Latest news from The Ernie Els Centre for Autism in South Africa, providing lower resourced families of children on the spectrum with free access to effective education for their child via e-learning programs.
1. Rickie Fowler holes out in a thrilling Els for Autism fundraiser!
World No.5 Rickie Fowler produced a stroke of magic in the Hole-In-One Challenge sponsored by SAP and Ketel One Vodka, the conclusion to another hugely successful Annual Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado Els for Autism Pro Am at Old Palm Golf Club in Florida. Fowler’s hole-in-one earned the charity a $1 million donation, which will go towards the development of phase two of The Els Centre of Excellence. “This man – he is my hero,” said Ernie. “The hairs on my arms are still standing up!”
Liezl Els was almost overcome with emotion. “I can’t believe what just happened,” she said of the hole-in-one contest. “This means we can build the upper school at The Els Center of Excellence. It’s hard to put into words how much it means.”
Fowler is just one of many of the world’s top golfers who have supported Ernie and Liezl at the Annual Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado Els for Autism Pro Am. Indeed, the roll call of champions to have taken part in the event’s eight year history reads like a Who’s Who of golf: Jack Nicklaus, Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Luke Donald, Nick Price, Retief Goosen, Greg Norman, Gary Player, Raymond Floyd, Jordan Spieth, Ian Baker-Finch, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Justin Leonard, Michelle Wie, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Tringale, Camilo Villegas, Charl Schwartzel, Daniel Berger, Greg Chalmers, Keegan Bradley, K.J. Choi, Louis Oosthuizen, Rich Beem, Rory Sabbatini, Thomas Aiken, Tony Finau and Vijay Singh. This event could almost claim Tour event status!
Ever since the Els for Autism Foundation was established in 2009 it has been the Els’ dream to establish The Els Centre of Excellence and for it to become a worldwide hub for autism, distributing best practices in Autism around the world, notably to the satellite centre located in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“We are all so grateful for the solidarity and support of the professional golfing community to join the Els’ in making a difference with autism,” commented Shani Lits, Director of The Ernie Els Centre for Autism in South Africa.
In South Africa, the Els for Autism team has created an exciting ‘Drive to the SA Open’ golf series for 2016 (see schedule below). The first few events have been a big success and we are looking forward to an exciting series ahead, with the betterball winners of each regional day qualifying for a Grand Finale at the Ernie Els-designed Highland Gate Golf & Trout Estate in Dullstroom. The winners of that final will win a VIP Ernie Els Experience at the BMW SA OPEN brought to you by the City of Ekurhuleni in December 2016.
Please contact nico.vanrensburg@ernieels.com to enter or get involved with sponsorships.
20 May – Pearl Valley
25 May – Pretoria Country Club
3 June – The Els Club, Copperleaf
8 June – St Francis Links
23 June – Randpark Golf Club
8 July – Royal Jhb & Kensington
23 July – Oubaai Golf Club
31 August – Kempton Park Golf Club
27 October – Ebotse Links
1 November – De Zalze Golf Club
3 November – Silver Lakes Golf Club
17 November – Grand Finale at Highland Gate
2. SA Open 2016: Spotlight falls on Ernie and Els for Autism
Ernie Els was the host and ambassador for the 105th South African Open earlier this year. And during tournament week, the team from The Els for Autism Centre South Africa, along with the support of SNAG personnel, Glendower Golf Club personnel, and Ernie himself, hosted another successful #GameON clinic for a group of children from The Centre and surrounding autism spectrum community.
“Parents and spectators were in awe of how much fun the kids were having and how much they enjoyed the help of the man who started this Foundation,” commented Shani Lits, Director of The Ernie Els Centre for Autism in South Africa. “We were also graced with the presence of the Executive Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mr Monde Gungubele, who was thrilled to see this small example of ‘nation-building’ at work.”
