Disability movements should be led by people with disabilities.
This is according to Anzel Pansegrouw, chair of the Student Representative Council’s (SRC) special needs portfolio.
This committee recently facilitated a disability safe space at Stellenbosch University (SU) in an effort to raise awareness of autism and reflect on autism acceptance month.
Pictured: Anzel Pansegrouw, chair of the special needs portfolio. On 13 May, the Stellenbosch University Student Representative Council’s special needs portfolio held a disability safe space to reflect on autism acceptance month. PHOTO: Andrea de Lilly
The safe space took place on 13 May in the SRC boardroom, where students were encouraged to share their stories in a safe environment, said Alok More, the SRC spokesperson.
April is internationally recognised as autism acceptance month and the portfolio approached the month by focusing on disability justice, according to Pansegrouw, who spoke to MatieMedia via written correspondence. The SRC’s initiative was led by the motto, “nothing about us without us”, stated Pansegrouw.
The safe space was postponed to May as Pansegrouw was unavailable during April.
On the spectrum
Autism is classified as a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder, explained Zaida Frank, the operations manager of Autism Western Cape, who spoke to MatieMedia via written correspondence. “It is a condition that affects the wiring [of] the brain and, therefore, how the person thinks and reacts and understands the world,” stated Frank.
A lack of information about the disorder has resulted in the stigmatisation of autism, which contributes significantly to stereotypes and discrimination, said Frank.
Autistic individuals have a wide range of talents, strengths and skills that should be recognised and celebrated, she stated.
The colour blue represents autism awareness, according to The Place For Children with Autism’s website. The colour is associated with a calm feeling and acceptance in an otherwise loud and busy world for people on the spectrum, the website states. PHOTO: Andrea de Lilly
Elevating autistic voices
“Though some autistic people avoid [autism acceptance month] entirely, I am taking the opportunity to try elevating autistic voices above non-autistic led structures,” said Pansegrouw.
In order to promote awareness of the neurodevelopmental disorder, Pansegrouw encouraged students with autism to share their own experiences on the special needs portfolio’s Instagram account.
The Student Representative Council’s special needs portfolio encouraged students with autism to share their experiences via Instagram in order to promote awareness and acceptance of the neurodevelopmental disorder. This is according to Anzel Pansegrouw, chair of the special needs portfolio. Photo: Instagram/@specialneedssu
Honey’s garden
As a way of raising awareness, Pansegrouw stated that her portfolio also “partnered with Honey’s Garden to host service dog shows on both the Tygerberg and Stellenbosch campuses”.
Honey’s Garden is a non-profit organisation that trains medical service dogs for people with a wide range of chronic medical conditions, namely, type one diabetes, epilepsy and a number of psychiatric and mental health issues, stated Lucy Breytenbach, founder of Honey’s Garden.
Pictured above is Cally, a seizure response dog. Medical alert service dogs provide owners with emotional support and are great with social support, according to Lucy Breytenbach, the founder of Honey’s Garden, a non-profit organisation that trains medical service dogs. “We train the dogs to interrupt panic attacks or a growing episode of anxiety,” said Breytenbach. PHOTO: Supplied/Lucy Breytenbach
These shows will take place later in May, stated Pansegrouw.
Frank told MatieMedia that she believes creating more awareness, understanding and knowledge of autism will lead to better services and improved life for those on the autistic spectrum.