From silent struggles to global autism advocacy and campaign for SA 'Sunflower Lanyard' – Dr Emile Gouws

From overcoming immense personal challenges to becoming a global autism advocate, Dr. Emile Gouws’ resilience and ‘vatbyt’ is remarkable. Diagnosed at three and largely nonverbal until 15, Gouws with the help of his mother and a determined team defied expectations to earn a PhD and is now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of South Africa. He also secured a role in the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum and helped shape South Africa’s response to the UN on disability rights. Gouws told Biznews in an interview that he also found a sense of belonging in the Special Knead Café in Sandton that also has a Facebook and Instagram page for awareness and support, which recently organised a march for neurodivergent voices on South Africa’s disability bill to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Now, he’s calling for a Ministry of Disability and the adoption of the Sunflower Lanyard at clinics, airports and supermarkets to support those with hidden disabilities.