Awareness and Advocacy








April 2: World Autism Awareness Day

Awareness

According to the World Health Organization, one in 160 children globally have an autism spectrum disorder, and disproportionately high numbers of adults are unemployed. Action for Autism estimates that  approx 18 million Indians are on the autistic spectrum.There is need to raise awareness about people with Autism throughout the world raising the  acceptance for those living with autism.


U.N. Secretary-General Statement for World Autism Awareness Day

For World Autism Awareness Day, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres affirmed the UN’s support of the rights of people on the autism spectrum to fully participate in society. The rights of people with disabilities are supported in the UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Societal and cultural aspects of autism or sociology of autism come into play with recognition of autism, approaches to its support services and therapies, and how autism affects the definition of personhood. The autistic community is divided primarily into two camps; the neurodiversity movement and the Pathology paradigm. The pathology paradigm advocates for supporting research into therapies, treatments, and/or a cure to help minimize or remove autistic traits, seeing treatment as vital to help individuals with autism, while the neurodiversity movement believes autism should be seen as a different way of being and advocates against treatments, therapies or a cure, seeing it as trying to exterminate autistic people and their individuality.


Autistic adults can be helped by social awareness

There is need to raise awareness about people with Autism throughout the world . There are a huge number of events designed to raise awareness and money to support organizations and individuals with ASD, and to provide education about ASD and the latest research on ASD. 

Another critical element of education and awareness involves advocacy. For example, Autism Speaks engages in advocacy efforts to increase research funding, financial tools, and improved healthcare and supports for individuals with ASD .

A recent study has revealed that a clinician-driven virtual learning platform, tailored to young adults on the autism spectrum, shows improved social competency. The University of Texas research showed that the increase in the socio-emotional and socio-cognitive abilities correlated with brain change. The results included increased activation in the brain's socio-cognition hub with gains linked to improvement on an empathy measure 

The most well known recent International events  are the  World autism Awarness Day, Autism month , Autism Sunday ,Autism Speaks Walks held throughout the nation. Other events include national Autism Speaks events, ABAI conferences (including an annual autism conference), ABAI state-chapter conferences, and the Autism Society national conference. 

Important Observances

A comprehensive list of Disability Observances, check Disability Observance Date, Day, Week, Month, or Year  section in Disability Inclusion.

Benjamin’s Story, United Nations, 2016

Benjamin Rosloff interviews UN’s Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon  at UN HQ, NYC for the World Autism Awareness Day 2016

World Autism Awareness Day 

World Autism Awareness Day, observed on 2nd April, is internationally recognized to encourage Nations to take measures to raise awareness about people with autism spectrum disorder throughout the world. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly resolution. World Autism Awareness Day, passed in council on 1 November 2007, and adopted on 18 December 2007. It was proposed by Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, the United Nations Representative from Qatar and consort to Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and supported by all member states.

The celebration of World Autism Awareness Day is an important way to help the world better understand the scope of this health crisis and the need for compassion and acceptance for those living with autism. 

World Autism Month

Every April Autism Speaks celebrates World Autism Month, In 1972, the Autism Society launched the first annual National Autistic Children’s week, which evolved into Autism Acceptance Month (AAM). World Autism Month recognizes the need for supporting, understanding, accepting, including, and empowering of people on the autism spectrum. 

Autism Acceptance Day

The terms Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month are often contested by autism rights advocates, who claim that they feed into perceived ableism against autistic people. Such groups, including the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, advocate using the term Autism Acceptance Day as an alternative for both events under the belief that it promotes overcoming anti-autism prejudice rather than simply increasing awareness of autism.

Autism Sunday 

Autism Sunday is observed on 2nd Sunday of February to urge governments to speak up for the people with autism spectrum disorder. Churches of all denominations around the world now honor the millions of people with autism on Autism Sunday, also known as the International Day of Prayer for Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Autism Sunday was first held in 2002 during Autism Awareness Year in UK. It was initiated by parents and carers Ivan Corea and Charika Corea, founders of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK. Parents of Charin, a teenager with autism spectrum disorder and a communication disorder, they urged leaders of religious organizations, churches, community groups and world leaders around the globe to speak up for people with autism spectrum disorders.

The first service for autism was held in February 2002 at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Former Education Ministers, peers from the House of Lords, celebrities, writers, broadcasters, and the media joined children and people at St Paul's Cathedral to pray for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders, as well as their parents and caregivers. 

Campaigners around the world organized an Autism Sunday Twitter Storm to mark Autism Sunday 2011 - to celebrate the lives of all people with autism. In 2022, a commemorative event has been planned in India 

Autistic Pride Day

Autistic Pride Day is observed on 18th June. It is a pride celebration for autistic people held on 18 June each year. Autistic pride recognizes the importance of pride for autistic people and its role in bringing about positive changes in the broader society. Although Autistic Pride Day is 18 June, pride events are often held on the weekend of that year for logistical reasons, but can be held at any time during the year.

Autistic Pride Day was first celebrated in 2005 by Aspies For Freedom (AFF), who selected 18 June because it was the birthday of the youngest member of the group at that time. AFF modelled the celebration on the gay pride movement. According to Kabie Brook, the co-founder of Autism Rights Group Highland (ARGH), "the most important thing to note about the day is that it is an autistic community event: it originated from and is still led by autistic people ourselves", i.e. it is not a day for other charities or organisations to promote themselves or stifle autistic people. The rainbow infinity symbol is used as the symbol of this day, representing "diversity with infinite variations and infinite possibilities". New Scientist magazine released an article entitled "Autistic and proud" on the first Autistic Pride Day that discussed the idea.

