Kids News SA Parenting SIte

A Brief Overview of Autism

Autism is a lifelong, extremely complex and often devastating disability, which appears to stem from a multi- factorial origin with a genetic base that interacts with environmental triggers, resulting in disordered brain development and biochemical function.

ACCREDITED TRAINING FOR TEACHERS, PARENTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, HELP FOR CHILDREN (AND ADULTS) WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES - CENTRE FOR INTEGRATED LEARNING THERAPY (ILT). Learning disabled”, “Hyperactive”. “Lazy”, “ADD”, and so on, are amongst the labels often attached to children who struggle in the classroom or on the playground. Integrated Learning Therapy is an individualised, drug-free, home programme comprising movement activities. We address the causes – not the symptoms!  Contacts: Prof Shirley J Kokot, D.Ed. Tel. 021 873 4951 (o)  082 559 9966 (cell)  email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   fax 086 6190051 and Michael L Kokot M.Sc.  Tel. 021 873 4951 (o)  082 41 4481 (cell)  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. fax 086 6190051.   Website

The Children’s Disability Centre was established in 1983 as a result of a co-operative effort between government and the South African National Council for the Blind. The Centre is situated at the Transvaal Memorial Institute in Johannesburg. The CDC is the only centre in Johannesburg and surrounding areas, that caters for the needs of blind, visually impaired and autistic children in their pre and foundation phase of education, It is also the only GDE funded foundation phase service.

The Children’s Disability Centre has formed a formal partnership with the Johannesburg Hospital school so that the services can be supplemented by the GDE.  The JHS offers specialized units for children with Autism and young children with visual impairment.  The JHS has a junior school for autistic learners and a senior school for autistic learners.  The senior school is called AQUA.  It is the only autism-specific senior/secondary school in JHB.  The CDC is the fundraising arm of the Autistic units since the high needs of these children means that the GDE provision is insufficient and extra income is needed to cover costs of aides and additional educators to keep class sizes small.  The units can help families who need access to schools/services through enrolment.  It is necessary to be evaluated first prior to enrollment so that diagnosis of Autism can be determined.  By senior school stage, the diagnosis is usually firm but the school is still growing slowly therefore enrolments are slow and families need to make appointments with the hod for assessment.  The Contact number for AQUA is 087 720 2131 and for the junior phase is 011 643 3050..

THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS is a mutual self-help organisation offering friendship and understanding to bereaved parents and siblings.  The primary purpose is to assist them in the positive resolution of the grief experienced upon the death of a child and to support their efforts to achieve physical and emotional health. The secondary purpose is to provide information and education about bereaved parents and siblings. The objective is to help those in their community, including family, friends, employers, co-workers and professionals to be supportive.

Diabetes South Africa, Randburg, is starting a support group at their offices joined by their diabetes nurse specialist. Any type 1 child and parent/s is welcome to join. Support groups help to build friendships, relationships, provide education and information as well as give support to all. No parent or child should struggle on his/her own.

Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder arising at the time of conception. There is an extra number 21 chromosome (Trisomy 21) which causes delays in physical and intellectual development. The exact cause of Down syndrome is currently unknown. It is not related to race, age, religion and socio-economic status and is one of the most frequently occurring chromosomal disorders. Down syndrome is characterized by a variety of unique features and a wide range of abilities in physical and cognitive areas of development.

Gaucher disease is an inherited metabolic disease first described in Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern European origin. However, it has since been found in all religious and racial groups and in South Africa, of the known 50-60 people with the condition, approximately 25% are black.

Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH) / Septo Optic Dysplasia (SOD) by Karen Muller

ONH blindness is a totally different type of blindness to Retinaopathy. Children with Retinaopathy walk, talk and chew their food and function normally.

With ONH /SOD blindness, there are over a million or so nerves in the optic nerve which are underdeveloped. These children are born with either the midline portion of the brain missing (septum pecidulum) or partial / full Agenisis of the Corpus Colusum of the brain .

Play Therapy is the treatment of choice for children who have suffered trauma, as children are not usually able to verbalize their feelings and experiences.
Play therapy offers a child-friendly age appropriate form of treatment to relieve post-traumatic symptoms and help children to adapt to their world.          We offer therapeutic services for children who have experienced: •  Divorce or separation in the family •  Armed robbery, housebreak or hi-jacking •  Terminal illness or death in the family •  Hospitalization due to illness or injury  •  Depression and Anxiety •  Social difficulties •  ADHD Tel: 012-998 1364 Fax:012-998 1365 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Woodhill Park Centre, St Bernhard Street, Garsfontein

Cape Mental Health believes that people with intellectual and psychiatric disabilities have a right to a place in society, and a right to education, training, work and social inclusion. However, too often they are denied appropriate education and work opportunities, and socially sidelined, abused and exploited. Our role is to remove, or help them to overcome, obstacles that deny them the opportunity to reach their full potential.

"Our mission is to eliminate discrimination and stigma in the field of mental health and to support, educate and assist the public, patients and their families regarding available resources and treatment options which will help lead to their recovery" The South African Depression and Anxiety Group is South Africa's largest mental health NGO and its expertise lies in identifying needs in the mental health sector and facilitating appropriate and necessary change.

Selective Mutism (SM) is a social anxiety disorder characterized by a child or adult’s inability to speak in one or more social situations or settings, despite being able to speak comfortably in other settings.

The Centre offers a specialised programme for children with speech/language and hearing impairment. Children with hearing impairment and language delay are integrated into small classes in a pre-primary environment focusing on language stimulation.

The philosophy is to focus on the individual needs of each child, using a multidisciplinary team of specialists which includes two Heads (language and hearing), six teachers and three teaching assistants, five speech/audio therapists, one audiologist, two occupational therapists, one physiotherapist, and one psychologist.