about
Paul and Humile Mashatile Foundation
What We Do
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. Further, we set up and participate in advocacy campaigns. We also engage with employers to advocate for the employment and inclusion of individuals with neurodiverse conditions.
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.
Research and Data Collection:
We strive to enhance research on neurodiversity, focusing on the specific needs of autistic individuals in Southern Africa. We do this through ongoing engagement with communities and practitioners, with the specific aim of identifying challenges and barriers faced by people who present with neurodiverse conditions. This will help to enhance policy, innovation and highlight good practices that empower individuals and raise societal awareness.
Our Objectives as a 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: Enhance 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.
Support & Advocacy are in our DNA
We work to break down these barriers by promoting social understanding, education and research, and empowering healthcare providers and educators.Support is what we’re all about and four principles undergird this approach:
- Acceptance and Inclusion: Advocating for the acceptance of neurological differences and the inclusion of autistic individuals in all aspects of society, including education, employment and social activities.
- Strengths-Based Perspectives: Recognising and leveraging the unique strengths and talents that often accompany individuals with neurodivergent conditions, rather than focusing solely on challenges.
- Accommodation and Support: Promoting the implementation of accommodation and support services that help autistic individuals succeed in various environments.
- Self-Advocacy and Empowerment: Encouraging educators, supporting parents and autistic individuals to advocate for their own needs and rights in order to gain autonomy and self-determination.
Partnerships and Collaborations
We aim to contribute to 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 specific challenges and barriers faced by people that present with neurodiverse conditions. This will help to enhance policy, innovation and highlight good practices that empower individuals and raise societal awareness.
Clear and impactful actions need to be included in “Autism Innovation Strategies” in order to respond to identified challenges, and complement ongoing actions under existing national strategies.