2 weeks ago
Independence Day Fundraiser Puts Inclusion and Accessibility at Centre
Raghu Duth Degala is a man in Hyderabad who wants everyone to feel included.
His group, The Good Talk Factory, helps people with autism and other disabilities.
On Independence Day, they are holding a fun event called Akan Aahvaanam 2026.
Visitors can try a special calm, dark room that shows what the world feels like to someone with autism.
There are also activities where you use your hands while blindfolded to explore things.
People can join an art workshop, and caregivers who look after children with disabilities get special attention too.
The event costs whatever you want to pay, with no fixed ticket price.
The money supports education, jobs and accessibility projects like Project Vidya.
Degala says independence is about helping each other no matter what abilities people have.
He hopes the lessons of inclusion will last much longer than just one day.
The Good Talk Factory is building an interactive experience zone for Akan Aahvaanam 2026, an Independence Day community fundraiser in Hyderabad.
The zone includes a sensory room, a calm dark space, blindfolded touch activities and an art workshop that involves caregivers.
Founder Raghu Duth Degala says true independence means being there for each other and supporting abilities irrespective of disabilities.
The Good Talk Factory wants donors to know exactly where their money goes, and the event follows a pay-as-you-please model.
Degala says accessibility helps elderly people, patients and children too, and calls for a mindset change so Hyderabad becomes fully accessible.
- Who
- Raghu Duth Degala, founder of the Hyderabad-based NGO The Good Talk Factory (TGTF)
- What
- Akan Aahvaanam 2026, an Independence Day community fundraiser featuring an interactive experience zone on autism, sensory experiences and accessibility
- Where
- Hyderabad, India
- When
- August 15, 2026, Akan's flagship Independence Day event
- Why
- To fund TGTF's accessibility, inclusion, autism awareness, education and livelihood work, and to change community mindsets about disability
Key facts
- Event
- Akan Aahvaanam 2026 Independence Day community fundraiser
- Founder
- Raghu Duth Degala
- Beneficiary NGO
- The Good Talk Factory (TGTF)
- Location
- Hyderabad, India
- Date
- August 15, 2026
- Funding model
- Pay-as-you-please
- Experience zone features
- Sensory room, calm dark space, blindfolded touch activities, art workshop
- Supported programmes
- Accessibility and inclusion, autism awareness and support, Project Vidya (education and livelihood)
Quotes
Raghu Duth Degala
Founder of The Good Talk Factory, Hyderabad
“"True independence is all about being there for each other as community stakeholders and supporting the abilities irrespective of the disabilities."”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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