Navigating The Uncharted: How One Hong Kong Mother Is Rewriting The Rules Of Inclusion

Motherhood is the ultimate uncharted territory, but for parents of neurodivergent children, the map is often entirely blank.

When Mary Schaus noticed her infant son wasn’t responding to his name, she stepped into a lifelong advocacy journey. What started as advocating for her son, led to the creation of the Talos Foundation, an NGO on a mission to change the landscape of neurodiversity in Hong Kong. Ahead of her upcoming talk on “Invisible Differences” at TEDxTinHauWomen 2026: UNCHARTED, we sat down with Mary to talk about breaking barriers, redefining good behaviour and building a more inclusive city for all families.

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A System Without A Map

When Mary finally secured an autism diagnosis for her son, she assumed she would be handed a clear, accessible treatment plan. Instead, she found a system severely lacking in basic support.

Though Mary was eventually able to secure support through her international employer, she couldn’t ignore the glaring systemic inequality faced by local families. “I thought to myself, ‘That’s great, I have resources… but what about all those people who don’t have the money?'”

Recognising the impossible financial and cultural barriers facing the average Hong Kong family ignited a new drive. This led to her starting Talos Foundation, named in honour of her son, with the aim of raising awareness of neurodiversity and invisible disabilities, and help change people’s mindsets in the process.

Read More: World Autism Day — How Hong Kong Supports Autistic People (And What It Could Do Better)

Redefining “Normal” In Hong Kong

Beyond fighting for medical and educational resources, Mary found herself constantly navigating a fast-paced city with incredibly rigid social norms. What looks like misbehaviour to a passing stranger on the MTR is often just a neurodivergent child trying to cope with an overwhelming environment.

“What I’ve seen is that society gets to determine [what normal is] right now, and that’s really what we’re trying to change,” she explains. She challenges us to rethink our immediate judgments when we see a child acting differently in public.

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Charting A Kinder Future For Hong Kong

To help bridge this gap in public understanding, Mary’s Talos Foundation created a simple, bilingual lanyard for neurodivergent individuals to wear, signalling their invisible needs to those around them and instantly reducing public friction. But her ultimate goal is much bigger than a wearable tool.

For Mary, true inclusion doesn’t require everyone on the street to be a medical expert in neurodiversity; it simply requires a shift in our collective mindset. Reflecting on a recent experience where a stranger on the train intuitively understood Alex’s behaviour and responded with quiet empathy rather than judgment, she notes how powerful these small interactions can be.

“He didn’t need anything except for that person being aware, educated, and kind. Everyone can be kind. It’s not difficult.”

Book Your Tickets For UNCHARTED At TEDxTinHauWomen

Dedicated to amplifying inspiring female voices and ideas worth spreading, TEDxTinHauWomen is Hong Kong’s largest annual TEDx event. Hear Mary Schaus and other incredible speakers navigate the Uncharted at TEDxTinHauWomen on Friday, 2 October, 2026.