Featured Partners | Jozi 4 Autism

Hlawulo’s Take on Jozi 4 Autism’s Annual Walk

Karen — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 08:20:07 +0000

Hlawulo Maswanganyi is a volunteer telephonic counsellor at the South African Depression and Anxiety Group and a waiter at the Whippet in Linden.

He holds a BA Honours in Psychology (University of South Africa), BA Honours in Social Policy (University of Johannesburg), as well as Bachelor of Applied Social Sciences (South African College of Applied Psychology).
Hlawulo has also completed the counselling skills course with Lifeline and through SADAG he provides mental health services to callers on the SADAG suicide line.
He provides mental and emotional health services such as containment, counselling and referral to relevant services needed.

Purpose of the walk

The purpose of the walk was to bring light and awareness about autism in South African context. This took place through empowerment and mobilisation of knowledge and resources in South Africa for autism. The nature of the walk being at the zoo, provided the best context for individuals to engage and explore the nature and all the animals in the Johannesburg zoo. Walking is a great physical activity to participate in for the benefit of functional physical and mental health, this means that each individual who participated in the walk benefited a great self-help tip to maintaining positive physical and mental well-being.

How the day unfolded

The day unfolded with the preparation of the setting of the event which was conducted by Jozi4Autism team and volunteers. The collaboration work between the Johannesburg zoo team and autism volunteers made the preparation effective and efficient for the event. As the participants arrived at the zoo, volunteers welcomed by scanning each participants ticket and directing them to the start point of the walk. As the walk began the participants were directed on the route and direction of the walk that covered every part of the zoo until reaching the end point of the race.

People’s response to the event

People were very happy and excited from the beginning as they were welcomed with a smile from the gate of the zoo to the start point. People felt supported as volunteers were allocated everywhere at the zoo to make queries convenient to the people participating in the walk and attending the event. Kids were very happy as the event provided a playing ground with a variety of machines, musical instruments (drums,) and sensory physical activities. The event offered kids the environment and opportunity for kids to enhance their motor and socialisation skills with other kids, which made each and every parent happy as their observed kids in a happy-playful state. The event felt like a big family celebration were kids were running around with excitement and each and every individual socialise and building relationships based on the Agenda of the day -Autism in SA.

Schools and vendors

The schools and vendors was the heart of the event, as it was the centre of whole programme. The heart of the event provided all participants with the opportunity to learn and explore information and resources that were available about Autism and all the important facts to know about. Variety of Schools for the needy children were present to advocate and raise awareness about autism and the services offered at each school. The vendors also provided the participants with program that had guest’s speakers, a DJ that played wonderful music, talks on autism in SA and a few performers by guest artists.

My experience

I enjoyed being part of a wonderful and prosocial event such as the walk, as it raised awareness about autism in South Africa and how people’s knowledge about it matters, as any individual in one’s family or close one can be autistic. As a volunteer at the event I felt proud and happy to give my time and effort in mobilising and empowering for autism in South Africa, building my network with school and NPO’s that specialize with autism which was a benefit to my knowledge and experience with autism. Being at the zoo also gave me the opportunity to reflect on my childhood memories of school trips to the zoo and also getting to see animals face to face.

What stood out for me

The collaborative contributions by the different schools and organizations that stand for Autism. The Jozi4autism walk stood out for me as these types of event is pro-social to the community and families that have autistic individuals. The way and the context of the event was outstanding as it was very natural and calming to participants, as people got the opportunity to explore the zoo and the animals while partaking the walk.

Meet Desirae Pillay

Karen — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 11:21:58 +0000

Desirae Pillay’s daughter Savannah has autism and cerebral palsy, and this led Desirae toward a career path in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Based in South Africa, Desirae is a passionate voice in the country’s autism community.

My name is Desirae Pillay. I am married to my best friend, Michael and we have three children. Savannah is 21 years old, Talisa is 15 years old and Eli Michael is 10 years old. Savannah is autistic, has global cerebral palsy and had a scoliosis correction.

I work as an Assistive Technology Advisor for a company, Inclusive Solutions, where our primary work is in helping professionals and families to find the right *AAC tool/strategy for people with little or no functional speech. I also serve on the National Executive Committee of Autism; South Africa.

I hope to draw attention to Shalom Respite and Care Centre to raise funds for them as I am no longer available to help them have a magical Christmas Party.
I love dancing, great dinner parties with beloved family and friends, and curling up with a great book or watching a good movie.

* AAC is an acronym for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. It ranges from using photographs or pictures or symbols to make paper based communication boards or using speech output software with visual representation of words, so that a person can “speak” out loud by selecting a word. AAC includes unaided AAC; this means using signs, gestures, facial expression, verbalisation and/or vocalisations to communicate as well as aided AAC. Aided AAC includes communication boards, devices and computers.

Geppetto’s World

Karen — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 10:25:09 +0000

Geppetto’s World is a design studio, factory and showroom developing bespoke play solutions and products of superior quality, strong aesthetic & cutting-edge design for children (aged 0-100!)
Recognised as the best soft play equipment for children in South Africa and exporting globally to cities including Dubai, London, Sydney and New York.

PlayOn by Geppetto’s World was founded by Colin Levin, also known in industry circles as the ‘Peter Pan of free play’ and go-to guy for anything play related in 2003. The former engineer, with his ability to tap into the unhibited and imaginative world of children, put his skills to ideal use in re-imagining and designing PlayOn, the in-house brand of Geppetto’s World.

Levin is passionate about play and its ability to develop children and community. The PlayOn product line was developed collaboratively with therapists, educationalists, children and their parents where each creation was the result of a need, a gap in the market. Over the years, piece by piece, an extensive product range has emerged.

Sensory Stars Therapy

Karen — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 10:09:03 +0000

Sensory Stars is a private Children’s therapy practice based in Craighall, Johannesburg. Established by Jennifer Kirk, Sensory Stars is a premier treatment clinic designed specifically for children with sensory and motor difficulties and provides holistic, child-centered therapy.
Here at Sensory stars, we aim to provide a comprehensive service to children and their families living with:

• Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) – previously known as “Sensory integration dysfunction”
• Attention Deficit (ADD / ADHD)
• Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD)
• Dyspraxia
• Autistic Spectrum Disorder
• Developmental Delay
• Learning difficulties
• Dyslexia
• Visual Perceptual Deficit
• Physical Impairment
• Other developmental and behavioural difficulties.

The aim of intervention is to help clients and their family find the hope and help which they seek so as to improve function, reduce stress and assist in achieving maximum potential in all areas.