Putting AUTISM on TOP – Kilimanjaro

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Posted on 28th January 2010 by Gerhard Pieterse aka jail4bail in Uncategorized

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Mt. Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak - 5895m

Ok, so why would you want to pay a shit load  of money to go and suffer for six days on a mountain? I don’t think there could be any fundamental reason why anybody would take themselves out of their comfort zone, away from their friends and family if there is no purpose.

I work in the field of Autism and deal with the struggle of creating meaningful awareness around Autism Spectrum Disorder on a daily basis in South Africa. People just don’t know and care about Autism and therefore it’s my duty to inform people about Autism to be able to improve the lives of the children and adults in the care of Autism Western Cape.

So what was the Kilimanjaro trek about? The objective to create meaningful awareness by taking Autism to the highest level of priority through the symbolic climb of the highest freestanding mountain in the world and also highest point on the African continent. Turned out that our trek was the first summit on Kilimanjaro for Autism from the African continent.

Have I ever climbed a mountain? No, am I not a fitness fanatic, no, it hasn’t been my life dream to summit Kilimanjaro. I am just a parent with an Autistic child who cared enough to get off my butt and do something in which I believe and care about.

This was pretty much the same attitude of the rest of the Kili crew of 9 members, consisting of another dad, granddad, couple of friends and Sean Wisedale our tour leader and guide, who is the first person from the African continent to summit the 7 highest peaks on each continent. Our Kili trek turned out to be his 11th summit, so we were in good hands.

Are we there yet, I need a smoke!

So, was it tough? The toughest thing I have ever done in my life. Taking one step at a time whilst not being able to breath, nausea, headaches, stomach burning, extremely cold, wet and limited sleep for 6 days. Thinking why am I doing this to myself spinning in your head pretty much most of the time and listing to the dreaded Pole-Pole (Slowly-Slowly) & “Guys we need to keep on moving”

We stayed in contact via some pretty cute technology, Twitter updating our every moment of the trek with Zoopy. We consistently got updated and also chatted to the families back home. Every encounter was very emotional, but at the same time served to keep us motivated based on the awesome amount of support, messages and comments.

The thought of “that’s enough I’m turning back” popped more and more as we went up in altitude, however the constant reminder of why we are doing it superseded all the other stuff. We had to summit, not negotiable. Summit night was the most difficult part with starting to walk to Stella Point (rim of the volcano, yes Kilimanjaro is a non-active volcano) at 11 at night only to reach Stella by 7 the next morning. Frozen water bottles, storm wind, Altitude sickness (Vomiting, extreme headaches, burning tummy, extreme difficulty in breathing etc.) could not stop this group of zombies to get to Uhuru Peak – 5895 m. I don’t know how I got from Stella to Uhuru peak, about a kilometre; I am told I walked like after a bottle of Captain Morgan.

The next I know I saw this sigh, which said, “Uhuru Peak – 5895 m, you are now on top of Africa”. It meant nothing to me at this stage; all I wanted to do is to get off this bloody mountain. It’s was only when I took the small frozen watertight bag out of my backpack, to open the different flags, that’s when I realised what we have done.

We have Put AUTISM on TOP – Kilimanjaro

So what’s next for Jail4Bail in 2010 in contributing to Autism in South Africa by creating meaningful awarness  around Autism Spectrum Disorder?



In planning watch this space heheheh!!

SA Government discriminate against Autism

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Posted on 20th April 2009 by Gerhard Pieterse aka jail4bail in Real stories about real families with Autism | Uncategorized

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I cannot sit day in and day out listening to all the bullshit  from Political Parties and Government alike. It’s time to take a stand against the discrimination against Individuals with Autism in South Africa.

More children will be diagnosed with Autism this year than with Diabetes, Cancer and AIDS combined. Current world ASD population is estimated at 67 Million people, with South Africa estimated at about 600 000  Individuals with Autism.

The Jonas Brothers supports Autism in America:

How can the South African Government ignore the epidemic?

For the last 7 years we have been playing by the rules and regulations of the Departments of Health, Social Development and Education, with very little impact. The Department of Health has negated on their commitment to take care of adults with Autism in South Africa against the grain of what the Department of Health stands  for:

In order to improve the quality of health care for everyone in the Western Cape, the Department of Health has committed itself to a long-term strategic plan called Healthcare 2010. This plan aims to reshape public health services in the Western Cape to focus on primary-level services, community-based care and preventative care.

