PARENTS of autistic children and teachers with autistic children in their classrooms have fresh hope with the recent launch of a new Autism Niche Area at Nelson Mandela University.
Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Heloise Sathorar, announced two short learning programmes on autism education, marking the beginning of this initiative. “Education is not a privilege. It is a right for every child,” she said.
Dr Muki Moeng, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching, praised Professor Nokhanyo Mdzanga for her efforts since 2011 to establish the Autism Niche Area.
“The Faculty of Education has been working with the provincial and national Departments of Education to ensure this programme gets recognised,” said Dr Moeng.
In a statement, the University said South Africa faces a shortage of special needs schools for autistic children, with long waiting lists and limited facilities in rural areas. This highlights the need to equip mainstream school teachers with skills to support autistic learners.
Prof Mdzanga thanked the autism community in Gqeberha for their support. She highlighted the contributions of former Quest School for Autistic Learners principal, Joan Jorritsma, Quest teacher, Lizahn Burger, and Founder of Umphanda Foundation for Autism, Khosi Netnou.
The University, in collaboration with these stakeholders, developed two short learning programmes to be offered in 2025. One course helps parents and teachers identify autistic learners for professional diagnosis and early intervention. The other assists teachers in mainstream schools to teach autistic children.
“The prevalence of autism diagnoses is increasing worldwide, creating a demand for educators skilled in autism-specific strategies,” said Prof Mdzanga. “Our goal is to equip all teachers with the skills needed to support and teach learners with autism spectrum disorder.”
The launch featured personal stories, including a play titled Just Different, Not Less, and a performance by autistic pianist JR Nkosi. Prof Mdzanga shared her struggle to find education for her son, who has never been to school due to a lack of acceptance.
“This niche area is for every parent who is not sleeping because they do not know where to go or what to do,” she said. The initiative aims to address challenges and opportunities associated with autism and enhance support for individuals with autism.
The new Autism Niche Area will contribute to global autism education discourse and strengthen partnerships with local, national, and international autism organisations. “We aim to influence educational policies related to special needs and autism support,” said Prof Mdzanga.
Occupational therapist, Leryke Kleynhans, who is autistic, spoke on behalf of Autism South Africa, which has approved the programmes.
“Continuous professional development for educators in the field of autism is vital,” she said. “Every learner deserves an education tailored to their needs.”
Although the University of Johannesburg has a neurological centre, Prof Mdzanga believes Mandela University will be one of the first South African universities to offer focused autism education. The programmes will be available from 2025.
