Some possess great talent, others have no verbal skills. There can be temper tantrums, a lack of social skills, a general unawareness of personal space. The effects of autism vary, and while thousands of Hongkongers suffer from the neurological disorder, most city dwellers would not know it.
Symptoms are for the most part not visually apparent. The consequences, however, can be severe, affecting not only the patients but their parents and carers.
While there is no cure, there is hope, and people in Hong Kong are teaching students with mild to moderate forms of autism how to improve their daily lives.
In 2007, the Autism Partnership Foundation opened a school in Hong Kong, using behavioural therapy techniques so children can learn to interact with others, experience the joy of birthday parties, take care of themselves, communicate their feelings and more. The school is open to children aged four years and eight months to 14 years.
The foundation is one of 13 beneficiaries of Operation Santa Claus, the annual charity drive organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK.
Deirdre Noble's son Kendall, six, was diagnosed with autism at three, and was enrolled in the Autism Partnership School in January last year.