KEY FACTS Founded over thirty years ago, The Key School in Parktown is the only school within 60 kilometres of Johannesburg, and one of only six schools in South Africa, to provide for the special needs of children between the ages of 3 and 12 with the disabling condition known as autism. Experience internationally has shown that children with autism do well – some go on to lead near-normal lives – if placed from an early age in a caring setting designed to help specifically with their disabilities. If not in such a setting – if, for example, in a remedial class in a mainstream school, or in a school for children with a wide range of mental disabilities – then they may regress, often to the point where they are manageable only in full-time institutional care for the rest of their lives. The Key School exists to prevent tragic and avoidable outcomes of these kinds. Autism is a life-long condition that pervades all racial and social groups worldwide. Incidence of the spectrum of closely related disorders, of which classic autism is part, is now thought to be one in every 150 births, with four times as many boys as girls affected. Because of its high incidence, which appears to be increasing, major research is now under way in many countries, but particularly in America, Britain, France and Italy, to try to determine causes. Some promising lines of inquiry have opened up. For the present, though, and probably for many years to come, schools such as The Key offer the only prospect open to autistic children - and their parents – of help with this strange and distressing condition. Prognosis for autistic children varies as widely as the range of disabilities. The Society’s objective for children is to develop children at The Key School to the point where they can either gain as much independence as possible, or move onto mainstream schooling and to a near normal life thereafter. 70% of children with autism will however require life - long care. For older children our aim is to provide sheltered employment, on the model of communities already successfully operating in America, Britain and elsewhere. These communities provide a life not at all cut off from the wider community. The Key School’s mission is to give every child with autism in the Johannesburg and Soweto areas the chance of a dignified and worthwhile life by doing what we can – and a great deal can be done – through specialised education and therapy. We will not turn away any child who might benefit from our care, provided we have the financial resources to enable us to admit that child. Potential demand for places at The Key greatly exceeds our present capacity, although we continually address this need. The School has well qualified and dedicated staff, under the leadership of an experienced principal. The Society and the School are managed to high professional and business standards under the guidance of a School Council comprising parents and staff, all of whom have appropriate qualifications and experience, in their respective fields, of school governance, financial and business management. Strict financial controls are maintained, and the School Council develops strategic plans and budgets, progress against which is monitored at formal monthly meetings. The Key School Foundation whose main function is to raise funds has been established to accomplish our objectives.