The Deputy Minister for Social Development Henrietta Bogopane-Zulu says skills for children with autism are non-negotiable.
Bogopane-Zulu was speaking during the official opening of the Autism Skill Development Center in Pinetown.
She says the center will also support parents with autistic children.
“What we are doing here is skilling children that would have never been skilled children that we actually never remember. And we’re also supporting parents who the community judges for the children that they have who are autistic when they do not even know what autism is. Skills for children with autism are non-negotiable. In this skills development it is where we will prove once again that your disability has nothing to do with your skills, “says Bogopane-Zulu.
Vital Signs | Autism South Africa: 26 March 2022:
Earlier this month, scores of parents and caregivers with children with autism embarked on a march to the East London city hall in the Eastern Cape to hand over a memorandum of demands.
The march was led by Autism Matters, an East London based non-profit organisation.
Parents said they have been side-lined for years by the provincial government and want the state to prioritise the building of schools that cater for special needs children.
World Autism Month seeks to continuously engage society in understanding and accepting autism.
The NPO also called for more employment opportunities and adult support programmes for autistic people.
The Department of Education in the province accepted the memorandum of demands.
In the video below, highlighting the need to improve quality of life of those with autism:
Teenagers with autism impress crowds with artwork
Two teenagers in KwaZulu-Natal made waves in their communities with their beautiful paintings and sketches which have left many in awe. Both teenagers have autism and were trending on social media.
Living life boldly and through colour, the youngsters have pulled down boundaries expressing themselves in a world of shapes, colours and ideas.
More details in the report below:
