Linden celebrates Autism Awareness Day
Autism SA’s Mary Moeketsi said that communities need to understand that there are people who are different and embrace them.
Linden’s Casa do Sol School for Special Education embraced the spirit of Autism Awareness Day with a heartwarming coffee event on April 5. The event brought members of the autism community together for a day of education and celebration.
Principal Ansonette Kraucamp, whose passion for supporting learners with special needs is evident in her dedication to Casa do Sol, expressed her excitement about the event. “Autism Awareness Day is an important opportunity for us to come together as a community and celebrate the abilities of people with autism. The turnout was amazing – we prepared for 70 people and we were well over that.”
Among the attendees at the event was Pranil Angath, the owner of the National Computer College in Randburg, who highlighted the importance of providing autistic children with opportunities to learn valuable skills. “I find that teaching autistic children is much easier than our mainstream learners, and that is because they are very well disciplined. If you show them something, they make a strong note to do it and you don’t have to check up on them. It really is a pleasure,” he said.
“It is important for us to share these skills with them because it gives them a sense of belonging. We let them know that they are also part of the community and society. We need to give them an opportunity and allow them to go through with it without limiting them.”
Deputy principal Penny Hoffman, who is a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience working in autism, emphasised the significance of Autism Awareness Day. “Autism awareness is crucial. I tend to describe autism as a short wiring in the brain where the wiring is not making a connection. Basically, it’s just neurons that haven’t found a path. No one can really find a cause for it and research is ongoing.”
Hoffman spoke on how people have become more accepting of autism over the years. “You tend to hear people suddenly ask, ‘So why was it not around when we were young?’ I always answer by saying it was around but people did not know. Children were put in corners and left at home because parents did not know what to do. Today, there are more institutions which make provision for our children.”
Although people are more accepting of autism, Hoffman explained that a lot of work still has to be done. “Neurotypical people can make the environment better for autistic people by acknowledging them. Do not pretend that they are not there. We can begin to understand them and that way make the environment better, for instance, asking for their permission before hugging them or understanding that they are not being rude when not giving you eye contact.”
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