Autism South Africa in KwaZulu-Natal - September Update

Pietermaritzburg

The Pietermaritzburg parents support group is back up and running offering monthly meetings. The meetings are held at 278 Prince Alfred Street courtesy of Rubin and Ramola Gannesen.

Contact Autism South Africa for more info on how to get involved.

uMlazi

Our partnership with Durban and Coastal Mental Health has resulted in four awareness sessions during September at the following locations; U section clinic, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital’s Psychiatry clinic, Khanana Old Age Home, and the AA Clinic.

A combined mass awareness campaign with Durban and Coastal Mental Health is being planned for November. This will be aimed at the uMlazi and eThekwini South Regions.

During September the following key note addresses have been planned and executed:

·         At the YWCA special school in Newcastle for their Autism Mass Awareness day event. A spectacular event attended by all government departments, The Municipality Manager, District officials of the Department of Education, all neighbouring main stream and special schools and some schools from oThukela district, and all special needs schools from Amajuba district.

·         Stanger Training Centre on their Autism Pride Day attended by parents and neighbouring schools.

·         The Launch of eThekwini Mothers of children with Disabilities Forum a Pinetown Civic centre organised by the eThekwini Municipality office of the vulnerable groups.

·         Combined Provincial meeting of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Advisory Council for Children’s Rights (KPACC ) and the Provincial Disability Forum.

·         Camperdown’s EMbo  celebration of Women’s month with Women with disabilities event.

·         At Georgedale during the event in celebration of women with disabilities and the vulnerable groups organised by Vukuzakhe Disabled Women’s Empowerment Group in collaboration with eThekwini Municipality, Pinetown District Department of Education, COGTA and DPSA for the Georgedale and Hammersdale community at large. A wonderful occasion with drama performance on Inclusive Education by KwaThintwa School for the Hearing Impaired.

·         Sizabantwana educators forum in Pietermaritzburg a group of educators from different schools focusing on helping learners with barriers to learning.

We have also secured a number of media opportunities during the month.

·         Hosted a radio talk show with Izwi Lomzansi at their studio in Durban

·         Article in iLanga Newspaper from interview with journalist Thandi Zondi

·         Article in the Maritzburg Sun with Thuli Khanyile journalist

·         Article in Isolezwe in response to intervening on behalf of a child with Autism refused admission in a special school because he needed high levels of support. We are glad to say that the child has now been admitted to the school.

An action-packed month in KZN!

Insure Group donates R500 thousand to ASA

On behalf of the ever-increasing number of children and adults with autism in our country, Autism South Africa sincerely thank Insure Group Manager (Pty) Ltd for their incredibly generous donation of R500 000.00. This is the largest single corporate donation that we have ever received in our 24 year history. www.insuregroup.co.za

With the increased incidence and detection of Autism Spectrum Disorders in children of our country, the call on our office for services, especially for those with minimal resources, has markedly increased. It is essential therefore to place emphasis on the fact that if it were not for people like yourselves, we would not be able to start addressing the diverse pressing issues that we are faced with on a daily basis.

Words are always inadequate to express heartfelt gratitude but please know that all involved with the management of Autism South Africa, really are most grateful for your support.

ASA awarded massive Prasa sponsorship

Autism South Africa is excited to announce that, through our holding in the Khiphunyawo Rail Consortium, we are part of the 3 winning B-BBEE consortia that have secured the R51 billion rolling stock supply contract with Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) over the next 10 years. We are so excited!

“THE board of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has selected three groups to participate in the broad-based black economic empowerment (BEE) component of the company’s R51bn fleet renewal programme. The initiative is part of plans to modernise South Africa’s commuter rail system as well as stimulate the country’s rail engineering sector.

There are few household names disclosed as beneficiaries of what is one of the country’s largest empowerment programmes.

The companies and beneficiaries of the empowerment programme appear to be largely black and female, while many of the beneficiaries included disabled trusts and nonprofit organisations with a focus on skills development programmes for disabled people and black youth. The closure of the empowerment selection process is an important milestone for Prasa’s fleet renewal programme, and leaves just the shareholder agreements between the winning partners and the finalisation of the contract with Gibela Rail before the programme begins coach production.

Prasa’s empowerment partner selection process came under attack last year from the Black Business Council. The umbrella body’s general secretary, Sandile Zungu, said allowing Prasa to choose BEE partners was "dangerous" and that it fed into "the stereotype that BEE is about handouts".

