Some of the pupils have a real sense of motivation and want to be included in society. This will give them that opportunity. Picture: Pexels.com/ Ruxandra Scutelnic
TO PREPARE autistic children for life after school, pupils at Action in Autism in Durban North are gearing up to host an empowering fundraising Summer Market on Saturday.
The pupils from the Shahumna Centre based at the school have been tasked with making business and operational decisions ahead of the market day, said Ashvir Dalu, the manager at the centre.
Action in Autism’s Shahumna Centre houses youth between seven and 17-years-old, while the junior phase educates children between two and six years.
Dalu said the Summer Market was meant to be a fun day and an awareness campaign.
“The Summer Market is our fundraiser event and a lot of the decisions will be made by pupils from the centre. These include the marketing ideas and the themes we will use. We want them to be a part of something bigger than themselves," said Dalu.
"Some of our pupils have a real sense of motivation and want to be included in society. This will give them that opportunity. We are hosting the event at the Action in Autism facility because they are comfortable with the environment. Our kids will sell wors rolls, baked goods, chips and other items.
"Pupils from the Shahumna Centre will also sell baked goods to a local hotel in Durban, so they already have some business experience. The food will be done by the autistic kids at their respective stalls but we will oversee everything. An event like this is much-needed because it is difficult for parents with autistic kids to go on outings. This will give them a chance to do so."
In South Africa, the prevalence of autism is between 0.08% to 2%, according to the Department of Health.
Autism symptoms differ in children.
There are “low function and high verbal”, meaning they are able to talk but not perform basic functions.
There are also “low verbal but high functioning”, who have a difficult time communicating through words but excel at everyday activities.
Action in Autism was started in 2005 by a group of concerned parents, who felt there was little effort by the state to introduce autistic children into mainstream society.
Durban filmmaker Liza Aziz was one of the main drivers behind the organisation.
By 2007, parents and supporters of the movement demanded the state allow autistic pupils in public schools. By 2009, autistic pupils were allowed in public special schools, Dalu explained.
The youngest child at Action in Autism is 3-years-old, while the eldest is 37-years-old.
"Often, autistic children are discriminated against because of their ability to communicate with ‘normal’ people. Another growing challenge is the facilities and support available to autistic children once they leave the schooling environment.
“There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding autism. I think the more people engage with them to try and understand them, the better the conceptions around this condition will be among mainstream society.
"Autistic kids grow up into adults and they often have their own dreams and aspirations but those are cut short because of the resources and facilities available to them. Events like the Summer Market can help break down barriers when it comes to understanding the condition.
"It can also help our pupils navigate the real world when they leave here. We all have life challenges but being autistic, everything is intensified. There are life challenges plus the daily challenge of communication."
For more information, call Action in Autism on 031 563 3039.