World Autism Month - let’s hear Gary and Jessica’s story!
April 2026
Loran Tang, recruiter and training coordinator of Children’s Ministry
World Autism Month - let’s hear Gary and Jessica’s story!
April is recognized as World Autism Month (also known as Autism Acceptance Month), and April 2 is observed as World Autism Awareness Day.
Having served in children’s ministry for many years, I’ve seen how families of children with autism often walk a challenging—and sometimes lonely—journey. It is not an easy path to embrace. Yet when parents feel able to share their journey and invite others in, the weight becomes lighter. A supportive community can walk alongside them, offering understanding, encouragement, and love every step of the way.
The BAC community has been welcoming and inclusive of children with neurodiversity. We have invited volunteers with experience supporting neurodivergent children in schools, daycares, and private settings to assist across our programs. In addition, we use a variety of materials and curricula that emphasize visual learning and offer alternative options to better meet each child’s needs. We will also be hosting a workshop in June to equip our helpers with specific skills to effectively support neurodivergent children.
It hasn’t been without its challenges, honestly—but it has also been deeply meaningful and rewarding. There is great joy in seeing these children grow in Christ and in knowing that their families are supported and not walking this journey alone.
I have invited Gary and Jessica Lee to share their journey with us. My hope is that their story will deepen our understanding of autism and the unique challenges their family—and others like them—experience.
Gary and Jessica’s story:
In October 2002, we became parents. With hearts full of joy, we eagerly awaited the arrival of our son. He was born safely, and everything felt so perfect and beautiful.
As we watched him grow, we cherished the moments of eye contact and interaction with him—they brought us so much happiness. However, after he turned one, he still had not learned to walk. Gradually, we noticed that he seemed less aware of what was happening around him. He became deeply focused on playing with the same toy over and over again. His vocabulary was extremely limited, and he was unusually sensitive to sounds. Sudden noises would often startle him, causing him to cry for a long time.
Concerned, we consulted our family doctor. After a referral for further assessment, our son was diagnosed with autism at the age of two years and nine months. The news struck us like a bolt from the blue. We were filled with questions—everything during pregnancy and delivery had gone so smoothly, so why did our son have autism?
After the diagnosis, our emotions were very mixed. On one hand, we felt deep sorrow and confusion, wondering what autism really meant. On the other hand, we also felt a sense of relief—finally, we had an explanation for our son’s differences. We hoped that, with the right support, we would be able to help him overcome his challenges.
From that point on, life became very busy. We began learning about autism while actively seeking resources to support our son. Through government-funded services, he attended weekly speech therapy and occupational therapy sessions. We also carried out training at home three days a week and met with his support team every month to review his progress and adjust his training plan.
With consistent and targeted intervention, our son made noticeable progress—in his speech, motor coordination, social interaction, and ability to cope with sudden noises. Even so, he still needs to learn many basic self-care skills, and the journey often tests both our love and our patience.
Without God walking alongside us, this journey would have been incredibly difficult. Along the way, many people came into our lives like angels—encouraging us, supporting us, reminding us, and teaching us how to care for and train our son. Even today, we continue to patiently teach him everyday skills such as brushing his teeth, washing his face, combing his hair, bathing, shaving, and crossing the road. We hope that one day he will be able to do these things independently and live with greater self-sufficiency.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
This verse has been a source of comfort, encouragement, and strength for us through it all.
Jessica and Gary Lee
March 2026
*If you want to see their full testimony, please click the link to watch the video: https://www.bacfamily.org/3/120 (in Cantonese)