A local organisation is calling for autism awareness to happen 365 days a year, not just in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tuesday 2 April marked World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Western Cape, a Rondebosch-based organisation that provides support, advisory counselling, training and advocacy services for the autistic community, says people on the spectrum still face many challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The awareness day is used as a platform to empower the public, health and welfare service providers with information and also to eliminate misconceptions and promote a deeper understanding of autism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is to help reduce stigma and discrimination through fostering a more inclusive environment for autistic persons and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about one in every 100 children globally has autism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In South Africa, the local studies have found the prevalence of autism to be between 0,08% and 2%. This condition is mainly found to be more prevalent in males than females.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Autism can be a life-long condition, however, through appropriate and tailored support, children and adults with autism can make significant progress and live fulfilling lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Tuesday, the National Department of Health called on families and communities to support people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in order to thrive and reach their full potential, and not to discriminate against them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zaida Frank, operations manager at Autism Western Cape, says people on the spectrum struggle to access services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSome of the challenges is lack of accessibility to services like social work services, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and the education system. They also face the challenge of access to housing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe housing facilities that they receive from government are sometimes not adequate for them and do not always take into account their condition. Some of our beneficiaries must renew their Sassa grant every six months.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frank explains that more support should be provided to organisations that assist people on the spectrum. \u201cWe need to work on understanding what autism is and reframe how we look at disabilities in general. If disability desensitisation was a prerequisite, then it would make it easier for people to be able to relay information when a person is diagnosed.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frank claims that they have been impacted by the Western Cape Department of Social Development (WCDSD) budget cuts this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Frank, the WCDSD, which is their largest funder, cut their subsidy by about 50%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLast December, we received a letter from WCDSD to say that there would be budget cuts. We used to get R1,8 million, it is now R900 000,\u201d she explains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Esther Lewis, the spokesperson for the WCDSD, said the department\u2019s budget for the current financial year is over R2,5 billion, a R60,149 million increase from the 2023\/24 financial year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She explained: \u201cWhen accounting for inflation, and the absorption of the nationally determined wage increase, this amounts to a reduction in real terms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Lewis, the budget for transfer payments for 2024\/25 is just over R1 billion. This is a R71,377 million reduction compared to last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe allocations to child protection NPOs who provide statutory services, as well as residential facilities for older persons, and residential facilities for persons with severe and profound disabilities, will remain the same,\u201d explained Lewis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frank adds that people can support them by either donating some of their time or money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMonetary donations are always welcome, or you can volunteer. If you have a marketing skill or a cooking skill or something, then you can partner with someone on the spectrum and we as an organisation can try and assist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She says awareness should be ongoing. \u201cWe need to spread autism awareness throughout the year; then we will have a society that is conscientised about autism but also different disabilities and to embrace inclusivity. We need to look at them as individuals that just function a little differently.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A local organisation is calling for autism awareness to happen 365 days a year, not just in 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