Kids News

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.

Experienced egg donation and surrogacy agency facilitating the gift of life by recruiting egg donors and surrogates willing to help people in desperate need of donor eggs and/ or surrogacy in South Africa.  Experienced egg donation and surrogacy agency since 2007.  Email Jenny Call 084 465 8363 or visit our website

Biofeedback Practitioner – SCIO device (Nationwide)  - As a parent, are you feeling exasperated? • Why didn’t this baby come with a manual?
• Have the Terrible Two’s gone on for too long? •    Who stole your child and left this teenager in their place? • Are you looking for an alternative to the Ritalin route? • Is your child accident-prone? Perhaps you should try Biofeedback to address these issues. Call Lisa Kroll 084 261 8024 Email

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: ilt@icon.co.za  fax 086 6190051 and Michael L Kokot M.Sc.  Tel. 021 873 4951 (o)  082 41 4481 (cell)  email 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.

Therapist Practitioner in Counselling Life Coaching and General Therapy - (Bruma, Johannesburg Gauteng) - Relationship advice and tips for resolving issues, conflicts and relationship problems. I provide counselling & general therapy in the following areas: • Depression • Anxiety • Guilt • Anger • Stress • Phobias • Trauma..  I also offer counselling in the following areas: • Relationships • Addictions • Pain Management, If your counselling needs are not listed above I will be more than happy to take your call to ascertain whether I will be able to counsel you. Please call me - Loredana on: 0832270998 or  Email

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.

Email Angela for details

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.

INFANT MASSAGE (Johannesburg) - Touch is the most powerful element in human bonding.  Enhance the bond with your baby and discover the joys and benefits as you master the skills of infant massage.  Weekly classes held in Fourways and Rosebank. For more information contact Michelle Walton, qualified International Association of Infant Massage instructor. Email or visit our website Cell: 082 871 0210 or Fax: 086 615 6078

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 email 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.

The Secret to Successful Parenting and Happy Kids (Gauteng/KZT/CT)- If something could dramatically transform your entire family for the better, wouldn’t you want to know about it? How many times have you wished that your children came with an instruction manual? Call Today! 011-447-5362 or 082-947-5118 Email or visit our website

The Special Needs Child - Information, tips and techniques for raising, loving and parenting a child with special needs. Special families need to share stories, resources, and information to inspire and motivate each other on this long journey full of ups and downs, raising a child with special needs.
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