Part 3 – Stories of Resilience: ASD Block Week
Siyakwazi’s recent ASD Block Week created a safe and supportive space for parents and guardians to share their fears, frustrations, and hopes without judgement. ASD is a developmental condition that affects how a person communicates, relates to others, and experiences the world. For many families, understanding the nuances of ASD can be overwhelming, but this Block Week provided practical tools and meaningful insights to help them navigate their children’s unique needs.
Through activities designed to foster awareness, parents experienced what it might feel like to process the world differently. One session, for example, simulated sensory overload with a mix of sounds, lights, and textures, helping guardians empathise with their children’s experiences. “It was the session where we were analysing emotions and senses, with sounds like noise, someone reading, and blowing all at the same time that really stood out,” shared one guardian. “I learned how an ASD child feels uncomfortable in that kind of environment.”
These overwhelming sensations, combined with differences in processing them, can often lead to behavioural difficulties and challenges. Understanding these challenges formed an important part of providing guardians with a framework to support their children more effectively.
Families also learned strategies for managing sensory sensitivities and fostering communication skills. Weighted devices, sensory charts, and stretching routines were introduced, offering practical ways to help children feel calm and engaged at home. A mother reflected on the difference these tools had made: “When he feels upset, he puts his headphones on, and it’s like he’s in his own peaceful space.”
The week also focused on breaking the stigma surrounding ASD. For one mother, this meant confronting the shame she felt when walking with her child in public. “I used to avoid going out because I couldn’t control him, and people would stare,” she admitted. “Now, I feel more confident. I understand my child better and don’t care what others think.”
By the end of the week, families left with not only tailored resources but also a renewed sense of confidence and purpose. “I was blaming myself, thinking I did something wrong to have a child like this,” another mother shared. “Now, I’ve learned to accept him, and I feel stronger knowing I’m not alone.”
Read more: Part 1 – Therapy Block Weeks: Tailored Interventions, Tangible Progress or Part 2 – Acceptance, Healing and Skills: CP Block Week.
Thank you to every guardian, therapist, and supporter who made these Block Weeks possible in 2024. For more information on our interventions or how you can support our work, please contact [email protected].