Raising autism awareness at Noluthando School for the Deaf

Noluthando School for the Deaf in Khayelitsha marked World Autism Awareness Day with an event on Friday April 5.

World Autism Awareness Day is observed annually on April 2.

Guest speaker Reverend Matheko Masola of the Methodist Church Tygerberg Circuit, who has been diagnosed with autism, said when he prepared his speech he was hoping that there were parents in attendance so he could educate them.

“I am also autistic,” he said. “I was non-verbal as I grew up as a baby. My mother thought I was also deaf, but my grandmother at the time told her that I can hear but the problem is sound.”

Reverend Masola said he lived almost his whole life struggling undiagnosed and having difficulties at school.

“I did not have the privilege of going to a special school like Noluthando. I attended the so-called normal schools which was a challenge as I couldn’t perform the same as other kids in class. I struggled up to university, and it's when I dropped out and I looked for help that I was finally diagnosed with autism in 2012.”

Reverend Masola said being diagnosed as an adult was one of the reasons he came to address the pupils. His aim was to tell parents that autistic children become autistic adults.

“Autism does not have a cure. For someone like me who was diagnosed at an adult stage it’s very difficult because opportunities are very limited. There are few resources for adults, the resources that are available are for kids but they forget that those kids become adults. How does an autistic person navigate through the world after leaving school?”

He said there are few autistic people like him who are lucky to be able to live on their own and make a living. He commended the church for accepting him and giving him the opportunity to work. He concluded by encouraging parents and teachers to celebrate all the small things that autistic children manage to achieve on their own, as that will boost their confidence.

Principal of Noluthando School for the Deaf, Nomhle Mnunu, said they were grateful to have Reverend Masola as a guest speaker. She said it was a pity that the parents were not there to listen to an adult who holds a position in society who is autistic.

“The things that the reverend has mentioned are the things that the parents are facing in their everyday life. There are parents that are in denial and don't accept that their children are autistic. But we always encourage parents to join support groups so they can share all their challenges. And also learn that levels of autism are not the same,” said Ms Mnunu.

She said it's important to educate and support those parents so they can understand what their children are going through. She said more information is available from Autism South Africa.

“The other challenge is educating the community. There was an incident when a parent came here crying because she had a problem with the neighbour who did not understand that the child was autistic. The community sometimes looks at the child and sees a silly child. The problem is the community does not understand. As a school with learners that have autism we have the responsibility of going out to the community and educating the community about autism.”

According to the Autism South Africa website, “Autism is a complex group of neurodevelopmental disabilities. It is considered a spectrum as each person has different strengths, abilities and requires different types and levels of support. Neurodevelopmental means that the brain and nervous systems are affected. In autism, this can be in both positive and negative features. Autistic people experience the world differently.”