Jiangsu car wash gives adults with autism drive to succeed

In a bright, spacious workshop filled with the gentle hum of water pumps and the rhythmic swish of brushes, Liu Changle guides a foam sponge in careful, deliberate arcs across a car door. Around him, other young men and women dry vehicles, or welcome customers with practiced smiles. Emblazoned on the back of each of their vests is the name of this special enterprise: Star Youth Car Wash.

This is no ordinary car wash. It is the heart of a pioneering social project in Huaian, Jiangsu province, where young adults with autism — often affectionately called "Star Youth" or "Children of the Stars" — are not just learning skills, but building futures.

"The more cars I wash, the happier I am," said Liu, one of the car wash's first trainees. "My task is to make each car as clean as a mirror."

The car wash is part of the Xingyu Inclusive Development Center, the first facility of its kind in Jiangsu to blend free daytime care, life training and real work experience under one roof. Born from a unique partnership between the Huaian Disabled Persons' Federation and the State-owned Huaian SJID Group, the center addresses a pressing question: What comes after childhood for those on the autism spectrum?

"Currently, we have 19 trainees here — 10 with autism, and others with Down syndrome or intellectual developmental conditions," said Chen Xiuchun, the center's director.

Since opening in May, Xingyu has turned vision into reality. The facility is built around two core spaces: the car wash zone, which functions as both a training ground and a social enterprise with two manual bays and one automated line, and the day care and training wing, which offers instruction in life skills like cooking, cleaning and budgeting, alongside counseling and tailored employment coaching.

"Our training spans physical, cognitive and skills-based development," Chen said.

By combining government oversight with businesslike operations, the "Xingyu model" creates a sustainable framework for supportive employment, guiding participants step-by-step from assisted tasks toward greater independence.

For Xia Juan, the center has brought tangible hope. Her 18-year-old son who is enrolled at Xingyu, began displaying unusual behaviors at age 5 but wasn't formally diagnosed until he was 10. After he left school to focus on rehabilitation, Xia quit her accounting job to become his full-time caregiver, accompanying him daily to therapy sessions.

"As a family, our biggest concern has always been whether he can integrate into society," Xia said. "As we grow older year by year, what we want most is for him to have a stable, secure life. Everything comes down to one thing: stable employment."