Zeno的故事 Story of Zeno
了解看似與眾不同的人生
感受自閉症人士內心的「真」
Understand the seemingly different lives,
feel the inner “authenticity” of the people with autism
愛培自閉症基金（APF）很榮幸邀請了顧定軒（Zeno）成為我們今年的公眾教育項目 ── 「關注自閉症大行動」的關懷大使，一起喚起大眾認識及接納自閉症人士。Zeno曾於香港電台的電視單元劇飾演自閉症學生，自此他對自閉症這議題十分關注。他希望透過自身的經歷，呼籲社會大眾摒棄對自閉症人士的固有刻板印象，協助他們融入社會，發揮所長。
探索自我人生是每一個人的重要課題
Zeno雖已是一名演員，但仍勇於嘗試新事物來進一步認識自己。早前他參加選秀節目，目的就是挑戰自己，希望透過不同的表演項目，發掘自己不同的可能性。Zeno認為探索人生是每一個人的重要課題。不論是普通人或自閉症人士，都應該透過不同的嘗試去了發掘自己的興趣及潛能，但社會對於自閉症的認識不深或存有誤解，某程度上會影響自閉症人士得到發揮潛能的機會，所以今年參與了APF舉辦的「關注自閉症大行動」，為提升公眾對自閉症的關注出一分力。
與自閉症小孩和青年相處 感受最內在的真誠
APF早前邀請了善加及智恆以繪畫去探索自己的興趣及能力，希望藉著安排不同的活動讓自閉症人士認識自己多一點。Zeno當天以關懷大使的身份參與，並一起接受訪問及拍攝宣傳照片。Zeno分享：「善加畫畫的時候很可愛，不會給規限，很直接去表現他想呈現的東西。而智恆比我想像中成熟很多，他是一個很得體、彬彬有禮的男孩子。」善加和智恆的真誠深深感染了Zeno。他們這種直接、真實的相處模式會讓人感到舒服及有趣。另外，Zeno亦被善加爸爸與智恆媽媽的樂觀正面的心態所感動，「智恆和善加的父母照顧他們的時候，其實需要有更多耐性和心機，但他們都沒有選擇用一個不好的情緒去看這件事。」一直積極正面地面對，悉心陪伴兒子成長。
看似不一樣 卻同樣值得被愛
當談及今年的活動主題「接受獨特的自己 認識不一樣的別人」，Zeno有感而發地說：「我覺得這種是，我們看似不一樣，但其實大家都是值得去被愛、值得去被照顧、值得去探索更多這個世界、去被了解。」然而社會上仍有很多人對自閉症人士存有誤解，甚或自閉症人士的家人會因著不同的原因隱瞞這狀況，Zeno特別鼓勵大家：「我覺得不需要擔心不要讓其他人知道（自閉症人士身份），因為說不準，我們可將這個機會給他們（自閉症人士）去認識世界，或去社區了解更多外面的情況，我覺得對他們會更好。」
以平常心態 認識每個獨特的人
不論是自閉症人士或普通人，每一個人都是獨特的，有不同的性格、不同的能力，以及不同的興趣。社會大眾應抱著一個平常的心態去結識自閉症人士。Zeno續說：「只要願意了解，或那一刻去感受他們（自閉症人士），你們就會發現他們都是很有趣和很善良的一群。」鼓勵大家打開心窗，踏前一步，認識不一樣的別人。
相關報道 Related News (Chinese Only)
[1] https://bit.ly/3wOGYkZ (Topick: 【關注自閉症】常演「稀有型人類」曾陷負面情緒 顧定軒指同理心最重要：大家都是普通人)
[2] https://bit.ly/3wT3BEC (HK01: 自閉症青年兩奪特殊奧運銀牌 顧定軒任關懷大使：不應標籤任何人)
Autism Partnership Foundation (APF) is honoured to have Mr. Zeno Koo as the Ambassador of our public education programme “Autism Awareness Actions” to raise public awareness and call for people’s acceptance of people with autism this year. Zeno once played a role of a student with autism in a RTHK TV drama. Since then, he has concerned the issue of autism. Zeno wishes to call the public to erase the stereotypes towards people with autism, to help them integrate into society and play to their strengths.
Self-exploration is the key life lesson for everyone
Zeno is an actor now, he is still eager to make new attempts, then to understand himself more. Participated in a talent show earlier, Zeno targeted to explore different possibilities by taking part in various performances. He believes that self-exploration is a key life lesson for every person. No matter for ordinary people or people with autism, all of us should unearth our interests and potentials by different attempts. However, due to the shallow understanding or even misunderstanding towards autism in the community, this reduces the chances for people with autism to unleash their potentials in a certain extent. Because of such, Zeno joins APF’s “Autism Awareness Actions” this year to put effort in raising public awareness of autism.
Getting alone with a young man and a kid with autism to feel their inherent sincerity
APF earlier invited a child, Sin Ka and a young man Chi Hang to explore their interests and abilities by drawing, wishing them to understand themselves more by offering different activities to them. Zeno also supported this interview and photo shooting with his role of Ambassador on that day. He shared with us that, “I found Sin Ka very adorable when he drew as he wouldn’t set rules for himself. He would directly express what he wanted to show us. While for Chi Hang, he’s much more mature than I thought. He’s a decent and polite gentleman.” Zeno was deeply touched by the sincerity from Sin Ka and Chi Hang. Their direct and sincere way they interact with people makes others feel comfortable and interesting. Moreover, Zeno was also moved by the positive mentality from dad of Sin Ka and mom of Chi Hang. “When taking care of their child, I believe their parents have to take much more time and patience. However, they haven’t chosen a bad mood to look into the matter.” Both parents have been devoting all of their attention to take care of their sons positively.
Seemingly different from each other, yet we all deserve to be loved
When taking about the theme of the year “Accept my uniqueness Understand your differences”, Zeno said emotionally, “I think it’s like, we seem to be different from each other, yet we all deserve to be loved, to be taken care of, to explore more about the world and to be understood.” Many people in the community would have misunderstanding towards people with autism, or their families would even hide their cases because of different reasons, Zeno encouraged us, “I think we are not necessary to worry about revealing the fact (of having autism). I believe somehow we are able to grant them (people with autism) opportunities to get to know the world, or letting them know about the situation outside. Such amazing settings are something valuable to them.”
Get to know every unique person with a usual demeanour
No matter for ordinary people or people with autism, every person is unique with different personalities, capabilities and interests. The general public are reminded to embrace themselves with a usual demeanour to meet people with autism. Zeno continued, “As long as you’re willing to understand them, or to feel their (people with autism) mood at the moment, you’ll find that they’re actually a group of interesting and kind-hearted people.” He at last encouraged everyone to open their minds, take a step forward to meet, accept and know different people.