Mission

Our mission is to improve the health of people in the Western Cape and beyond, by ensuring the provision of a balanced health care system, in partnership with stakeholders, within the context of optimal socio-economic development.

Vision

“Equal access to quality care”

The Department remains committed to the vision of providing better health care to communities. The vision of Healthcare 2010, “Equal access to quality care”, has become increasingly significant and consideration is being given to making this the vision statement of the Department as a whole. This vision statement is more consistent with the Departments central goals of accessibility, appropriateness, affordability, equity, effectiveness and efficiency.

One of our projects, named Hurdy Gurdy House has been in existence since 2001, providing a 24/7/365 home for 10 individuals on the Autism Spectrum presenting challenging and aggressive behaviour. The residents cannot be accommodated in any other environment due to the nature of thier difficulties, previously from Alexandra Hospital Psychiatric unit. The residents were moved based on the Dept. Heath’s 2010 Hospital Care plan which dictates the reduction of beds in Government psychiatric hospitals and quality of service provision which is too disgusting to even mention.

3 Years we have submitted funding applications to the Dept. Health Western Cape for financial assistance for the residential care project with very limited or no communication.  The lastest application was submitted in Febraury 2009 based on the prescribed procedure.

We submitted reams of paper conforming under the exact format, proving that we need funding to sustain the HGH project or alternatively face the closure of the project as  soon as the end of May 2009. We have been following up as a matter of urgency with no joy. Telephonic communication with 7 individual representatives passing the buck resulted in discussion with a lady by the name of Carol Dean & Pat Collis, both requested to put it forward as matter of urgency via e-mail 8  April 2009.

Dear Carol,

Thank you for taking the time for our telephonic discussion. As discussed for the last 2 years we’ve had various discussions regarding funding for Autism Western Cape. Various site visits including Mrs. Marinda Roelofse and Mr Titus and correspondence with Mrs. Pat Collis resulted into our latest application being declined.

The reality is simple, if we do not get funding from your Department we will be forced close Hurdy Gurdy House, currently under the management of Autism Western Cape. We are currently providing 24 hours residential care to 10 residents who cannot be reintegrated to any Government Psychiatric Service based on the Hospital Care Plan 2010.

The project has been running since 2001 and we cannot sustain the existence of the project on our own and parent resources in a very challenging economic environment. Parents are currently contributing R 5000 per month and we cannot increase any fees.

Should we have to close the project your Department will have to take responsibility for the said residents based on the fact that the residents present challenging and aggressive behaviour and CANNOT be incorporated into any other service.

This is a very serious matter, without at least R 300 000 financial support, we will have no choice but to close down the said project by the end of May 2009.

We are currently doing everything in our ability to ensure the existence of the project; however we will not be able to do it with immediate intervention from your Department.

With NO response I attempted  again on the 14th April 2009 to establish dialogue:

Dear Carol,

Since my previous mail I have received no correspondence, response or acknowledgement for any of the recipients included in my e-mail dated 8 April 2009.

I have furthermore not received any formal response regarding the application submitted to the Department of Health re funding for Hurdy Gurdy House.

Please advise.

Today I received the formal reply for Pat Collis:

The Metro District Health Services are unable to fund Hurdy Gurdy in this financial year. It is with regret that we are unable to do so. Regards Pat Collis. Should you wish to email me Pcollis@pgwc.gov.za. A formal letter of regret will be sent to your organization.

Sorry not good enough, if you do not have funding available is because you are not competent in your position, because you did not apply to national treasury for budget and how do you justify underspending in your department?

Please tell me what more do I have to do to get the Western Cape Department of Health to take responsibility for the most vulnerable of society?

I have committed to do whatever it takes to make a difference to Autism in South Africa, sitting 74 days in  “Jail Cell” :

Jail4Bail

Jail4Bail

In November 2009 we will be “Putting AUTISM to the TOP – Kilimanjaro”

Putting AUTISM on TOP - Kilimanjaro

Putting AUTISM on TOP - Kilimanjaro

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO TO GET THE GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA TO TAKE AUTISM SERIOUSLY?