Remembering Dr Li-Ching Lee, a pioneer of global autism research.

Fombonne et al. (2022) wrote a memorial article. They honored Dr Li-Ching Lee. She spent her life studying autism around the world. The paper lists her big ideas and kind acts.

It is not a lab study. It is a story of her work in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. It shows how she used numbers to push for better services.

The main finding is a person, not a p-value. Dr Lee proved one doctor can change policy. She built autism centers in low-income countries. She trained local parents and scientists.

Her rule: listen first, act second. She told teams to count kids with autism, then fight for funds. Her work is still growing after her death.

Zamora et al. (2016) give the how-to. They showed Latino families join studies when you speak Spanish and meet in churches. Lee’s global push lines up with this local detail.

Tager-Flusberg et al. (2016) teach us to include kids who talk little. Lee wanted every child counted, not just the verbal ones. The two papers share the same big tent idea.

McComas et al. (2025) warn that ABA can hold quiet bias. Lee’s humility stance matches their call to audit ableist goals. Same mission, different words.

Catagnus et al. (2025) also wrote a tribute. They honor Dr Hughes Fong for DEI work. Reading both memorials side-by-side shows our field values heart-led leaders.

You can copy Lee’s first step today. Ask: ‘Who is missing from my data?’ Then walk into under-represented neighborhoods and listen. Use Irina’s parent-centered tricks, Tager-Flusberg’s desensitization tips, and McComas’s anti-ableist checklist. One humble BCBA can spark region-wide change, just like Lee did.