Award-winning film on Autism to be screened at Gateway to raise Autism awareness

Do you know what Autism is and how to behave around someone who has it?

In case you didn't know, Autism is "a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior." (Wikipedia)

Autism generally occurs in the first three years of a child's life and there is ongoing uncertainty as to the cause - and the treatment - of the condition. But one thing that Action In Autism says is that it is "not caused by bad parenting". 

Read more: Woman finds her calling by giving old dolls a new lease on life to help people with autism

According to Action In Autism, "Autism is no longer a rare condition. The children and adults who live with it make up a sector of our society that is unique and at the same time just like everybody else with their own hopes, fears and potential for the future. They are what we will allow them to be." 

In true spirit of advocating for the autistic community, the team at Action In Autism have come up with a creative way of promoting education around Autism whilst also raising funds for their cause. 

Read more: Autism month: Durban NGO says better understanding still needed

"An award-winning film, The Reason I Jump, based on the book by Naoki Higashida of Japan who is autistic. The film examines the lives of those with autism and the need to recognise diverse ways of interpreting the world.

In it, he describes the experiences of being autistic ‒ from the difficulties in social communication to the joys of being able to think in a way which is neurologically atypical." (IOL)

Action In Autism will be raising funds for their cause by airing this award-winning film this Sunday, November 21, at Cinema 3, Gateway, in uMhlanga. 

Read more: PARENTING: My four-year-old daughter: "I don't want to be brown anymore"

Liza Aziz, who is the chairperson at Action In Autism, shared that her 19-year-old son is autistic. 

"She said this week that the autism spectrum was traditionally measured at three levels: level 1, where high support is needed for a person who is non-speaking; level 2, where some support is needed but the person can be independent to a certain degree; and level 3, where the person can live an independent life but still need social support." (IOL)

Watch the trailer for the film below, courtesy of YouTube:

Image Courtesy of YouTube