Autism workshops held at Monash South Africa
7 March 2006
Fifty parents and over 200 educators and therapists participated in four days of workshops hosted by Autism South Africa from 20 to 25 February 2006. The workshops, held at Monash South Africa, were presented by Australian experts in the field Dr Avril Brereton and Professor Bruce Tonge.
Autism is a lifelong, extremely complex and often devastating developmental
disorder. Its essential features are a lack of responsiveness to others,
poor communication skills and a lack of imaginative play. International
research has shown that worldwide, the prevalence of autism is on the increase
and is now considered to affect about one per 158 children under the age
of six years. It is found to occur in four times as many boys than girls.
The syndrome can present in many ways with the result that it is now
more often referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder. Six percent of those
affected by autism, have a form referred to as ‘Savant autism’
where there is one almost superhuman ability but the rest of their functioning
is adversely affected by autism.
Avril Brereton is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Developmental
Psychiatry and Psychology, Monash University, Australia. She has worked
for many years with autistic children and their families in a variety
of research, teaching and clinical settings and provides consultation
to community health, education and welfare agencies.
Bruce Tonge is Professor and Head of the Australian Monash University
School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine and established
the successful Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology at the
University. He has a distinguished record of teaching and research in
child psychiatry, many years' experience in clinical practice and a particular
interest in Pervasive Developmental Disorders, mental health problems
and intellectual disability, and effective treatments of emotional and
behavioural disorders in childhood.
The workshops were coordinated by Associate Professor Marilyn Lucas and
Ms Debra Cairns of the Department of Psychology at Monash South Africa.
Sponsorship was provided by Autism South Africa and The Piccolo Mondo
Gourmet Club (as part of The Michelangelo Hotel).
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