Neither could Black Business Council CEO Xolani Qubeka, who was a bidder in the BEE process but was not selected.

Two of the three winning consortia are Khipunyawo Rail, which consists of SA Freight Logistics and Autism SA; and Community Rail Services, which is made up of a "number of people with disabilities, black female youth, Parmtro Investments and Kaelo Investments", Prasa said.”

Taken from: Few big names among groups chosen for Prasa renewal project

BY NICKY SMITH, 02 AUGUST 2013, 06:24 on BDLive.co.za

http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/transport/2013/08/02/few-big-names-among-groups-chosen-for-prasa-renewal-project

ASA at Future Ed

Autism South Africa was proud to take part in the Future Ed show at the Coca-Cola Dome in Northgate from the 25^th to the 27^th of July. Our stand was a great success with lots of interest and requests for training in various schools.

National Education Facilitator, Claire Allen spoke a total of seven times in the TeachTime seminars over the course of the three day expo and received a fortune of positive feedback.

Up and coming events:

• 2^nd of August: Minister’s consultative session with the disability groups at the Department of Social Development in Pretoria  from 10-12pm.
• 2^nd of August: Autism training meeting with the Gauteng Education Department in Braamfontein @2pm.
• 7^th & 8^th of August : Autism awareness and school support training at Coronation Training Centre in Newlands, Gauteng. It is a Special Needs School.
• 12^th - 16^th of August: Fishbowl 5 days hands on Autism course in Durban, KZN.
• 15^th - 17^th of August : SAMA conference. Autism South Africa will be hosting a table for Autism Awareness and Understanding.
• 19^th &20^th of August: 2 days Autism training at a school in Witbank, Mpumalanga  for teachers.
• 20^th of August:  Asperger’s Support Group Meeting in the East Rand. Looking at the difference between DSM-IV and DSM-V with regards to Asperger’s Syndrome.
• 24^th of August: Autism presentation at the NAPTOSA conference.
• 26^th -30^th of August: Fishbowl 5 days hands on Autism Training in Swaziland. 

Golf Day 2013

Please consider entering a fourball into our Annual Golf Day, or offering prizes for the event?

 

A Public Service Announcement from Autism South Africa

Our sincere thanks go out to the fine folks at MediaMark for their assistance in scripting, recording, and flighting of this wonderful Public Service Announcement from Autism South Africa.

This donation has gone a long way towards getting our message out there in a succinct and compassionate manner.

Our thanks also go to East Coast Radio, Jacaranda 94.2, and Heart 104.9 for their generous assistance in getting this aired on each station a total of 82 times during the month of April.

Become and activist for Autism South Africa

Being an Activist is about giving back to the community. GivenGain helps you to raise money for Autism South Africa and express your thoughts about what matters to you.

Creating an Activist Page is free and takes less than two minutes.

Simply follow this link Become an activist and follow the prompts.

Becoming and activist on GivenGain means that you will be able to gather your friends, family and colleagues together to mobilise them to a cause. you can share info on charities and their projects to all of your social media contacts with ease.

You can even set a target amount that you would like to raise for a specific cause. Its that easy.

So what are you waiting for? become and activist today and help Autism South Africa reach their goal for 2013.

You could be instrumental in ensuring that thousands of South Africans who are affected by Autism receive the care and support that they need so much!

Aut to Know is a project which aims to raise R6 000 000.00 for Autism SA in 2013, with which we aim to accomplish the following objectives;

Promote the interests and needs of individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and protect their rights, irrespective of race, sex or creed;

✔ Promote a nationwide provision of facilities for the education, training and treatment of people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder;

✔ Negotiate and liaise with International/National/Provincial/Government and/or other institutions, affiliated bodies or similar organisations on matters concerning the needs of people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families;

✔ Facilitate the establishment and maintenance of facilities for people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and advocate for adequate services for individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder;

✔ Promote and assist with research into the causes, incidence, management and intervention techniques for people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder;

✔ Promote the awareness, understanding and support of Autism Spectrum Disorders at all levels;

✔ Organise conferences and workshops on Autism Spectrum Disorders throughout South Africa;

✔ Facilitate training and education of parents, primary care givers and professionals living with or assisting people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder;

✔ Act as a coordinating and mediating body for all members of Autism South Africa as and when required.

