SUBANG JAYA, 11 APRIL 2026 – For the third consecutive year, award-winning special
education needs centre, Taarana, successfully hosted Walk for Autism 2026 at the Tropicana
Metropark Urban Park, Subang Jaya, Selangor, bringing together over 175 participants
including the students of Taarana, families, and community members in support of autism
awareness and inclusion.
Held in conjunction with Autism Awareness Month, the walk aimed to foster understanding of
the autism spectrum while encouraging community participation and acceptance. Participants
took part in a 3KM walk around the park, followed by a series of engaging activities including
informational booths, games and community engagement sessions.
The walk highlighted how collective community action can empower change. It represents an
ongoing effort by Taarana to raise awareness, break down barriers and encourage acceptance
of individuals with autism in everyday life. Through this initiative, Taarana once again continues
to champion awareness, encourage acceptance, and foster connections within the community.
Taarana is an award-winning special education needs centre established by RYTHM
Foundation, the social impact arm of the QI Group of Companies. It is a centre dedicated to
nurturing children with special needs between the ages of four and 18.
A Powerful Start to the Day
The morning commenced with participant registration, a welcome address by Datin Seri Umayal
Eswaran, Chairperson of RYTHM Foundation, and a guided warm-up session led by the
teachers and therapists of Taarana, which set an energetic and inclusive tone for the rest of the
morning.
Families, Taarana students and participants walked side by side, reinforcing the message that
inclusion begins with community participation, transforming the park into a powerful display of
solidarity. The walk highlighted the importance of creating an inclusive environment where
neurodivergent individuals feel included and appreciated.
“When a community comes together, it creates something powerful. Through this walk, we hope
to provide a safe and joyful space for families and communities to support each other,” said Dr.
Sunitha Sivakumaran, Principal of Taarana.
For families like Mr Ismail Rasheed’s, who have been participating in the annual Walk for
Autism since it began in 2024, the event has become a meaningful tradition. “Each year, we see
the same warmth and energy, especially from Taarana’s teachers and therapists, who put this
event together. For our family, it’s more than an annual event. It is a reminder that our child
belongs here, in a community that keeps showing up,” said Mr Ismail, father of Maryam Mahee
from Taarana’s Early Intervention Programme.
Beyond the walk itself, participants later engaged in a range of post-walk activities designed to
educate and empower the community . A total of eight vendors, including the Autism Cafe
Project, Ara Damansara Medical Centre’s Child Development Centre, Sun Rehab, as well as
Tropicana Berhad, were present to provide families and the community with practical insights
and access to support networks within the community.
These vendors’ participation added a lively and inclusive atmosphere to the event, ensuring that
participants of all ages could enjoy the experience.
Said Zoe Wan Seen Yee, Marketing Manager from Ara Damansara Medical Centre’s Child
Development Centre, “Supporting a child with developmental challenges takes more than a
team of therapists, it takes a village. Being here today, alongside families and organisations who
share this commitment, reflects exactly what we believe that inclusion and early intervention go
hand in hand. We are honoured to play a small part in a community that clearly shows up for
one another.”
Empowering Inclusion Through Strategic Support
The success of the walk was made possible through the collective efforts of partners,
volunteers, and supporting organisations. For many individuals with autism and their families,
gestures of support from the wider community can make a meaningful difference in fostering
confidence, dignity, and belonging. This stands as a testament to what can be achieved when
individuals come together with empathy, understanding and a shared vision for inclusion.
Through its social impact initiative, RYTHM Foundation, QI Group’s involvement in Walk for
Autism further reinforced the Group’s broader commitment to building inclusive communities.
“Today’s walk isn’t just about raising awareness. It’s about making a statement that autism
belongs in our neighbourhoods, our schools, our workplaces, our everyday lives. Every step we
take together on this journey says that neurodiversity is not a complication, but instead makes
our community stronger,” said Datin Seri Umayal Eswaran, Chairperson of RYTHM Foundation.
As the foundation behind Taarana, RYTHM Foundation has remained steadfast in its
commitment to empowering individuals with autism and special needs, whether through
educational initiatives to community engagement efforts like this year’s annual Walk for Autism.
The foundation’s dedication highlights the importance of collaborative efforts to drive a powerful
change, ensuring inclusion remains at the heart of the community.
The support from RYTHM Foundation has also enabled Taarana to expand its outreach,
enhance its programmes, and strengthen support for families and students. Since its
establishment in 2011, Taarana has grown into a recognised centre for special needs education,
offering personalised curricula and therapeutic support for children with autism, ADHD, and
other developmental challenges; work that has earned it the title of Best Special Education
Centre of the Year in 2024.
Ultimately, the annual Walk for Autism succeeds because of the community it builds. Today’s
walk reflected that strength, and at its heart were the students of Taarana, whose resilience and
spirit continue to inspire all who walk alongside them.
