By Evans Dakwa
Zimbabwe this week joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Autism Awareness Day amid concerns about the yawning gap in information about the condition in Zimbabwe.
As part of the commemorations and a response to autism information vacuum prevalent in our society, a group of Autism Ambassadors came together and collaborated with the Joshua Nkomo Foundation to host an Autism Awareness and Acceptance Day to raise awareness and acceptance on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Bulawayo.
Priscilla Xeshelihle Moyo, an alumni of US exchange programs YALI and ACEA, who is very passionate about raising awareness on ASD, conceived the idea and roped in Phendlinqaba Mafu. Together they perfected it before approaching the Joshua Nkomo Foundation which came in as a partner and Nokuthaba from T.S Autism Trust in Zimbabwe to make the event a reality.
“We held this event to raise awareness on Autism Spectrum Disorder in Zimbabwe, promote inclusion for people with ASD, eradicate myths and misconceptions about Autism and to provide psycho social support and networking space for people with ASD and their caregivers,” said Priscilla Xeshelihle Moyo ,one of the collaborating Autism Ambassadors who came up with the initiative.
The gathering was attended by at least 80 participants coming from different backgrounds including medical professionals, special needs educators, the Rotary Club, community leaders, general populace and the media.
“People were educated on Autism and are now aware about Autism, signs and symptoms and how to cope with Autistic members of the society. We managed to distribute over 70 pamphlets about Autism to members of the public,” said Priscilla
“We also managed to give a platform for parents of children with ASD and people with ASD to express themselves, communicate with professionals about Autism and also to network and be entertained, ” she added.
In the Zimbabwean context Autism is not understood laced with a lot of misconceptions and myths surrounding the condition thus breeding discrimination.
“There is also stigma towards people with ASD, as a result parents of children with Autism fail to cope, some spend money consulting traditional healers and prophets trying to cure Autism. Others hide their children away from the public in fear of being discrimination and being stigmatized.”
” I think the people of Zimbabwe should be accepting of people with different abilities. What I noticed about people with Autism is that most of them are exceptionally gifted with science and many other skills. Once we embrace them they will be valuable members of our society,” she concluded.
The theme for this year’s World Autism Awareness Day is ‘Empowering Autistic Voices’ which aims at providing more support and power to the individuals with this condition, in order to ensure they lead a meaningful life and even pursue successful careers