Providing A Job is Giving Hope
At the age of 6, Xiao Quan started to look very different from other children. He liked to tease his neighbors’chicken. Xiao Quan’s parents had to apologize to their neighbors everytime. The situation happened over and over again. The neighbors didn’t have any other choice, just to keep bearing it, because everyone knew that this childwas a bit special. Xiao Quan’s parents said openly that families with similar children to Xiao Quan are not in an easy situation. Only parents of intellectually challenged children know how hard it can get.
All parents wish their children to be successful, and so do Xiao Quan’s parents. When Xiao Quan was in school, he was not social and he could not keep up with other students. Everytime there was a team activity, other students would run in one direction and Xiao Quan would run in the opposite one.
Later on, Xiao Quan’s parents moved from Anhui province to Suzhou for work purpose and took Xiao Quan along with them. He dropped out of school after finishing his primary education. As his parents have always been busy with work, they didn’t have time to stay at home and take care of him. They had to let Xiao Quan stay in a rented apartment alone. “He felt lonely there and didn’t have any friends, we could see he how he started to deteriorate.” His parents said.
How can a young man in the prime of his life be expected to stay at home by himself? Xiao Quan always sneaked out when his parents were not at home, however he often got lost and could not find his way back home. Sometimes Xiao Quan’s parents were looking for him until late at night. If they didn’t find him, the only option was to call the police, so they became regular visitors of the police station.
Once, on the afternoon of the Lantern Festival of 2017, Xiao Quan as usual, was going in the direction of Nanyang Square in Taicang; when he started to go back home ,he went in the opposite direction. He kept walking further and further, without asking anybody for help.
Then it started to rain, and Xiao Quan’s parents had to report to the police. That time his where aboutswere updated every half an hour. After 40 hours passed and he didn’t come back, his parents feared that the worst. After 48 hours, the parents had to give up. They left the police station crying in despair, and decided to go home and wait for information from the police.
When his parents returned home and opened the door, they couldn`t believe their eyes. Xiao Quan was at home, looking like a homeless, all covered in mud and grabbing leftovers from Lantern Festival’s dinner. Because he was eating so much and so fast, he actually damaged his stomach that day.
After surviving by the skin of his teeth, Xiao Quan’s parents decided that something must change in Xiao Quan’s life, and he should not make the life of his whole family so hard. They must seek the support from the government. Later, for the sake of their children, his parents also moved their household registration from Anhui to Suzhou.
After he came to work in the Inclusion Factory, Xiao Quan’s family experienced a great change. From Monday to Friday, Xiao Quan works in the Inclusion Factory, receiving professional vocational training and completing designated daily tasks. After a busy week, Xiao Quan does not want to run around on weekends any more. Instead, he stays at home and has a good rest.
Xiao Quan’s parents were very pleased from Xiao Quan’s change at this point. Inclusion Factory’s employees are driven to and from work every day, so Xiao Quan’s parents can set their mind at rest. Before working in the Inclusion Factory, Xiao Quan stayed at home and his parents found that the older he grew, the more serious his impairment became and the his mental deterioration gradually worsen. After receiving professional career training at the Inclusion Factory, Xiao Quan became more organized and efficient. At work, Xiao Quan gets along well with many colleagues and although he does not talk much, he has become more outgoing and undergone a major change.
