GDE holds inaugural Autism Awareness Conference
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) held the first Autism Awareness Conference on 20 April at The Gateway School in Ruimsig.
The theme of the conference, which also fell into the GDE’s autism month celebrations, was ‘Different, but not less’.
The conference welcomed a number of parents of children with autism and special needs, some of whom even gave speeches at the conference.
GDE official, Nausheen Ameen, who manages the psychological, therapeutic and medical services unit in the inclusion and special schools directorate, was one of those who spoke their minds at the conference.
“Parenting an autistic child is like running a marathon, you have to keep on going,” she said.
She highlighted the importance of taking a break every now and then to look after yourself, as the stress can get a bit much.
“Respite is needed. You have to take care of yourself, because if you are not well, you can’t care for your autistic child.”
One of the most powerful messages that Nausheen delivered was that “Autism doesn’t come with a manual. It comes with parents and families that will never give up.”
Nomfundo Gabacoe, who works as an inclusion specialist in the Sedibeng West Education District, also has a child with autism who was only diagnosed at the age of 10. “Everyone kept telling me something was wrong, but I didn’t want to listen. He was my son and I kept saying it was his way of doing things,” she said.
The conference was also part of a commitment that the MEC for Education in Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, made in 2015 to ensure sufficient growth within the special education sector in Gauteng. Another part of this commitment was a promise to develop 25 special needs schools by 2019.
“The other learners have lots of options and alternatives, but special needs children do not. Therefore we must ensure they are placed first.”
He further placed emphasis on the government’s role in special needs education in Gauteng, saying that the Department of Education must lead by example while others must follow in their footsteps.
“The government must and will stick to its responsibilities. This is not a favour, this is a must.”
The conference saw the unveiling of a brand-new South African-made sensory board from Play Africa that will give learners with special needs the opportunity to have a learning experience they might not have had previously.
“It provides the children with a means of keeping themselves busy and occupied, thereby allowing them to direct all of their energy to a sensory experience they might not previously have had,” said Play Africa founder and CEO, Gretchen Wilson-Prangley.
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