Professional Development

2007 Heartspring Award for Innovation and Creativity in Special Education

Aniel Redelinghuys from South Africa
Aniel Redelinghuys photo Aniel Redelinghuys, a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) from South Africa, is currently enrolled in a doctorate program at the University of Pretoria. Aniel grew up in South Africa, but left for several years working in London, England as a SLP specializing in Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). Upon her return to South Africa, she faced numerous challenges while trying to educate children with autism in her homeland. Many of her obstacles are a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. She states, “services for autism are not a government priority” and much of the effort she is involved in is training and educating others to recognize autism and to then educate these children accordingly.

Aniel hopes to establish services by collaborating with other educators to start a specialized pre-school for children with developmental disabilities including autism. She is seeking sponsors to provide adequate funding for children to attend this pre-school. Aniel also plans to start a multi-disciplinary diagnostic team for the assessment of children with autism. However, resources do not exist in South Africa and she says “funding, training and manpower will have to be obtained by establishing partnerships with national and international partners.”

Aniel recognizes that she still has much to do to help South Africa educate children with autism, though she has done much already. She is deserving of this award and Heartspring congratulates her for her hard work, passion and dedication.