Action in Autism hosts skills workshop in Durban North
The workshop is intentionally designed to meet the needs of both parents and professionals, including those in the business sector seeking to make their workplaces more inclusive.
ACTION in Autism (AiA), a leading advocacy and support organisation for autistic individuals and their families, will host a two-day Skills Transference Workshop on October 17 and 18.
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The workshop aims to equip parents, caregivers, educators, healthcare professionals, and business leaders with practical tools and inclusive strategies to support and empower autistic individuals in homes, classrooms, and workplaces.
Now in its 14th year, the workshop will be held at the Action in Autism centre in Haig Road, Durban North and features a multi-disciplinary line-up of presenters, including autistic self-advocates, speech-language therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, and parents.
Speaking to the initiative’s origins, Liza Aziz, founder and chairperson of Action in Autism, says the workshop was launched in 2011 out of a pressing need.
“At the time, many autistic children were sitting at home with no access to education or support. We had opened our Early Childhood Development Centre but could only accept 16 learners. We knew we had to do more. Parents and caregivers needed tools and understanding to support their children — not later, but immediately,” said Aziz.
The Skills Transference Workshop has since evolved into a comprehensive training platform that also addresses a significant knowledge gap among professionals such as doctors, therapists, and educators.
“We wanted to demystify autism for families and professionals alike. Too many professionals are taught to view autism through a clinical lens of deficits. This workshop changes that narrative. We advocate for a neurodivergent-affirming, human rights-based approach.
“Participants leave with real-world tools. They learn how autistic people experience the world differently and how to provide the right kinds of support, whether that’s sensory accommodations, visual aids, or communication strategies,” said Aziz.
Aziz says the workshop, which costs R1 500, continues to grow and evolve, incorporating the latest research and feedback.
For more information or to book call 031 563 3039 or email [email protected].
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