Awareness, Acceptance & Appreciation : A Road to Changing Views on Autism in South Africa
Laitila, Niina (2018)
Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu
2018
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018120319582
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018120319582
Tiivistelmä
The idea for the thesis was born during my work placement in Autism Western Cape organisation in Cape Town, South Africa. The organisation’s work is concentrating on emotional and educational support for autistic individuals and their parents and carers. At the same time the organisation is advocating its message on awareness, acceptance and appreciation towards autism. Neurodiversity and social model of disability are also important concepts in its work.
The purpose is to give the reader an understanding of autism in South Africa, how it is perceived, how are the autistic people and their families being helped and what difficulties they are facing. The situation of autism in South Africa, the lack of knowledge towards autism or the pure unawareness towards the existence of autism and the inequalities in autism assistance and access to autism care are important parts, not forgetting the professionals, their effort and the difficulties and obstacles they are encountering.
The main focus is on Autism Western Cape’s work in the Western Cape area of South Africa and on its clients and service users. How the organisation is helping autistic people and their families in the area at the same time advocating its message.
The research questions are what is the situation of autism in South Africa, what is done about the situation, is this helping and what are the obstacles? Is awareness, acceptance and appreciation increasing?
The results are drawn from my findings during the work practice. The main source being Autism Western Cape, its work, staff, clients and service users. The main methods used to gather data were participant observation and semi-structured interviews. The data from these were analysed by using content analysis.
The results are that in a wider South African society there is still a long way to go changing views on autism. The situation is not very good. The organisation’s work through its intervention, parental support groups and workshops helps most families that are involved. At the same time, though, the organisation’s work is facing obstacles arising from unawareness, poverty and traditional belief practises. Autism awareness and acceptance have increased within most of the families involved with the organisation but not with everyone. Autism appreciation reaches part of the professional world and some of the parents of autistic children who have started to advocate themselves.
The purpose is to give the reader an understanding of autism in South Africa, how it is perceived, how are the autistic people and their families being helped and what difficulties they are facing. The situation of autism in South Africa, the lack of knowledge towards autism or the pure unawareness towards the existence of autism and the inequalities in autism assistance and access to autism care are important parts, not forgetting the professionals, their effort and the difficulties and obstacles they are encountering.
The main focus is on Autism Western Cape’s work in the Western Cape area of South Africa and on its clients and service users. How the organisation is helping autistic people and their families in the area at the same time advocating its message.
The research questions are what is the situation of autism in South Africa, what is done about the situation, is this helping and what are the obstacles? Is awareness, acceptance and appreciation increasing?
The results are drawn from my findings during the work practice. The main source being Autism Western Cape, its work, staff, clients and service users. The main methods used to gather data were participant observation and semi-structured interviews. The data from these were analysed by using content analysis.
The results are that in a wider South African society there is still a long way to go changing views on autism. The situation is not very good. The organisation’s work through its intervention, parental support groups and workshops helps most families that are involved. At the same time, though, the organisation’s work is facing obstacles arising from unawareness, poverty and traditional belief practises. Autism awareness and acceptance have increased within most of the families involved with the organisation but not with everyone. Autism appreciation reaches part of the professional world and some of the parents of autistic children who have started to advocate themselves.