Autism South Africa receives a sizable donation from the American Society of SA

15 April 2013, Braamfontein; Autism South Africa receives a donation of R50 000 from the American Society of SA (ASSA).

The funds were handed over during a ceremony hosted at Autism South Africa’s offices at the Children's Memorial Institute in Braamfontein on Monday morning. The event was attended by key members of the ASSA and Autism South Africa respectively.

The donated funds will be used by Autism South Africa to facilitate five two-day workshops in Limpopo Province, each workshop catering to 30 educators, therapists, and parents. The will essentially produce roughly 150 upskilled individuals in the province who will be better equipped to provide a suitable support to those effected by Autism.

The ASSA has a long tradition of benevolent works in SA, and this was continued recently as they endeavoured to host a silent auction in order to raise funds for Autism South Africa. Local business “came to the party” by donating a range of products and services which were auctioned by the ASSA at their annual cocktail reception held at the US Consul General Residence in Houghton. The function was a huge success and the funds raised constitute the highest value donation that the ASSA have ever been able to donate to any single beneficiary.

Some of the most notable donations on auction were provided by Sabi Sabi, Victor Lidchi, Mount Grace Country House & Spa, Saxon Boutique Hotel Villas & Spa, Legends Lodge Group, and Crown Relocation who sponsored the event by providing catering. Our sincere thanks go out to all benefactors who contributed to making this donation possible.

Autism South Africa teams up with the Department of Community Dentistry

March 2013, Autism South Africa teams up with the Department of Community Dentistry to provide free dental care for children with autism.

Tooth decay (Dental Caries) continues to be a major public health problem across all ages, gender, races and social classes in South Africa. The current burden of oral diseases requires extensive resources that are simply not affordable in our country. Children and adults with special needs groups continue to be marginalised in terms of access to health resources and facilities in South Africa. For oral health, there is anecdotal evidence that special needs groups are at an even greater disadvantage due to their unique needs. It is against this background that the Department of Community Dentistry has undertaken to address the oral health needs of special needs groups in Groups in Gauteng.

Children and adults with Autism provide unique challenges to Dentistry in that the management and treatment of these patients requires time, patience, skills and resources that is far in access of what is currently available in the dental public health facilities in our country. Dentistry is one of the most expensive services to deliver and requires extensive resources especially for children with special needs as even the most basic types of treatment often need to be done under general anaesthesia.

The partnership with Autism South Africa and their feeder schools in Gauteng will serve as a pilot project that seeks to introduce oral health services via mobile facilities at school and /or institutions that serve the needs of children and adults with Autism. This will be a team approach involving teachers, therapists, and oral health professionals. The focus will be on prevention and oral health promotion so that these children (and adults) can maintain a healthy mouth. Additionally, we will attempt through a team approach to undertake basic oral health treatment in the state of the art mobile dental clinic which has been kindly sponsored by one of our partners in oral health care, Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK). We have dedicated a Friday morning session for this program and it will entail our team visiting the Autism School at the TMI Hospital to deliver oral health services to the children and adults with Autism. This initiative has the support of the Chief Dentist in the Johannesburg Metro.  We hope that this program will serve as a model for other institutions and countries that also have similar challenges in terms of special needs groups. 

Inaccurate Non-Compliant classification

It is with great disappointment that Autism South Africa (ASA) notes the fact that they are classified as “Non-Compliant” by the Department of Social Development (the Department). This is in spite of the Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) Report which the National Director, Jill Stacey, submitted in early December 2012. Apparently the staff of the Department “have not yet read” the report submitted for 2012.

ASA has been 100% compliant with all NPO regulations since 2000, without having missed filing annual reports, or having ever received queries from the Department with regard to the contents of these reports.

It is distressing in the extreme; how would this classification be interpreted by potential corporate benefactors? This could have an adverse effect on Autism South Africa, upsetting the already fragile fiscal lifeline that ASA is holding onto so desperately.

The Department of Social Development, for varying reasons, has always turned down funding applications submitted by Autism South Africa. This has effectively left ASA (who’s beneficiaries are chiefly severely impoverished children with autism across South Africa) to appeal to the private sector for funding in the complete absence of State consideration. It is our beneficiaries that will suffer from the adverse effect of this classification; a classification which has been applied without regard for the facts and figures detailed in ASA Annual Reports.