ASIA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL: Life in the Spectrum

Beatrice Leong wants autistic people to be recognised and empowered

- Aaron Pereira

What struck me about Beatrice Leong is that she doesn’t want to pussyfoot around autism. “People say ‘she is a person with autism,’ but it’s not like a bag that you bring along. It’s who you are, so say you’re autistic and don’t call us ‘differently abled’. We’re disabled, and it needs to be recognised,” states Leong.

“And through that recognition comes empowerment, because once you acknowledge and normalise it, you don’t see it as a bad thing anymore. And always consult the autistic person. Don’t talk about them—whether it’s with their parents or caregivers—talk to them. If they’re able to communicate, talk to them, write to them, draw or use images and get their opinions and ideas. By referring to us as ‘special’— take, for example, the Malay term ‘anak istimewa’—you, in a way, state that autistic people have lower value and will be given less opportunities compared to the rest.”