Autism South Africa and Jail4Bail
**Public
Service Announcement**
Imagine
being imprisoned, trapped inside your own world. Watching the world go by,
unable to reach out, unable to connect. Trying to tune into the frequency of
the rest of the world, but all you hear is a distorted cacophony of sound. Faces,
objects and sounds make up a nightmare world and leave you with fear and
confusion. Your outside world becomes chaotic and frightening.
Now try
and imagine spending every waking hour of your life in this world. It is too
much, so you withdraw into a safer world inside your own self.
Autism a
developmental disorder that affects one in every 158 children under the age of 6.
Autism is a Spectrum Disorder, therefore a person may be severely affected or
mildly affected. No child with Autism is the same as the other. It therefore
requires specialised and individualised education for the person to progress
and reach their full potential.
But the
reality is that for many underprivileged South Africans children, their Autism goes
undetected and untreated. South African
Society still regards children with disabilities as incapable, ill and a burden
on society. More than 80% of African children with disabilities live in extreme
poverty in inhospitable environments. They have very poor access to appropriate
health care facilities and early childhood development opportunities. Such children are less likely than their
siblings to attend school, to go on outings, to experience situations where
they have to solve problems or contribute to household chores. As a result they
grow to be disempowered adults, unable to make decisions, solve problems and
take initiatives. Children with disabilities fear and experience exclusion from
a very young age. Although the parents of children with disabilities have a
special and specific role to play in the development of their children, mothers
(especially) of children with disabilities often face ostracism from their
partners, their families and their communities. The exclusion badly affects
other non-disabled siblings, the survival of the family as a unit and the
meaningful development of the disabled child.
A human
rights and development approach to disability has significant implications for
the way in which we provide education for the nation. It is estimated that
almost 70% of children with disabilities of school-going age are presently out
of school. This naturally results in illiteracy and low skills amongst adults
with disabilities, contributing significantly to high levels of unemployment.
One
father has made it his mission to raise awareness and funding for this cause. Gerhard Pieterse is a father of three
children, one of whom has Autism . Instead
of just standing by, he decided to do something that would highlight the plight
so many children with Autism face.
Dubbed "Jail4Bail",
the concept involves the ‘imprisonment’ of Gerhard in a single cell, placed in
the middle of a shopping mall. “We would like to break down the barriers that
people with Autism face on a daily basis. Autism is a part of our world, not a world
apart.”
With a "bail"
set at R1 million ($130,000) to raise funds for the development of children and
adults with Autism, Gerhard is has so far raised R500 000 in 65 days ($60,000) and
a phenomenal amount of awareness to the general public.
If you
want to contribute to this amazing cause (and help Gerhard get out of his jail
cell to be reunited with his family!!), click on the Autism Western Cape site –
there is an option to make a credit card donation there.
For more
info on Gerhard and his amazing campaign, check out the Autism Western Cape
website.
