Meet Yi-Hong

Unleashing My Potential Through Nurturing and Training

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My name is Chen Yihong. I am 29 years old and currently studying in the master's program of the Department of Special Education at National Dong Hwa University. Since childhood, due to my autism spectrum disorder, I have exhibited certain congenital traits such as limited verbal communication, difficulty controlling saliva, avoiding eye contact, poor hand-eye coordination leading to frequent falls, picky eating habits, constipation, an IQ between 68-70, and delayed vision development by 2-3 years compared to my peers, which prevents me from reading for long periods. I also experience unsteady walking, making me prone to falls. However, these challenges have not hindered me from discovering my talents and finding a path for development.

 

Family Background

I started receiving early intervention at the age of three, and my mother has deeply influenced my growth. She is an artist, always ahead of her time, working in multi-disciplinary applied arts and cultural creative design. She believes that art can integrate with everything, even medicine, which she studied later in life to address autism-related challenges. Despite my diagnosis of autism, my mother always encouraged me to have confidence, believing in our family’s good genes and placing high hopes on me.

My grandfather worked in the tourism industry, and my mother holds a Chinese language teaching certificate. In recent years, she has been engaged in oral history research in Yilan County and has published books commissioned by public authorities. My grandmother was a teacher, and my mother transitioned from being a resource class substitute teacher to a professional special education teacher. She has always emphasized the importance of family education, which has been greatly beneficial to me.

I also have a supportive older brother, who is three years older than me. He often protected me from bullying at school, and I admire him greatly. He has graduated from university and now works as a manager at Subway. Despite our different interests, we share a close bond.

Since childhood, my mother arranged for us to learn martial arts. My inspiration came from my mentor, gold medalist Zhan Mingshu from the Taipei Asian Games, and later from Master Wang Leijun, the chief coach of the Shaolin Monks Troupe from Mount Song in Henan. Martial arts have greatly helped improve my physical balance, and I have always dreamt of one day opening a martial arts academy to teach children with disabilities.

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Learning Experiences

I am passionate about travel and local historical research. Last year, I was the only student from my department to be selected for the National Science Council’s undergraduate research thesis project competition. My topic focused on "The Disappearing Craft of Woodworking" and explored the artistry of master craftsman Chen Qiweng, who worked with my mother on local cultural projects. I am very grateful for this opportunity.

Throughout this learning process, I realized the importance of learning local languages for historical research. I have made great progress in learning Taiwanese and Hakka languages through singing and speech competitions. Last year, we collaborated with Japanese artist Narita Teruhiko on an international charity picture book project, for which I studied Japanese to facilitate the collaboration. I have also visited France to engage with charity organizations and introduced our association using English. Additionally, I have studied indigenous songs from the Amis, Atayal, and Kavalan tribes at local cultural centers.

In third grade, after completing sensory integration therapy, I joined extracurricular activities like badminton, in which I excelled thanks to my teacher’s careful guidance. I also enjoyed baseball and was a fan of the Taiwanese Brothers Baseball Team. These sports have helped improve my visual tracking skills.

I also pursued classical Western music, integrating martial arts with Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, "Fate." This combination of Eastern and Western elements has enhanced my ability to learn and explore new experiences. I performed this unique combination during association activities and at an exchange program in China, where my performance impressed the audience.

Although I am not academically gifted and my grades are not ideal, I have a strong spirit of perseverance and a passion for learning. I particularly enjoy studying English. Over time, I have gained confidence and passed several language proficiency exams, including certifications in vocabulary and digital media skills.

 

Future Aspirations

While my academic performance may not be outstanding, I am determined not to give up. I aim to integrate special education with art and design to promote more diverse educational concepts. In the future, I hope to carry on my mother's mission by promoting new ideas in special education, and helping more individuals with disabilities and their families.

Through my personal story, I want to inspire others and give them hope, showing that with determination, anything is possible.