In this article Professor Nonkhanyo Mdzanga, who was a contributing editor to our Human Factor publication, poignantly describes the difficult journey of parents to come to terms with having a child who has autism, but she also offers inspiration and shows how networks of parents can support each other.
Read the essay below – choose full-screen mode [ ] for a better reading experience.
Professor Nonkhanyo Mdzanga’s article is part of the 2nd issue DGMT’s Human Factor publication in which we explore what gives parents in South Africa power to champion their children’s education and what takes their power away. You can read, download or request a printed copy of the Human Factor (issue 2) here.
Prof. Nokhanyo Mdzanga is Associate Professor and Deputy Dean at the Faculty of Education at Nelson Mandela University. She holds a BA (Ed), BA (Honours), and MA (Contemporary English Studies) from the former University of Transkei. She completed her M.Ed. and PhD at the Nelson Mandela University and has been awarded a postgraduate medal of honour by the Education Association of South Africa (EASA). She has also been a post-doctoral research fellow at UNISA. Her research interests focus on how teacher education prepares student teachers to teach in multilingual contexts. She is mother to a 21-year-old daughter and a 13-year-old son. Since her son is on the autism spectrum, she has a special interest in children with special needs.