Jail4Bail – Autism Western Cape

Jan Van Riebeeck landed and started invading South Africa so did Autism only 3 centuries later.  The evolution of service delivery  for IWA’s (Individuals With Autism) started in Cape Town in 1967 with the founding of The Society For Autistic Children – Western Cape (now Autism Western Cape).

I caught up with one of the pioneers of Autism in South Africa who has committed her life to make a difference to so many children and adults affected by Autism. Auntie Maggie (Margaret) Golding, as she is affectionately known, triggered by an particular interest in a ASD, started in 1952. Today she still forms part of the backbone and the evolution of  Autism in South Africa.

Short Bio:

Margaret Golding qualified with a broad menu and holistic approach to cater for the unique individual educational needs of each child through the development and implementation of a cohesive educational policy which she is still practising today.  Some highlights included the opening of ASD specific schools in the UK in the 60’s and the first ASD specific schools in Cape Town and Pretoria in the early 70’s.

The extremely humble great granny of 3, with her gentle voice and English accent, still fits Yoga, Gardening and cuisine cooking inbetween her travelling where she usually ends up working local or international.

Present involvement includes:

• Governor of Vera School – Cape Town
• Trustee of Hurdy Gurdy House – Cape Town
• Member of the National Executive of Autism SA
• Chairperson of Outreach, Education & Training Committee – Autism SA
• Honorary member of Autism SA & Autism Western Cape
• Keynote Speaker at the World Conference on Autism – Cape Town 2006

What would you like to see happening in South Africa:

“I would like to see models of good practise being used by Government repeated and implemented for children and adults across the ASD spectrum. Support for learners in the mainstream education system and also for adults including residential homes. Job coaching and vocational support for those who are able to work through learnerships. Government Departments need to become partners and should take ownership by developing a cohesive policy in early childhood development and life long educational processes”

You have some interesting presentations. What is the “Hitchhikers Guide to Autism” about?

It is how we changed our ways of educating children on the ASD spectrum. The evolution, changed perceptions and a better understanding of Autism to provide quality education. The “THE HITCHIKER GUIDE TO AUTISM – AN EDUCATOR’S UNIQUE ACCOUNT OF THE HISTORY OF AUTISM AND THE DEVELOPMENT  OF A RELEVANT CURRICULUM – 1957 -2008″

What does the “Theory of Mind” means in simple terms?

The “THEORY OF MIND” , I can give some examples, which includes, “SOCIAL SHARED MEANING INDEIFFERECES” and “LITERAL UNDERSTANDING OF SHARED MEANING” to illustrate some of the the complexities of ASD.

The infectiuos passion serves as a motivation to me in persisting with our Aims and Objectives of Autism Western Cape to make a meaningful difference through service delivery.

Thank you for your life commitment to Autism in South Africa.