Step up for autism acceptance
To commemorate autism acceptance, Action in Autism will host a pizza and postermaking morning on Saturday, 6 April at 9am and a silent walk on Saturday, 13 April at 11am.
WHILE World Autism Awareness Day takes place on Tuesday, 2 April, the whole month is dedicated to autism acceptance said Kirsty Miller, Director of the Durban North school, Action in Autism (AIA).
“The word is shifting from awareness to acceptance,” added Miller. To commemorate autism acceptance, AIA, which currently caters to 32 autistic learners, will host a silent walk on Saturday, 13 April at 11am from the Sunken Gardens, along Durban’s sea-side promenade to the Suncoast Lawns.
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“We want to highlight that talking is not the only means of communication, and so, on the silent walk, we will use alternative means of communication, like gestures, signing, tapping, writing and drawing. This is to show support for the high percentage of autistic people who have little or no functional speech,”said Miller.
Preceding the walk, on Saturday, 6 April at 9am, AIA will host a pizza and poster painting morning, to make posters for the walk.
“We really encourage autistic people to join us, to have their own voices heard. Everyone is welcome,” said Miller. Miller explained that autism is a neurological condition that effects speech, socialisation and the sensory system.
“People with autism tend to hyper-focus on the details of things. Its a spectrum, some people on the spectrum have a high support needs and will always need someone to assist them, some have low support needs, although most people with autism will always need assistance throughout their life,” she added.
AIA caters to learners across the spectrum with two early intervention classes and two school readiness classes.
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AIA started in 2005 as a government lobbying and sport organisation and grew into an early intervention centre in 2009.
“It is fantastic here at our Durban North facility. We came from a tiny three-bedroom house in Sydenham with 16 children where we were cramped. This is a dream come true. The community has been amazing.
AIA relies on donations to offer their services as they offer affordable schooling and subsidise many of their students. For more information, call 031 563 3
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