In early 2019, Amy Schumer revealed that her husband was on the autism spectrum. The comedian appeared on an episode of Late Night With Seth Meyers and discussed her decision to go public with her husband Chris Fischer’s diagnosis. She said getting a diagnosis helped him to come to terms with his disorder. “I think a lot of people resist getting diagnosed and even some of their children because of the stigma that comes along with it,” said Amy at the time.

Darryl Hannah may not be a household name but surely you remember her in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill movies? In 2013, she spoke publicly about her autism, which she was diagnosed with a s a child. “I was a little odd and incredibly introverted and withdrawn when I was young,” she said of her childhood social skills. Today, she is a proud part of the autism community in Los Angeles, proving that autism isn’t a barrier to success.

British-Chinese actor George Young was prompted to speak up for those living with autism because of his brothers. The eldest of four boys grew up with two brothers who have severe cases of autism with under-developed language abilities. In 2016, he became the ambassador for Share the Care SG, an initiative that aims to increase awareness of the unique challenges that family caregivers of people with special needs face and to encourage the community to lend support to those family caregivers.

Madam Ho Ching made waves in 2016 when she was picture holding on to a dinosaur clutch during then-US President Barack Obama’s state visit to Singapore. The dinosaur purse, designed by 19-year-old  Pathlight student See Toh Sheng Jie, flew off the shelves and up to 200 pieces of the design was sold overall. Madam Ho bought the $14.80 purse from The Art Faculty, a gallery and store run by Pathlight’s parent charity, the Autism Resource Centre, during a fund-raiser. She is an adviser to the centre.

Known for her roles in the Twilight film series and married to fellow actor Ian Somerhalder, Nikki has spoken candidly about having a brother on the autism spectrum. Nikki said in 2015 that her brother “is so high functioning that in many cases, it’s not even detectable.” That same year, Nikki was named Lindt’s Autism Speaks spokesperson.

Toni Braxton’s son, Diezel, was diagnosed with autism when he was a child. For some time, the R&B singer said she believed that her son’s autism was God’s way of punishing her for having an abortion when she was younger. She later said, “I have since realised that my son is special and learns in a different way.”

Felicia Chin is as philantrophic as celebrities get in Singapore. She often supports charities to do with children and has been seen visiting Pathlight School many times to give motivational talks and interact with the students. “I’ve read so much about Pathlight — the amazing work all the teachers have done and the support they give the students is great. I love that social skills and life skills are taught,” she said of her visit. “I have so much to learn from them about authentic happiness and being very true to how they feel towards people.”

Inspired by a mother’s courage to communicate with her autistic son, and a poem he wrote, Kate Winslet made it her mission to raise awareness of the capabilities of those with autism. She sent a worn-out hat to a few of her famous friends – think Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio – and made a photobook that accompanied the poem written by autistic teenager Keli Thorsteinsson. All proceeds from the book went to the Golden Hat Foundation, a charity set up to improve awareness about the talents of autistic people.