National Director
Juliet heads up the Autism SA team
chairperson
Parent of an autistic son | media personality
Deputy chairperson
Occupational therapy lecturer at the University of Cape Town
treasurer
Amanda is a mother of three children, with her eldest daughter being autistic.
Secretary
Founder of autism connect | parent of an autistic teen
Member
Kate is a speech-language pathologist and the owner and principal of a special needs school.
Kayise is a Media Entrepreneur and Autism Mom who serves as a passionate advocate for Autism Awareness
Selloane is the Founder and Director of Bonsai Independent School for Autism
Member Marisa is the Project Coordinator for the Autism Caregiver Coaching in Africa project at the Centre for Autism Research in Africa (CARA) and an occupational therapist
NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Juliet is happily married to Lance and they have three delightful children. Their eldest daughter is autistic. She is a constant source of valuable insights into her lived experience as an autistic person. Juliet's faith is central to who she is. She firmly believes that - since all people are created in the image of God - all human beings are valuable and should be treated with dignity. She is a social worker and educator by profession, with close to three decades in the child protection, education and corporate training sectors. Juliet heads up the Autism SA team, whom she describes as "the most dedicated and compassionate group of individuals who consistently go the extra mile." For her it is a privilege to work with such wellsprings of wisdom. Resources and services for autistic persons are very limited and insufficient in South Africa. Thus, it is Juliet's sincere and deliberate intention that Autism SA continues to dedicate itself to the support and advocacy for the rights of the autistic community, their families and the support systems with which they work.
I am the mum of an autistic boy. I have more than 5 years of working experience, working in different roles within the Internal Audit and Fraud environment and I have also joined the school governing board at one of the special schools in Gauteng. In addition to my professional experience, I hold a Bachelor of Technology qualification in Internal Auditing and Risk-Based Auditing certificate. My work experience with different organisations together with my academic training has led me to develop very good planning and organisational skills. I work well under pressure and possess an ability to work independently as well as part of a team. I am currently working as a Fraud Investigator. In this capacity, I have developed a very good understanding of fraud in South Africa as well as conducting Investigations on fraud matters.
Chairperson
Rache holds a BA Dramatic Arts Honours degree from Wits where she majored in Performance and Choreography. She subsequently performed on stage and TV as well as a creative career in television production. Rachel was officially inducted into Autism SA in 2023 as Deputy Chair and as a mother of an Autistic Teenager, she is devoted to raising awareness and acceptance of Autism. Mental health and well-being have always been a passion of hers. She is currently Director of Tambo-Web Media House which is a publishing and podcast company.
Sarosha joined the Autism South Africa National Executive Committee in 2023. She is also an Occupational Therapy lecturer in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Cape Town. She completed my PhD in Occupational Therapy in 2023, with research focused on education systems for autistic children in the Western Cape. Prior to her role at UCT, she worked for the Western Cape Department of Education as part of the Provincial Autism Outreach Team. With over 20 years of experience working with autistic children in the education system, she is deeply committed to supporting and improving the educational experiences for these children.
Nicolette is the Founding Director of Autism Connect, a non-profit organisation (NPO) registered as an early learning centre in Cape Town, South Africa. The centre was established in January 2013, starting from her three-bedroom house in Westridge, Mitchell’s Plain. Her son, Tyler, was denied access to state-run autism-specific schools when he was diagnosed in 2007, and it took her several years to navigate the available schooling options for him. This journey ultimately led to the creation of Autism Connect. Nicolette is a single mother to Tamryn and Tyler, a non-speaking autistic young man. Their father, Jeremy, passed away in 2016 from natural causes. Prior to founding Autism Connect, she spent over 20 years working in Supply Chain, holding positions at SA Nylon Spinners and De Beers Marine in their Finance and Procurement Departments, respectively. She studied Public Administration at Regenesys Business School in Johannesburg and completed a Life Coaching Certification through the School of Life in 2023. In her spare time, she enjoys long walks on the beach with her young adults and spending time with her sisters and family. She currently lives in Strandfontein, Muizenberg East, Cape Town, South Africa.
Treasurer
Amanda is a mother of three children, with her eldest daughter being autistic. She is currently working as a Fraud Analyst/Investigator. Her interest in autism stems from a desire to learn more about the condition, share her experiences and knowledge, and help others in similar situations.
Kate is a speech-language pathologist and the owner and principal of a special needs school. With a particular interest in autism, Kate has been working with autistic children for 20 years, both locally and abroad. After recognising the need for more educational facilities and support for families of autistic children, she founded a school specifically focused on providing for the needs of autistic children.
Kayise is a Media Entrepreneur and Autism Mom who serves as a passionate advocate for Autism Awareness. She is deeply committed to storytelling that fosters understanding and inclusivity. Through her platforms and engaging digital content, Kayise is dedicated to creating spaces that drive meaningful conversations and positive change. Her mission is to amplify discussions around autism, particularly in South Africa and globally, to highlight the experiences of autistic individuals and their families. Her personal connection and passion stem from a deep conviction to educate, inspire, represent, and support families navigating the autism journey.
Marisa is the Project Coordinator for the Autism Caregiver Coaching in Africa project at the Centre for Autism Research in Africa (CARA) and an occupational therapist with over 15 years of experience in paediatric and child mental health. She is passionate about improving intervention services for young autistic children and their families. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience, focusing on the use of technology to support caregivers of autistic children
Selloane is the Founder and Director of Bonsai Independent School for Autism, a specialised institution catering to autistic learners. She has been working in the education sector for 12 years. Her career began as an assistant at Dunamis Christian School while completing her Early Childhood Development certificate. She then progressed to become a pre-primary teacher at Kingdom Academy Pre-Primary. Following this, Selloane earned a certificate in teaching autistic learners from UNISA and later completed her Grade R certificate, also at UNISA. Currently, she is pursuing her Diploma in Grade R through SANTS, which she is set to complete by the end of 2025. Selloane's passion lies in creating an environment where autistic learners feel welcomed and accepted for who they are. She strives to establish a school where teachers can tailor their approach to how learners absorb information, ensuring that the unique needs of autistic learners are met. Selloane believes that every learner is different and learns in their own way, which is why each one deserves the opportunity to learn in a manner that is comfortable for them. This is why Bonsai Independent School offers a variety of programmes designed to help learners discover their preferred way of learning.
