Beijing Stars and Rain is based in the outskirts of Beijing, China, and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for autistic children and their parents within China. We achieve this through a unique way of operating - by training the parents, rather than the children. Because of the inadequate provision of care for autistic children in China, it would be impossible to directly educate more than a fraction of the autistic children in the country. To get around this problem we focus on giving parents the skills to educate their own children, through a 3-month residential course in Beijing. This has allowed us to help over 2,000 (1993-2004)families since the organisation was founded. This page gives an overview of our organisation and links to further information.

"To help people with autism reach their full potential, improve their quality of life, and enjoy equal opportunities. We strive to be a bridge between society and children with autism."

To realize this mission we aim to help:

• children with autism through a well developed, structured Individual Education Plan.

• parents to understand autism and to learn the skills they need to improve their children’s daily life through an 11-week parent training program.
• Chinese society to recognize and accept people with autism and other disabilities.

There are two different departments at Stars and Rain, one serving pre-school children and their parents, and a group home providing residential care and education for six teenagers.

Preschool

The preschool deals with children aged 3-12 using techniques based on ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis). Because it would be impossible to serve all the autistic children in China, we focus on educating the parents in the skills and techniques required to ensure their own child’s development. We offer four courses of 12 weeks annually, and around 50 families from across China attend each course.

Further information on the preschool can be found here.

Group home

The group home has been running since November 2006 and accommodates 6 teenagers with autism and related disabilities. The teenagers live in the home from Monday to Friday and are taught practical skills using the TEACCH methodology. The group home aims to be recognised as a successful model that can be replicated by other provinces in China in order to maximise the provision of care for autistic teenagers in the country.

Further information on the group home can be found here.

Challenges for Stars and Rain:

*****take from volunteer preparation pack***

Poor professional resources: There is a lack of related higher education (research and teacher training / certification system for teachers of autism)

Weak financial support: There is also a lack of governmental funding and a weak social philanthropy system.

Lack of legal guarantee for:

Social services. Families have to self-pay for their children’s education, including remedial services. Limited ability to pay means that Stars and Rain can not charge high tuition fees, which are our main source of revenue.

Universal compulsory education for people with disabilities. This means that parent view Stars and Rain as their children’s only chance for improvement and perhaps even cure ( which it is not).

Limited Awareness about:

Autism diagnosis and the need for educational treatment.

Respect of the right of all children to education (school enrollment rejection)

Challenges Stars and Rain is facing---

1. Long waiting list. Critical need for expansion of services.

2. Need to develop continuing services for older students.

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Achievements

March 15. 2003 Stars and Rain celebrated its 10th Year Anniversary

In the last 10 years (1993.3 -2003.2) STARS AND RAIN has:

Provided individual education therapy and consulting services to more than 2,000 children with autism from 32 provinces of China.
Trained more than 700 parents how to use the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) approach.
Started outreach training courses for families living far from Beijing (since 1998). We have held 27 courses in 20 provinces and helped 249 families by teaching them ABA skills and principles.
learned from and adapted successful methods from abroad, implementing educational techniques based on Applied Behavior Analysis, thus becoming China’s first school to provide ABA services.
Trained the first team of ABA professionals in China.
Developed a complete "ABA Parent Training" service model appropriate for Chinese families of children with autism