WATCH: Successful Autism Awareness Walk in South
Autism acceptance is respecting all forms of communication.
The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) successfully organised an Autism Awareness Walk in support of the children living with Autism Spectrum Disorder and to educate the community about the condition on June 11.
The walk started at St Patrick Church in La Rochelle, up Main Street, Daisy Street, Prairie Street and Johannesburg Road. It was attended by JRS volunteers, parents and children living with autism.
The JRS is an international Catholic organisation whose mission is to accompany, serve and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people.
Barnaby Kangoni, health manager at JRS said their programmes are found in nearly 50 countries worldwide, aiding refugees in camps and cities, individuals displaced within their own countries, asylum seekers in cities, and those held in detention centres.
The main areas of work are in the field of education, emergency assistance, healthcare, livelihood activities, social services, and advocacy.
JRS South Africa works with refugees in urban areas like Johannesburg and Pretoria to provide medical care and support income generation. Since Johannesburg is home to the largest urban refugee population in the world, JRS works tirelessly with refugees to create sustainable livelihoods, provide vocational training, and assist in setting up small businesses.
“Currently we are offering home-based care to patients that are chronically and terminally ill in Pretoria and Johannesburg. We require patients to provide us with certain documents for assessment before we can assist the beneficiary.
“We have about 24 children who are autistic, together with their parents. Today we are doing this walk to bring awareness to the community. We couldn’t do this during the autistic month which is March because of some logistics. After the walk, we had fun and games for children and those who attended,” he said.
