Autism Week is a week-long event dedicated to raising awareness about autism and promoting acceptance and understanding of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social communication, behaviour, and sensory processing, and it can impact individuals in different ways. Many people with autism face challenges in their daily lives and require support and understanding from those around them.

Autism Week is an important opportunity to educate people about the challenges faced by individuals with autism and to promote inclusion and acceptance in society. It is also a chance to recognize and celebrate the unique strengths and talents of people with autism.

Autism South Africa is a National Body serving autistic adults and children as well as their families in South Africa. Awareness about autism can help to break down stereotypes and stigmas associated with the condition. It can help people to recognize the strengths and abilities of individuals with autism, as well as the challenges they may face. It can also help to promote inclusion and acceptance in schools, workplaces, and communities.

This week on Mid-Morning Magic we are joined by a variety of autism schools around Central South Africa to find out more about the special work they do on a daily basis.

Yolanda Maartens is joined by Principle Mrs. Petrone Van Heerden from Blaze Academy in Bloemfontein, an independent preparatory and primary school for children with ASD and learning disabilities, which prevent these children from achieving success in a mainstream school environment.

The school accommodates both Afrikaans and English speaking learners between the ages of 3-5 years in their Early Intervention classrooms and also GRADE R-2 students following the CAPS Academic programme. Their principles are fully based on Christian Values and we firmly believe that God is our Saviour and the foundation of our School.

Yolanda Maartens is joined by Helen dos Santos Nunes from Janie Schneider Special School in Klerksdorp.

Yolanda Maartens is joined by Anneke Green founder of Pontem Developmental Centre Bloemfontein. Pontem was established in January 2018 for learners who do not comfortably fit into our current mainstream school system.

Pontem uses a development of CAPS, the curriculum currently in use at mainstream schools Nationally, which was designed by Anneke to address both current and past stumbling blocks faced by learners with neurodevelopmental delays by making CAPS more Accessible to these learners through movement, concrete learning and fun, thus cementing a firm foundation for future formal learning. 

Yolanda Maartens is joined by Anne Isaacs, vice-principle of Jannie Brink Special School, that accommodates learners in the Northern Cape with intellectual impairment.