World Autism Day: Paediatric Intensivist helps us unpack how behavioural therapies work
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Today is World Autism Awareness Day, and here’s a reality that’s hard to ignore. In South Africa, it’s estimated that 1 in every 100 children is on the autism spectrum, yet thousands remain undiagnosed, unsupported, and misunderstood.
Autism isn’t always visible. It doesn’t always “look” the way people expect. For some families, it’s navigating sensory overload in public spaces, for others, it’s fighting to be heard in a system that doesn’t always understand their child. And for many, it’s the daily emotional weight of advocating for a world that can sometimes feel isolating.
This year’s global theme, "Autism and Humanity, Every Life Has Value". This theme emphasises the dignity, inherent worth, and equal rights of all autistic people, calling for increased inclusion and neurodiversity acceptance in health, education, and workplace settings worldwide. Because behind every diagnosis is a child who experiences the world differently, and a parent or caregiver doing everything they can to understand, protect, and empower them. And if you’re listening right now and this is your reality, you are seen. Your journey matters.
Paediatric Intensivist, Dr Sibekezelo Hlophe, helped us unpack how behavioural therapies like Applied Behaviour Analysis actually work and why they can be so effective, and also offered practical advice to parents and caregivers on raising children with autism, from building independence to supporting emotional well-being.
Autism isn’t always visible. It doesn’t always “look” the way people expect. For some families, it’s navigating sensory overload in public spaces, for others, it’s fighting to be heard in a system that doesn’t always understand their child. And for many, it’s the daily emotional weight of advocating for a world that can sometimes feel isolating.
This year’s global theme, "Autism and Humanity, Every Life Has Value". This theme emphasises the dignity, inherent worth, and equal rights of all autistic people, calling for increased inclusion and neurodiversity acceptance in health, education, and workplace settings worldwide. Because behind every diagnosis is a child who experiences the world differently, and a parent or caregiver doing everything they can to understand, protect, and empower them. And if you’re listening right now and this is your reality, you are seen. Your journey matters.
Paediatric Intensivist, Dr Sibekezelo Hlophe, helped us unpack how behavioural therapies like Applied Behaviour Analysis actually work and why they can be so effective, and also offered practical advice to parents and caregivers on raising children with autism, from building independence to supporting emotional well-being.
