Action in Autism (AiA) – World Autism Acceptance Month 2026

The rallying call for persons with disabilities is ‘Nothing About us, without us’, and so it is for our neurodiverse population.  As part of Action in Autism’s acceptance and action campaign, Action in Autism has planned a series of events and programmess to advocate for the rights of autistic people and their families during April, World Autism Acceptance month.

The organisation’s activism and advocacy are delivered through a range of key events:

Pizza and Paint and sensory sensational day – 18 April 2026

Members of the autism community are invited to attend a Pizza and Paint Day to prepare posters and banners for the silent walk on 23 April 2026.  The community is invited to bring a pizza to share.  At the same time children and young adults with autism can enjoy a sensory celebration, with a foam pit, ball pond, trampoline and oral, aural and visual sensory fun  from 10h00 to 12h00 on 18 April 2026 at the Action in Autism Centre, 105 Haig Road, Parkhill.  A guest speaker will address the gathering on the rights of autistic people to employment.  The event is free event for all in the autistic community. 

Getting ready to raise awareness around Autism are young adults, Ndumiso Zungu and Zahid Khan, from the Action in Autism Centre

Silent Walk – 23 April 2026


The public is invited to partner with Action in Autism on a Silent Walk on 23 April 2026, from 12h00 to 14h00, starting at Gugu Dlamini Park and ending at City Hall. “Approximately 50% of Autistic people are non-speaking, so during the walk, participants will communicate without spoken language, using alternative methods such as sign language, writing, gestures, and tapping, to show solidarity with those who are partial or non-speakers,” says AiA Director Diane Mariah-Singh.   ‘This is a powerful, inclusive demonstration that provides support for our neurodiverse population.  Action in Autism neurodivergent advocates and executive members, Yolanda Ziqubu and Prashant Parsunath will hand over a memorandum of demands to the City Mayor.” 

Getting ready to raise awareness around Autism are young adults, Anthony Daniel Eastwood, Isaac Jethro Munisamy and Siyathemba Shongwe, from the Action in Autism Centre.

Empowerment and Capacity Building in Person and Online Workshops of Private and Public Enterprises

Throughout the month of April 2026, Autism Advocates will be available to empower and capacitate companies on the importance of including autistic people in their workforce.  This aligns with the organisation’s Skills Development and Business Hub, a three year established programme developed to capacitate autistic people with skills to enter the open labour market or set up their own micro businesses.  

“There are too few autistics employed and Government is not meeting its target of 7% employment rate for persons with disabilities,” explains Mariah-Singh .  “This needs to change.”

For more information contact 031 5633039 or email aiadirector@actioninautism.org.za  to partner with AiA for any or all of these initiatives. 

Action in Autism Market Day – Saturday 20 November 2021

Media release

Action in Autism Market Day – Saturday 20 November 2021

Action in Autism will host a Summer Market at the Action in Autism Centre in Park Hill, Durban North on Saturday, 20 November from 9am – 2pm.  

The students of Action in Autism’s skills transfer and business hub, have been hard at work preparing for the market.   This project not only provides a focus for their learning and studies in the areas of administration, consumer and business studies, gardening, food production and craft, but also serve as a fundraiser for the organisation.  “Market Day means to show other people outside the Action in Autism Centre what we can accomplish when we work together as a team, and not just as individuals,” says Michelle Edmonds, a 22 year old autistic student. Her fellow student, Bruce Baloyi, interjects to ensure those attending know that the Market runs from 9am to 2pm.

The Market Day is a bi-annual event at which the Shahumna students showcase their work and products created in the Business Hub and is the practical component of their Business Studies curriculum. In addition, the Market serves as an event for networking and connection not only for Autistic people and their families, but also for the neighbourhood and surrounding community, as well as local business. “Market Day highlights the capabilities, talents and is a culmination of our students’ accomplishments throughout the year,” says Ashvir Dalu, manager of the Shahumna Centre. “It is also a time that we all get to relax and have fun in an embracing environment.” The intention for the Market is to create a day of family togetherness that is inclusive and welcoming of autistic people and the broader community, that will bring in much-needed funds and resources for Action in Autism, says Centre Director, Kirsten Miller. 

The Shahumna skills and business hub is just one of Action in Autism’s many projects. The organisation’s other flagship projects are its Early Intervention Centre that provides early intervention and therapy to those children whose families cannot afford the high cost of private services, and the Assessment and Therapy Wing, that provides assessment and therapy services. Emma Hunt, a Park Hill resident and a student at the Shahumna Centre, speaks of the Market as a wonderful opportunity for autistic people to interact with people both on the spectrum and outside of the spectrum. “We can all have fun together in one space instead of separating ourselves from each other,” says Emma.

Emma Hunt and Thabiso Ndlovu.j

Visitors to the market can expect to find baked goods and teas prepared by the students of the Business Skills Centre, a range of quality gelato flavours from The Italian Corner, pre-loved clothing, plants, a jumping castle, games and kiddies’ treats. Action in Autism extends a welcome to the surrounding communities to enjoy a day out with Autistic people, and to browse, have a cup of coffee and purchase one or two Christmas presents.   The organisation is using this as an opportunity to showcase its services and to create partnerships with individuals and organisations who would support the organisation and the programmes offered. 

Action in Autism welcomes any sponsorship/donation for the Market Day.  Action in Autism is a registered Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) with an 18A Tax Exemption status. This means that a donation to Action in Autism is tax deductible (Tax Act 58 of 1962). If you would like to attend the Market, or to make a donation, to book a table to trade, support a child at the centre, or for more information about the services offered by the organisation, please call 031 563 3039, email info@actioninautism.org.za, or visit the website at www.actioninautism.org.za. 

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Cover photo Kaveer Lutchman, Malita Mandlate and Bruce Baloyi

April 2 is Autism Awareness Day: Pledge to be Non verbal

Action in Autism:

April 2 is Autism Awareness Day: Pledge to be Non verbal

People with autism experience difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication and social interaction. Over 50 % of people with autism struggle with verbal communication and spoken language. For people who cannot express their basic needs or experiences in a way that the rest of the world understands, life can be isolating and extremely lonely. 

Action in Autism has committed to acknowledging World Autism Day on April 2 by asking people to make their pledge to be non-verbal for 2 hours – from 10am to 12pm. To respect, acknowledge and accept difference, the public is asked to join the organisation and thousands of our people with autism, and pledge to use an alternative means of communication – signs, gestures, pointing, typing or drawing – during this time. 

“The Action in Autism family will be at the Botanic Gardens in Durban from 10am to 12 noon on April 2, and we invite everyone interested to pack a picnic basket and blanket and join us,” says Chairperson of the organisation, Liza Aziz. “We invite people to be part of a meaningful activation that tangibly demonstrates that speaking is not the only form of communication. In this way we are able to honour those who experience their worlds and means of communication in a different way to most.”

Action in Autism, which does not receive any funding from government,  invites all people who would like to support the organization through cash or kind or through volunteering time. A fundraiser will be held on 22 April at 7pm at St. John’s Hall.  Tickets are only R80 and are available from their offices.  For more information about Action in Autism and the support to parents and families provided by the organisation, please call 031 207 4858 or email info@actioninautism.org.za.

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