about
Paul and Humile Mashatile Foundation
About Us
Our Objectives as a The Paul & Humile Mashatile Foundation are:
- Awareness and Education: Raise public and institutional awareness of autism and neurodiverse conditions, targeting schools, healthcare providers, communities, and businesses.
- Research and Data Collection: Advance research on neurodiversity, focusing on the specific needs of autistic individuals in Southern Africa.
- Support and Services: Provide critical services to autistic individuals and their families, including diagnostic support, advocacy, and relevant resources.
- Inclusive Education: Advocate for the implementation of inclusive education policies and practices in South African schools.
- Employment and Economic Empowerment: Promote inclusive employment practices that provide autistic individuals with access to meaningful and sustainable job opportunities.
- Partnership and Collaboration: Foster partnerships with government, civil society, businesses, and academic institutions to amplify impact.
Our Programmes and Services
The foundation engages in the following initiatives and services:
1. Education & Advocacy: We conduct workshops to educate parents and schools on neurodiverse conditions, providing screening tools for autistic conditions from the ages three (3) to twelve 12, as well as learning materials.The awareness and education provided to these stakeholders is to enable them to recognise, act timely, and foster supportive and inclusive environments to harness their children’s unique differences within the spectrum.
We actively set up and participate in advocacy campaigns while also engaging with employers to promote the inclusion and employment of individuals with neurodiverse conditions. Additionally, we advocate for neurodivergent-inclusive workplaces that offer the necessary support, accommodations, and resources for employees to thrive.
2. Support & Empower: We support and initiate support groups to empower children and parents whose children have been diagnosed with an autistic condition, and further support schools that develop and educate children with Autism.We also provide medical evidence reports to support referral requests for diagnosed children, facilitating their placement in appropriate institutions.Our other support services include school shoe drives, food parcel distributions, sanitary product drives, and other social impact initiatives.
3. Research and Data : CollectionWe are committed to advancing research on neurodiversity, with a particular focus on the needs of autistic individuals in Southern Africa. Through ongoing engagement with communities and practitioners, we aim to identify the challenges and barriers faced by neurodiverse individuals. This work supports the development of culturally responsive policies and innovative practices that empower individuals while promoting greater societal awareness and inclusion.
Partnerships and Collaborations
Our goal is to address the pressing need for research and engagement with practitioners and communities in order to build deep knowledge around neurodiversity in Southern Africa.
Research and consultation should focus on identifying the specific challenges and barriers faced by individuals with neurodiverse conditions. This approach will help improve policy and drive innovation while highlighting best practices that are both culturally sensitive and empowering. Additionally, it will contribute to raising societal awareness.Clear and impactful actions need to be included in “Autism Innovation Strategies” to respond to identified challenges, and complement ongoing actions under existing national strategies.
Early support and intervention are essential. Research shows that nurturing children’s development from an early age leads to significant long-term benefits—not just for the children, but also for their families, communities, and society as a whole. Investing in children today lays the foundation for a brighter, more prosperous future.