Action in Autism Market Day – Saturday 20 November 2021

Media release

Action in Autism Market Day – Saturday 20 November 2021

Action in Autism will host a Summer Market at the Action in Autism Centre in Park Hill, Durban North on Saturday, 20 November from 9am – 2pm.  

The students of Action in Autism’s skills transfer and business hub, have been hard at work preparing for the market.   This project not only provides a focus for their learning and studies in the areas of administration, consumer and business studies, gardening, food production and craft, but also serve as a fundraiser for the organisation.  “Market Day means to show other people outside the Action in Autism Centre what we can accomplish when we work together as a team, and not just as individuals,” says Michelle Edmonds, a 22 year old autistic student. Her fellow student, Bruce Baloyi, interjects to ensure those attending know that the Market runs from 9am to 2pm.

The Market Day is a bi-annual event at which the Shahumna students showcase their work and products created in the Business Hub and is the practical component of their Business Studies curriculum. In addition, the Market serves as an event for networking and connection not only for Autistic people and their families, but also for the neighbourhood and surrounding community, as well as local business. “Market Day highlights the capabilities, talents and is a culmination of our students’ accomplishments throughout the year,” says Ashvir Dalu, manager of the Shahumna Centre. “It is also a time that we all get to relax and have fun in an embracing environment.” The intention for the Market is to create a day of family togetherness that is inclusive and welcoming of autistic people and the broader community, that will bring in much-needed funds and resources for Action in Autism, says Centre Director, Kirsten Miller. 

The Shahumna skills and business hub is just one of Action in Autism’s many projects. The organisation’s other flagship projects are its Early Intervention Centre that provides early intervention and therapy to those children whose families cannot afford the high cost of private services, and the Assessment and Therapy Wing, that provides assessment and therapy services. Emma Hunt, a Park Hill resident and a student at the Shahumna Centre, speaks of the Market as a wonderful opportunity for autistic people to interact with people both on the spectrum and outside of the spectrum. “We can all have fun together in one space instead of separating ourselves from each other,” says Emma.

Emma Hunt and Thabiso Ndlovu.j

Visitors to the market can expect to find baked goods and teas prepared by the students of the Business Skills Centre, a range of quality gelato flavours from The Italian Corner, pre-loved clothing, plants, a jumping castle, games and kiddies’ treats. Action in Autism extends a welcome to the surrounding communities to enjoy a day out with Autistic people, and to browse, have a cup of coffee and purchase one or two Christmas presents.   The organisation is using this as an opportunity to showcase its services and to create partnerships with individuals and organisations who would support the organisation and the programmes offered. 

Action in Autism welcomes any sponsorship/donation for the Market Day.  Action in Autism is a registered Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) with an 18A Tax Exemption status. This means that a donation to Action in Autism is tax deductible (Tax Act 58 of 1962). If you would like to attend the Market, or to make a donation, to book a table to trade, support a child at the centre, or for more information about the services offered by the organisation, please call 031 563 3039, email info@actioninautism.org.za, or visit the website at www.actioninautism.org.za. 

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Cover photo Kaveer Lutchman, Malita Mandlate and Bruce Baloyi

Action in Autism Fundraiser - award-winning film The Reason I Jump

Action in Autism:

Fundraiser Film: The Reason I Jump - Cinema 3, Gateway, Umhlanga

Sunday 21 November, 16h45

Action in Autism will host a special screening of the award-winning film The Reason I Jump based on the book by Japanese Naoki Higashida, who is Autistic, and was thirteen at the time of writing. This will be a fundraiser for the organisation which supports Autistic people and their families through the provision of services and resources, on Sunday 21 November at 16h45 Cinema 3, Gateway, Umhlanga.

Through his writing Higashida maps the experiences of being Autistic and translates these experiences for a neurotypical readership – the hyper-focus, the destabilisation, the social difficulties as well as the unique joys and benefits of thinking in a way that is neurologically a-typical. The internationally celebrated book was first published in Japanese in 2007 and later translated into English, the process supported and publically endorsed by the renowned novelist David Mitchell, who has an Autistic son.

The cinematic version of The Reason I Jump, created by film-maker Jerry Rothwell, won  the Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary at Sundance in 2020.  It is brought to Durban through an exciting partnership between Videovision Entertainment and Action in Autism. The screening of this powerful documentary aims to raise much-needed funds for Action in Autism’s two flagship projects, the Early Intervention and Therapy Centre, and the Shahumna Centre, a skills transference and business hub for adults with Autism and related neurological conditions. “The intention of The Reason I Jump, as both a book and a film,” writes Adrian Horton in The Guardian in a review from 9 January, “is explicitly didactic, a missive to explain one person’s neuro-divergent experience and broader call to expand one’s imagination of human cognition.”