Not only were the kids having an absolute ball, but the ladies of the SA Open community were entertained with a champagne brunch hosted by the gracious Liezl Els, co-founder of The Els for Autism Foundation. It was an inspiring story to listen to Liezl and Ernie’s life experience with their son Ben, who was diagnosed at a young age as being on the autism spectrum. She also described all of the hard work that has been put into The Foundation, and all the wonderful work that they have done for autism in the US and South Africa. There were a couple of lucky ladies won lovely hampers at the special auction at the end of the day and, crucially, significant funds were raised for The Foundation.
3. Siblings That Are Really Special (STARS) quarterly groups continue
The first STARS support group for 2016 was held on 12 March and set the bar high for the future. This group focuses on allowing the siblings of children on the Autism Spectrum (ASD) to be the centre of attention for a little while. Here, not only are they given more attention and praise, but are also provided with practical opportunities as to how to better interact and communicate with their sibling, as well as how to get involved in teaching their siblings new and important life skills.
For this group, we started with the exciting ‘Parachute’ game, where working as a community and clear communication was necessary to avoid being ‘caught under the ‘chute’! The group of children was then split according to age. The 6-11 year old group learnt how to communicate with their ASD siblings using visual supports paired with verbal instructions, while building crafts. The 11 years and up group explored the sensory world as their ASD siblings may see it. They entered into a very productive discussion with therapists from the Johannesburg Hospital School, The Ernie Els Centre for Autism and Autism South Africa about how we can assist individuals with ASD by taking into account the difficulties they may experience with sensory processing.
During these fun activities, parents meanwhile were provided with a space to interact with fellow ASD care-givers in a supportive and informal manner, facilitated by a counsellor to ensure comprehensive guidance. The ASD group also had a great deal of fun, where they could watch a movie, do arts and crafts, or play games with several children and ASD facilitators.
“While the main aim of our support group is always to educate and empower these special siblings,” commented Shani Lits, “a lot of fun was had too and we are very much looking forward to the next one.”
4. Expansion plans at The Centre in 2016 and beyond
As of February 2016, The Ernie Els Centre for Autism South Africa has a new satellite office in Cape Town and to that end we are blessed to have the collaboration of the esteemed Professor Petrus De Vries of UCT. Since the opening of the original Centre in Johannesburg in 2011, the team has served hundreds of families by focusing on empowering parents or care-givers to best teach their child on the Autism Spectrum. This free service employs the guidance of a web-based program, Rethink First, to ensure families are always encouraging their child according to evidence-based practices.
As we continue expanding the number of families across the country, we are beginning our expansion of services. The opening of a satellite office in Cape Town will ensure that The Ernie Els Centre for Autism can provide higher quality of work for families closer to that side of the country. We are thus thrilled to welcome Chanel Baumgarten to our team. As we get this initiative up and running, please feel free to visit our website or facebook page, or email our Gauteng centre coordinator: Aretha.kausele@elsforautism.org for further details.
“We hope that this is just one of the many exciting steps in our future expansion plan, so watch this space,” commented Shani Lits.
5. April is global Autism Awareness Month
Autism Awareness Day (2 April) and Autism Awareness Month (the whole of April) have helped bring about greater acknowledgment and acceptance of those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which affects every 1 in 68 children (CDC stats for the US population). Right across The Els Group, in particular at Els for Autism in the US and South Africa, there are many events planned and fundraising items for sale, including the Blue Lion Headcover, as used by Ernie; blue being the colour of autism awareness.
Click here for more information on how to purchase a Blue Lion headcover, blue-and-white pin ribbon, or any one of many other items in support of Autism Awareness Month.
In addition, several countries including South Africa have taken part in the global ‘Light It Up Blue’ campaign during the month of April to show their support for ASD, and this year seems to be no different. Moreover, Autism South Africa is leading a local initiative #CelebrateMyUnique in order to use the month of April to celebrate each individual’s value and uniqueness.
The month of April allows us to talk openly to each other about ASD and therefore encourages constructive dialogue to assist with the early intervention, support, education and vocational issues surrounding ASD, and to debunk any myths that community members have. For more information, and to stay up to date on all of the walks and other Awareness/Acceptance events coming up, please follow us on Facebook or visit the website: http://www.ernieelscentre4autism.co.za or www.elsforautism.com.
