Young adults on the autism spectrum enjoyed a night for themselves at a club in Taipei on Sept. 26.
The event, inspired by those in Baltimore and London, was the first of its kind in Asia, drawing more than 100 attendees.
CHESS Taipei (@chesstaipei) welcomed 33 members of Star Kids, an autism support group, onto the dancefloor.
Each Star Kid and their caretaker were assigned one volunteer who guided them through their first evening at the club. Their family members also joined in.
Organizers Adam Yi and Remo Lin sought to recreate a safe environment for youngsters with autism where they can feel free of restrictions that come with their condition.
Additionally, they hoped to challenge the perception of nightclubs and the notion that public welfare is limited to volunteers, donations and service institutions.
Fu-Shiang Tseng, general manager at CHESS, told NextShark that there is “definitely more to come” as he does not want the event to be a one-time thing, according to a press release by freelance journalist Tabitha Wilson.
Tseng also hopes that the recent gathering will “encourage today’s Star Kids to experience and be comfortable with nightlife in the future.”
Aside from dancing, attendees enjoyed non-alcoholic beer, a photo booth and music from one of CHESS’ most popular DJs.
Photos and videos from the event show that they certainly had a good time.
The event is co-hosted with CHESS by the Association for the Promotion of Autistic Sports and Leisure of Taiwan (@starsports.org), a nonprofit run by volunteers who provide support for children with autism and their families.
Yi hopes that the event would inspire volunteers to become more involved with people who have disabilities.
Feature Images via Adam Yi
