From the first regional autism care law in China to real jobs for autistic young adults — as reported by the Fujian Daily
Quanzhou is the first city in China to adopt a dedicated regional law on autism care, and in Jinjiang, that commitment is now turning into real jobs.
In an in-depth report, Fujian Daily journalist Chen Yinli shows how Quanzhou is building a full-lifecycle support system for people on the autism spectrum and their families.
Since March 2025, SIMC – Swiss International Medical Center SA has partnered with Jinjiang Special Education School to create the Jinjiang Autism Vocational Education and Employment Guidance Demonstration Center.
The project draws on 91 years of experience from Switzerland’s Le Repuis, adapted by SIMC – Swiss International Medical Center SA to the industrial strengths of Jinjiang.
So far: a local core team has been trained in Switzerland by more than 20 senior experts, 21 Swiss expert missions, 338 days of on-site coaching in Jinjiang, 28 specialized sessions and 977 participants trained.
Students now learn in four vocational tracks — car cleaning, baking, Chinese cooking and handicrafts — across four standardized training workshops.
Principal Li Yanyu describes a three-fold shift: from placement to development, from static to dynamic assessment, and from fitting people to jobs to shaping jobs around people.
The new “Sunflower Workshop” at the Jinjiang Sports Center is a fully operating bakery and café set as the first out-of-campus incubation center for autistic graduates of the school after 3 years of vocational education. From here, they will be trained in a real commercial environment and get ready for real jobs.
“Everything we do is based on the underlying logic of love,” says Ao Beibei, SIMC Project Director — “Experience, paths, and models are themselves formed step by step through the exploration of love, and they teach us how to make this love more scientific, more powerful, more balanced, more unimpeded, and more sustainable.”
Building this ecosystem takes all of us: government, schools, enterprises, communities and families. Thank you to everyone walking this path with us.
Older autistic employees at work at the Jinjiang Xihan’er car wash centre
(Photo: Chen Yinli, Fujian Daily)
Legend
“Music Connects Us” Star Sound concert for autistic children, Quanzhou Grand Theatre, 17 July 2026
(Photo courtesy of interviewee)
“Xin·Yu” art-therapy activity for autistic children organised by the Quanzhou Overseas Students Association,
with SIMC Project Director Ao Beibei (Photo courtesy of interviewee)
