This guest post is by Lindiwe Chisala, a young woman on the autism spectrum who was accepted and into her local computer college. Lindiwe is applying for the Spring 2025 Making a Difference Autism Scholarship via the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference started by me, Kerry Magro. I was nonverbal till 2.5 and diagnosed with autism at 4 and you can read more about my organization here.
Autistics on Autism the Next Chapter: Stories You Need to Hear About What Helped Them While Growing Up and Pursuing Their Dreams will be released on Amazon on 3/25/25 and looks at the lives over 75 Autistic adults. 100% of the proceeds from this book will go back to supporting our nonprofits many initiatives, like this scholarship program. Check out the book here.
My name is Lindiwe Chisala, South African by, I’m a 19 year old autistic young lady and I’m an 11th grader at a local special needs school, I don’t have any siblings and i live with my mother who is a single parent. I was only 3 years old when my mother learned that i was autistic via the routine medical developmental checkups right at the hospital where i was born. We were referred to a speech therapist as well as othere related specialists, i started my school journey at a local kindergarten where the educators and their assistants were amazing, they exercised patience with me throughout, when i turned 7, mu mother tried pushing her luck by enrolling me at a public normal school as she was initially in denial of me her only child being autistic. A year of being me being in a public school was hell for me as i could not cope, all learners in that schools had advanced developmental milestones,my speech was badlly delayed, the only word i could clearly pronounce was my name as I’m semi-verbal, i was referred to a special needs school the next year where my proper journey begun, the educators have been amazing, not to mention, all the therapists who are based at school. Society at large, especially my neighbourhood have looked down on me all these years for the fact that I’ve failed to fit in especially in terms of speech resulting in me being very shy and withdrawn . Most people who have looked down on me in the past to present have been put to shame somehow recently upon learning that my special needs school has selected me among other learners attending computer classes at a local computer college in which i have excelled and schedule to graduate from the said computer college on the 3rd of May 2025,. My greatest support systems have been my mother and the entire team at the special needs school. Me being able to learn how to operate a computer is an indication that being autistic should not limit one to sch whatever they desire to, should I get lucky enough to get sponsorship from KFM, that will open more doors of opportunities which i believe lies ahead of me, not to mention, I will be one of the shining examples as well as an inspiration to other autistic individuals who will come to learn about my achievements. My mother encouraged me to follow Kerry’s page on Facebook as he is a shining example for autistic people around the world. My dream is to meet him someday or at least have the privilege to attend one of his inspiring conferences. I so much look forward to learning more from Kerry so as to advocate for autistic people around South Africa . My autistic journey has taught me a lot, the biggest lesson i have learnt is tolerance and patience. One of my best experiences in my autistic journey was when i was the day i stepped my foot in that computer class, that was a step of HOPE forward me.
Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also on the autism spectrum started the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help students with autism receive scholarship aid to pursue a post-secondary education. Help us continue to help students with autism go to college by making a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit here.
Also, consider having Kerry, one of the only professionally accredited speakers on the spectrum in the country, speak at your next event by sending him an inquiry here. If you have a referral for someone who many want him to speak please reach out as well! Kerry speaks with schools, businesses, government agencies, colleges, nonprofit organizations, parent groups and other special events on topics ranging from employment, how to succeed in college with a learning disability, internal communication, living with autism, bullying prevention, social media best practices, innovation, presentation best practices and much more!
