About Me

My name is Melt Olckers.
My first years was at the Zonderwater Prison Complex.  My father was employed as a Prison Warden.  It was there that I developed the habit of not sleeping to such an extent that it was breaking news in the neighberhood if someone saw me sleeping.  I also developed an interest in teaspoons.  My parents were very active in the church and visited members of the church.  I stole their teaspoons and dumped it in my mother's handbag.  She then had to go back to the people to return their spoons or looked in her handbag for any spoons before she left.

I was first diagnosed with ADHD at an early age.  Thing became problematic at school, and the school constantly requested that my parents take me to a psychologist.  One psychologist I have seen on the school's request reported to them that they are wasting his and my time.  I was seen as problematic and always argued with teachers concerning facts.  I was also like most other Autistic children bullied.  One teacher predicted that I would end up in prison.

I left school in 1990 with a Matric Certificate and in 1991 completed my mandatory National Service at Anti-Aircraft School/10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment.  My year in the Army had its ups and downs.  I liked the regimented structure, but the other troops continued the bullying.  There was also one officer, a Major at that time who had a skewed view of what it is to be a soldier or a man.  I achieved the rank of Lance Corporal on merit, and passed out in December 1991 with the General Service Medal.
In 1992 I became a civil servant for the Department of Education and Training.  I was let go after 12 months, mostly due to my strange behaviour.  I then tried my hand at bussines by opening a comic shop.  This was a failure mostly due to a girlfriend, and I did some courses as Security Officer.  I worked for some security companies for a few months and then by luck returned to the civil service where I am now for nearly twenty years.

I attained a National Diploma in Security Management in 2001, and has since then been a member of the South African Institute of Security.

I was eventually diagnosed in 2005 by a psychiatrist with Asperger Syndrome.  This is currently known as part of Autism Spectrum Disorder.  After my diagnosis I decided that the best would be to learn as much asd I can about Autism, and became involved in the local Autism Support Group.  This led me to Anna Atkins from the Association for Autism in Pretoria where I became active as Autism Consultant.  At An AFA Conference I met Tania Melnyczuk, another Autistic adult and was invited by her to become part of the Ask me, I'm Autistic Facebook page.

I became aware of several dangerous "treatments" of Autism, and this has become my cause.  I am now an activist for those children who can not speak for themselves, by promoting awareness of the dangers of these unethical and dangerous treatments.

I am also an Rights Advocate and Social Activist for people with disabilities and has taken part in the Presidential Work Group for Disabilities.  It is also my aim to help making the world a better place for disabled people in general and Autistic people in particular.  I also want the world to know that Autistic people, as well as people with other disabilities can make a valuable contribution in society, and must not be viewed as a burden.  


I am a commited Christian, but not a traditional or fundamentalist.  I belief in the Social Upliftment of people, so that they could have an enriched and enhanced life.  When not busy promoting Autism Rights, I watch DVD's, read Sci Fi or non-fiction books and Superhero and Sci Fi comics.  I am a dedicated Star Trek fan, not so much Star Wars (still dissapointed with the Prequel Trilogy).