According to results of a survey on the participation of preschool autistic children in community activities jointly released by Heep Hong Society and the Department of Psychology, the University of Hong Kong on 25 April 2009, parents of autistic children were confronted with greater difficulties and stronger negative emotions in brining their children out of their home. It also revealed that whether parents took their children out with them was determined in part by the views and attitudes of the public towards autistic children.

In the survey, out of the 596 questionnaires collected from parents, 382 replies were from parents of autistic children while the rest was from parents of normal children.  The survey aimed at finding and comparing the desire, feelings, frequency and affecting factors of parents of autistic children and those of their counterparts.

Mr Peter Au Yeung, Assistant Director of Heep Hong Society, urged the public, especially service providers, to have better understanding and acceptance of children with autism so that those children could integrate into the society. In the meantime, parents could also enhance the social adaptation abilities of their autistic children through specific training.   

Further details of the survey are available here.