Initiatives
Landmark Collaboration
The Hong Kong Autism Institute (HKAI) announced a landmark collaboration with UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia and Special Olympics East Asia (SOEA) to promote World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) 2026 in Hong Kong SAR.
Unique Plenary Event
Light It Up Blue Campaign
Each year around the world people show their support for World Autism Awareness Day by ‘lighting it up blue’.
WAAD@Work
Employee awareness sessions conducted in major Hong Kong workplaces by the HKAI.
Hearing the voices of Autism through WAAD@Work
Unified in support
"Autism brings distinctive strengths, unique perspectives, and remarkable potential, alongside challenges that demand understanding and acceptance. In a world that is growing more attuned to human cognitive diversity, the right support can turn difference into an opportunity for connection. That is what it means to think differently: choosing understanding over assumption, acceptance over exclusion. When we do, difference becomes strength, and potential becomes progress - for individuals and for society."
John Lee Ka-chiu, GBM, SBS, PDSM, PMSM
Chief Executive, Hong Kong SAR Government, People's Republic of China
“We are working to bring new perspectives on understanding Autism, its rapidly growing prevalence and the unavoidable need to engage with it from a social and economic standpoint.”
Damien Green
Founder, Hong Kong Autism Institute
“WAAD 2026 is about moving from awareness to participation, ensuring persons with autism are present and included in education, sport, work and community life. That inclusion benefits everyone, and it must be shaped with autistic voices and lived experience at the center.”
WAAD@Work
Professor Shahbaz Khan
Director and Representative of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia and Chair of the United Nations Theme Group on Disability in China
Hearing the voices of Autism through WAAD@Work
“Our organization has witnessed the transformative impact of inclusion when persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, are meaningfully engaged in unified social activities, particularly in sport.”
Freda Fung
Regional President and Managing Director of Special Olympics East Asia
Employee awareness sessions conducted in major Hong Kong workplaces by the HKAI.
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“At HKEX we are keenly aware of our responsibility to the community and are committed to supporting greater inclusivity in Hong Kong’s financial markets and our wider society. We are, therefore, proud to be a major partner supporting WAAD 2026 in Hong Kong and pleased to support efforts to raise Autism awareness."
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Carlson Tong
Chairman, HKEX