ZheCheng's story: Self-care in life, freedom to go out, and participation in work. We are releasing each other.

Zhecheng, around the age of 3, was diagnosed with tendencies toward autism. His parents were informed that autism was incurable and that he might need lifelong companionship. It was like a bolt from the blue, and Zhecheng's parents felt a heavy burden in their hearts. With the need for a lifetime of companionship, they wondered, What about Zhecheng? Without time to blame fate, Zhecheng's parents embarked on a long intervention journey with their child.

Zhecheng, now 20 years old, stands at a height of 1.82 meters, handsome and quiet, playing with his phone. Occasionally, he smiles happily. His emotions are stable, and if he doesn't speak, you wouldn't know he is an autistic individual. His father mentioned that Zhecheng's comprehensive abilities have greatly improved in recent years. Now he can independently make hand-pulled noodles, dumplings, bread, dumplings, pizza, etc., proficiently use household appliances, and take on various household chores. He can use maps to plan travel routes, scan codes to ride shared bikes, use cards to take buses and subways, travel independently, participate in various social activities, make mooncakes, grow flowers, make pastries, create wire harnesses, play drums, soft volleyball, and ride a bicycle. Outside, he can order and pay for meals, buy rice, salt, flour, etc., at the supermarket, and even shop for fresh groceries online. When talking about Zhecheng's recent situation, his father, like treasuring a rare gem, speaks with great enthusiasm.

Zhecheng's dad:

The Lost Story:

On May 12, 2008, coincidentally the day of the Wenchuan earthquake, Zhecheng went missing. That afternoon, he was riding his tricycle in the neighborhood, with his mother following closely. Seeing him ride well in the community, his mother walked a shortcut through the middle of the community, expecting him to arrive soon. As the sky darkened and he hadn't come yet, his mother ran a lap in the community but couldn't find him. Where did Zhecheng go? He had never ridden his bike out of the neighborhood and had no verbal communication skills, so where could he go alone? The family was engulfed in fear, and the consequences were unimaginable.

They immediately called friends and colleagues for help. The house became a command center, with maps spread out on the living room floor, and they initiated a carpet-style search. Over 4000 missing person notices were posted, and Shanghai TV and radio stations helped broadcast information. After days of searching, they finally found a clue about Zhecheng at a police station in Hongkou. According to surveillance footage, they reconstructed the whole process of Zhecheng getting lost. He rode his tricycle out of the neighborhood, onto the main road, and took the subway Line 3 by himself. He was eventually found at a subway station, and the police took him to a shelter at the Tenth People's Hospital. This experience was a huge psychological test for the entire family.

Challenges of Growing Up:

From kindergarten to the 7th grade of junior high school, Zhecheng always had adults accompanying him in his studies. He was enrolled in regular classes, with his mom, dad, and aunt accompanying him the most. His comprehension skills were poor, and he struggled with class lessons, relying on parents to complete homework together. The shift towards independence began in the 8th grade, when they stopped accompanying him to school. The route from home to school involved a 6-kilometer bus ride with 8 stops. They took him on the bus several times, making him familiar with the route. Eventually, they let him lead the way to school. If he didn't indicate to get off at a certain stop, they wouldn't get off either, letting him make mistakes until he realized it.

After repeating this process, they felt he could go to school on his own, and they stopped riding the bus with him. At first, his elder cousin followed him on an electric scooter to check if he could reach school, cross roads properly, etc. The effort paid off, and he learned the route. Later, they decided to let him independently bring mooncakes back home as a challenge. They discussed the transportation route with him; he had a cellphone, and after school, he took an unfamiliar bus alone to a different place to pick up mooncakes. He successfully found the shop with phone guidance, picked up the mooncakes, and returned home on his own. This adventure was a successful experiment, proving that he could handle it independently.

Adolescence:

In 2017, as Zhecheng entered adolescence, his emotions became increasingly unstable. Language communication was challenging, leading to misunderstandings with classmates. He struggled to control his emotions at school, flipping tables, throwing textbooks, and even undressing and throwing clothes from the fourth floor. This severely disrupted the school's teaching order. As a result, they decided to temporarily stop him from going to school and focus on helping him release the pent-up hormones in a reasonable way.

Due to his excessive energy, they decided to accompany him on a cycling journey, with the longest ride lasting over 10 days and covering over 1200 kilometers across various districts in Shanghai. This experience allowed him to relax, and people along the way were very friendly.

They also took him on a two-month road trip, traveling from Shanghai to Qingdao, climbing Laoshan Mountain, visiting Mount Tai and Qinghai Lake, camping in the desert, and experiencing various natural wonders. This process helped Zhecheng clear negative emotions.

Comprehensive Ability Training:

Now, Zhecheng has become more flexible in various aspects. Previously, if a plan involved taking a bus, it had to be a bus. He couldn't accept changes and would throw a tantrum. Nowadays, if there is a sudden change or a desire to change transportation, as long as it's explained clearly to him, he easily accepts it. Before going out on his own, he voluntarily prepares by creating a mind map, deciding what to bring, planning the route, and making sure to have a mask.

He can cook for himself, make bread, cakes, and more. When making bread, he buys flour himself and goes through the whole process from kneading to baking, calculating the time step by step. His learning capacity has significantly improved, and his perseverance is strong. When given a task, he diligently completes it. Last year, he independently completed the production of over ten thousand wire harnesses. When he received his first salary, he was extremely happy and bought a gift for his grandfather.

As Zhecheng's comprehensive abilities improved, especially his ability to navigate freely and independently buy things, his freedom increased. The metaphorical cord binding them for so many years finally loosened. Witnessing him achieve independence, their breathing became smoother, and they believe Zhecheng can have his happiness and future.

The story ends with a quote: "The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away." Pablo Picasso.

The star that was once entangled and couldn't fly has now gained freedom. Zhecheng can now have a vast sky and bring new hope to everyone. The future is full of possibilities.