“We must learn to see not only the differences, but also the talents and admirable qualities that reside within them.”
Those words, spoken by Dr. Xue-Jun June Kong, summed up the theme of this year’s Autism Awareness Symposium at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center on April 5-6. The event – held during the globally recognized Autism Awareness Month – touched on a variety of topics related to the neurological condition including uses of technology, inclusion, arts and education.
More than a hundred people attended the symposium — some traveling from New York, California, South Carolina, and even Taiwan— to hear from the Harvard-affiliated clinicians, researchers, psychologists, as well as documentary filmmakers, behavioral therapists and other experts on the topic.
Dr. David Hirsh, the associate dean of Harvard Medical School, opened the conference, and was followed by Dr. Ann M. Neumeyer, medical director at the Lurie Center of Massachusetts General Hospital, who discussed “Autism: Myths and Evidence.” Her talk addressed gender differences, pain perception, bone density and ongoing scientific developments that challenge and clarify long-standing assumptions about ASD.
Also speaking was Dr. Kong, the symposium chair and the director of the Synapse Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital. Kong gave a talk titled, “New Individualized Approaches to Autism,” in which she surveyed current progress in autism-related biomarkers — including genetics, microbiota, eye-tracking, heart scans, medical imaging, and AI. She told about her work to map out emerging therapeutic directions and targets. Her talk also emphasized strength-based education and advocated for integrated health care–education models that empower autistic individuals through “customized pathways.”
Dr. Walid Yassin, co-chair of the symposium and a psychiatry researcher, discussed neurodiversity, encouraging a broader understanding of cognitive variance and its value in society.
The event was hosted by Beth Israel as well as the American Chinese Medical Exchange Society. Key organizers and session moderators included Drs. Weigen Li, Zhao Liu, Qiaoxin Yang, Wei Yang, Bo Wang, Yiqing Song, and Xiaochun Wang, along with several physician volunteers who contributed with precision and care.
Also at the event, director Jianping Qu screened his documentary, “The Whisper of Colour,” chronicling the journey of Sophia, a young woman with autism whose exceptional artistic talent was discovered and nurtured, culminating in her being signed as a professional artist on her 18th birthday.
Dr. Jason Li, chair of the Boston Future Academy, discussed the broader implications of special education.
Other talks were given by financial adviser and certified public accountant Ms. Jinping Xu, who gave a practical lecture on financial planning for families with special needs, covering healthcare insurance and tax considerations. Dr. Jian Kong from Massachusetts General Hospital presented on the design and implementation of parent–child training programs rooted in mind–body medicine. Bai Pan, a behavioral therapist from New York, shared her recent research into performance-based structured interviews and emergency response analyses as a foundation for skill-based, socially meaningful interventions.
Amber Huang, a senior in the film department at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, presented her short film, “Glass,” which explored the unique emotional experiences of siblings in families affected by autism.
Yin-Chun Chen from the Taiwan Autism Art Association and Yung-Chi Sung of Yuanzhi Education talked about the impact of art therapy in autism, emphasizing how artistic expression can help unlock emotional and developmental growth in individuals on the spectrum.
Several autistic persons, including Raymond K. Wang, from the Boston area, shared their stories. Wang told his deeply personal journey—how he overcame the challenges of severe childhood autism to become a university graduate, a math teacher, and a research assistant at Massachusetts General Hospital. Wang invented a new eye tracking parameter system and model to differentiate autism from non-autism, which led to a patent filing via MGH. This technology was introduced commercially last year.
Yi-Hong Chen, a graduate student in special education from Taiwan, also spoke. Chen was born with multiple developmental disabilities and an unsteady gait. He shared his paintings.
Hung-Hsuan Chen, a man in his 30s with Marfan syndrome, scoliosis, profound myopia, and almost no spoken language, then took the stage. Under the guidance of his father and teacher, he has developed a stunning body of artwork. Watching him draw live on stage moved the audience deeply—his work defied assumptions and left an indelible impression.
Dr. Mei Zhang delivered a speech titled “Autistic Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence: A Path to Understanding,” presenting original insights that sparked active discussion among the audience.
“Let us celebrate neurodiversity, foster a society of inclusion and compassion, and support every autistic individual in realizing their potential—not as a burden,” said Dr. June Kong, “but as a valuable contributor to our world. They deserve, as we all do, to experience the fullness of life.”
This story was provided by Jianghe Niu from the Autism Neurodiversity Institute