Action in Autism’s vision is for Autistic people and all people with disabilities to be accepted, respected and valued as members of the community. “This fundraiser speaks to who we are,” says Liza Aziz, Action in Autism’s Chairperson and the parent of an adult Autistic son. “It empowers and teaches people about a world of which they know very little.” Videovision Entertainment has supported the organisation since its inception in 2005, and continues to work as one of the partners that ensures opportunity for Autistic people through events such as this screening.”

“In the film Rothwell examines the lives of five young people who live with Autism spectrum disorder, and is a perfect tool to educate people on Autism, so we are delighted to continue our association with Action in Autism since its founding, and to support the exemplary work done by Liza Aziz and the Action in Autism team,” said Sanjeev Singh, Videovision Entertainment’s Director of Distribution and Acquisition.

Tickets are  R120 and can be booked by calling 031 563 3039 or emailing info@actioninautism.org.za.

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World Autism Month: Silent Bring and Share

World Autism Month: Silent Bring and Share

“People with special needs should be accepted into society along with everyone else. The value of a person shouldn’t be solely fixed by his or her skills and talent or lack of them. It’s how you strive to live well that allows others to understand your awesomeness as a human being.”

Naoki Higashida, autistic non speaking author

April is World Autism Month. Life can be isolating and lonely for people who cannot express their basic needs or experiences in a way that the rest of the world understands. Over 50 % of autistic people are non speaking or partially speaking, and the Autistics Worldwide Facebook Group have put out an appeal that, as an Autistic or as an ally, this April should be about acceptance rather than awareness, and to leave out the puzzle pieces, burden talk, the colour blue and miracle cures from the dialogue.

Action in Autism, a non-profit organisation that strives to improve services and resources for autistic people and their families, is asking people to respect, acknowledge and accept neurological and communication differences, and to join Autistic people, their caregivers and families, educators and concerned professionals for a silent Bring and Share, from 10am to 12am at the Action in Autism Centre, 105 Haig Road, Park Hill, on Saturday 10 April. Those attending will be encouraged to use only alternative means of communication – signs, gestures, pointing, tapping or drawing – for the duration of the event. Following the two hours, Disability Rights Lawyer and Academic Willene Holness, as the keynote speaker for the day, will address those in attendance. There is no prescribed fee, but a donation of R50 per family would be highly appreciated. Action in Autism does not receive funding from government, and relies on donations and support from the community for the continuation of their Early Intervention programme, Adult Skills and Business Hub and support and advocacy services.

The central focus of Action in Autism is to improve the quality of life for people with Autism Spectrum Condition and their caregivers. The organisation builds partnerships between Autistic people, and provides information, services, learning and research to the community. The organisation’s flagship programmes are its Early Learning Intervention Centre and Walk-in Resource Centre, and the Shahumna Centre, a Skills Transfer and Business Hub for Autistic adults. Speaking is not the only form of communication. Honour and accept those who have communication and social difficulties, and join the Autistic community at the Action in Autism Centre on 10 April.

If you would like to support Action in Autism through donations in cash or kind or through volunteering, or if you would like to join the Silent picnic, please call 031 563 3039, or email info@actioninautism.org.za.

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2 April is Autism Awareness Day: Pledge to be Silent

Media Release

Action in Autism:

2nd of April is Autism Awareness Day: Pledge to be Silent

People with autism experience difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication and social interaction. Over 50 % of people with autism struggle with verbal communication and spoken language. For people who cannot express their basic needs or experiences in a way that the rest of the world understands, life can be isolating and extremely lonely.

Action in Autism has committed to acknowledging World Autism Day on April 2 by asking people to make their pledge to be non-verbal for one hour – from 10am to 11am. To respect, acknowledge and accept difference, we ask you to join us and thousands of our people with autism, and pledge to use an alternative means of communication – signs, gestures, pointing, typing or drawing – during this time.

“Speaking is not the only form of communication. Honour those who are different from you and experience their world.” says Liza Aziz, Chairperson of Action in Autism. “Our organisation does not receive any funding from government, so we would like to encourage people to us either in cash, kind or through volunteering time.”

Action in Autism will host a fundraiser on 30 April at 7pm at St. John’s Hall.  Tickets are R70 and are available from our offices.  For more information about Action in Autism and the support to parents and families provided by the organisation, please call 031 207 4858 or emailinfo@actioninautism.org.za.

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Further information:

Kirsten Miller

ACTION IN AUTISM

031 207 4858/083 7774468

info@actioninautism.org.za