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.

Comments

[Mia C]

You know, the jail thing is a pretty good idea! I wish they would find out the cause. That is what is killing me.
Thank you for making us think about autistic kids all over the world-
mom to cale, age 4, classic autism.

[Adi]

Hi Tertia - can't believe you posted this without mailing me first. You know I have Asperger's. Please read my blog post before you promote this martyr/heroship of a man who knows absolutely nothing about autism and needs an excuse to institutionalise his common law wive's child so that he doesn't have to deal with her.

http://aspie.co.za/wordpress/?p=25

[Bianca W]

Not sure if I mis-understood the message, but I read it as that is how someone with autism may feel, frustrtated at the chaos going on around them, not that they are "trapped" or cut off from society.

[Estelle]

Hi Tertia
Thanks for writing this so beautifully. You have painted a very vivid picture of the situation in SA, and what families go through. It adds to raising the awareness, which is what this whole campaign is also about.

Mom to Cale - shew, it's so hard. I have 2 friends whose children have autism, and my foster-son has asperger's. Have you investigated the possibility of having a urine test done to check Cale's heavy metals? I know of some people who have found high levels, and are treating that, and the child seems calmer and more focused.

Adi - you seem so angry. Gerhard has decided to raise awareness and funds - based on his own experience. He lives with a child with autism, so I am not sure how you can say he knows nothing about autism. The nature of his relationship with his partner is surely irrelevant? I think he is awesomely brave to have done this, and I think we should all grant each other a place in the sun.

[Artemisia]

Oh for god's sake, another aspie functional enough to have a blog who can't stand to see parents advocating for their truly disabled children.

Tertia, great post.