Autism Action South Africa was started by Paul and Jazel Peterzell, proud parents of an ASD princess.  Jazel is originally from South Africa, born, raised and educated in Jo’burg, lived in the USA for 23 years and now has returned home to make a difference for the ASD community in South Africa.  She resides in Cape Town with her husband Paul, her daughter and two dogs as well as a loving and supportive extended family and very good friends.
Autism Action SA is a nonprofit organization.  We are neither a center nor a school.  The focus of our organization is primarily one of outreach and support, training for parents, teachers or anyone else who wants to learn how to live and work with our children.  The goal of our organization is also to promote early detection and early intervention of autism, which has been shown to dramatically improve the functioning of the child and enable success for the child in all aspects of his/her life.
 
Our major goal-among the many we have- is to enable success and independence, and foster mega self-esteem in individuals with autism by making their lives more functional and socially successful as well as supporting the parents emotionally.
 
Another major aim is to raise the awareness among the non-autism public on what autism is, to celebrate and find the happiness in what our population's challenges are, and also to promote respect for their talents, of which there are many!
We believe that every person with autism has intrinsic value and has the inherent right to:

• Equality
• Respect
• Inclusion
• Knowledge
• Independence
• Freedom of choice
• Quality of life
• Success in life

We strive to bring hope, joy, courage and acceptance to all people caring for an ASD person.

Never give up hope and always end on success – Jazel