul-General’s Residence is proof of that.

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Mark Clayton FCMA CGMA CPA KOR — Group CFO, C2W Group | Chairman, British Chamber of Commerce South China | Founder & Chairman, Come Together Community