FACULTY ADMINISTRATOR GRADUATES WITH DISTINCTION FOR HER MASTER'S THESIS ON AUTISM AND SOCIAL MEDIA

A mother's remarkable journey, filled with resilience, strength and love in raising her autistic son, inspired a compelling Master’s Degree research paper that earned her special recognition.

Tina Bikitsha, an administrator at WSU's Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (FEBEIT), was a picture of elation after graduating with a Master’s Degree in Journalism and Media Studies from Rhodes University recently.

Bikitsha’s thesis, titled “The Use of Social Media by Parents Raising Autistic Children in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa," earned her a distinction. 

“This research paper was more than an academic journey for me, it was also a personal journey. As a mother of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I knew the struggles, the fears, and how lonely it gets sometimes to raise a child with neurodevelopmental disorder. But I never expected how emotional this journey would turn out,” she said.

A qualitative approach was employed for this research, guided by the theoretical frameworks of the digital divide and digital literacy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten parents and caregivers, the majority of whom lived in an urban area, with one participant from a township.

This process was particularly challenging for Bikitsha, who found the interviews to be bittersweet and heartbreaking due to various unavoidable realities.

“Some of the participants’ experiences weighed heavily on me, as their struggles were so real. Their struggles included lack of support, challenges of having to explain their situation at the workplace, insufficient health services in the Eastern Cape, isolation, financial stress, and the day-to-day struggles of raising an autistic child,” she said.

Her investigation uncovered that the social media platforms, play a vital role in offering emotional support, connecting parents facing similar challenges, and sharing valuable information.

In offering her recommendations, she said: “These must include developing relationships with policymakers to reduce data costs and enhance digital access, creating locally appropriate resources and digital literacy initiatives to improve social media accessibility for South African parents and caregivers of autistic children, and addressing the under-representation of male participants.”

The journey has been invaluable for Bikitsha, who has formed friendships and joined supportive communities by interacting with parents and caregivers who share her story.

“I hope that my research will serve as an alert to policymakers, employers, and community leaders to establish workplace policies that accommodate parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Towards inclusivity and equity in the workplace. The fact that I graduated in April, which is widely known as Autism Awareness Month, is more meaningful because it represents not just my academic achievement but also a step forward in raising awareness and advocating for long-term change,” she concluded.

By Thando Cezula