Sources: 

PAY AUTENTION Project

Through the Tata Power Community Development Trust (TPCDT) launched PAY AUTENTION project in partnership with Center for Autism and other Disabilities Rehabilitation Research and Education (CADRRE) on World Autism Awareness Day on 2nd April, 2022. The project aims to empower parents / caregivers, Anganwadi workers and teachers to be the primary therapists and provide early intervention to their children with Autism and improve all the core deficits of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 

The project through its outreach will create Friends of Autism, who will work towards supporting families across tier 2 and tier 3 cities by connecting them with the portal to access resources and specialized services.

The Glasgow-based artist, walk across Scotland in a journey of over 300 miles in 2014 Spring as part of a series of activities to Put Autism on the Map.

Peter Howson: Putting Autism on the Map

Walking across Scotland for Scottish Autism because autism affects me personally, and my family.

Flowers artist Peter Howson completed a 300-mile hike from Aberdeen to Ayr to raise awareness of autism in the Spring. The artist was diagnosed with a form of autism, Asperger's Syndrome, in 2009 and his daughter Lucy, 27, is also severely autistic. Howson's partner, the former discus thrower Lorraine King, accompanied him for part of the walk, as well as other high-profile friends of the artist. 

Howson completed a series of sketches and drawings along the route, which includes dramatic scenery at the Aberdeen and Fife Coastal Paths, the Forth and Clyde Canal Walk, Clyde Walkway and the River Ayr Walk. However, the artist does not foresee a permanent switch from figurative to landscape painting. 

The event attracted over £100,000 donations to Scottish Autism, including £50,000 from investment company Raven Russia. 

Source: PETER HOWSON ‘PUTTING AUTISM ON THE MAP’

Peter Howson OBE (b. 27 March 1958) is a Scottish painter. He was a British official war artist in 1993 during the Bosnian War. 

Books, Movies, and OTT Series on Autism

Aap Ki Antara

Aapki Antara (Yours, Antara), produced by Drishtant Media, is a soap opera which ran on Zee TV from 1 June 2009 through 18 February 2010 (Season 1, 175 Episodes) as a social problem drama focusing on the issue of autism.

Aapki Antara is the story of a five-year-old girl named Antara. She is born to Anuradha, who had a relationship out of wedlock with Aditya Verma. When Anuradha dies in a car accident, Antara is orphaned, leaving Aditya with the responsibility of taking his illegitimate daughter home to his wife, Vidya, and son, Abhishek, and raising her as a part of his family.

With Antara in their life, things are not the same again for the Verma family. Antara does not behave like a normal child, being unable to express her emotions and living in her own world. To the outside world, she is a daydreamer and slow child. Eventually, Antara is revealed to have autism. Both she and her family are faced with the journey of navigating the world and being accepted by the society Antara is brought up in. Through her story, the show guides people to understand the needs of those with autism and handle them with sensitivity.

The serial greatly contributed to raising awareness in that many became aware of the fact that there was a condition by that name.

DAD ... a film about autism and fatherhood

DAD is a short documentary following the often untold stories of fathers with children on the spectrum. DAD shares the experiences of twelve Aussie dads as they navigate the world of parenting and autism.

Bonus footage and resources at www.dadfilm.com.au

This Is Not About Me

This Is Not About Me is a documentary featuring Jordyn Zimmerman. The film shows the difficulties endured by non-speaking people with autism when they aren’t given appropriate communication options. AssistiveWare is a proud supporting partner of the film. CommunicationFIRST, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, and Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism have partnered to release. 

This Is Not About Me tells the story of Jordyn Zimmerman. Jordyn dreamt of becoming a teacher. She started out eager to learn at school, but she was soon separated from the other children. Unable to communicate, teachers thought she was also unable to understand or learn. Year after year, her behavior worsened. She was restrained and placed in seclusion. Jordyn found herself caught in a system that unintentionally turned her life into a living nightmare. Finally, at the age of 18, with the help of educators who see her differently, she manages to turn her fate and flourish. 

Resonance: An Autistic SciFi Novel by Dora Raymaker


Dora Raymaker’s new novel Resonance revolves around marginalized folks finding their voice and their place in this world—through magical sci-fi lovely weirdness, but still, they find it!

Outrageous and acclaimed, 26th-century musician Caran Watts depends on two secrets to stay alive: a dangerous drug that hides his illegal neurodivergence, and the help of an alien species whose vulnerable existence he has sworn to protect. But when he arrives in the Galilean system to tour his latest work, those secrets are hijacked by a powerful force to advance a genocidal plot. As fear infects Jupiter's moons, Caran must choose whether to keep hiding or risk both his own life and the lives of the aliens in hope of a better future.

Resonance Trailer, Dora Raymaker, 2022

Trailer for my new book

Listen

A short film in which nonspeaking autistic people talk about how nonspeakers are represented in books, theatre, and film. They provide guidance for changing the narrative. Learn more and access transcripts, translations, and a toolkit here.

LISTEN Movie, Communication First, 2021

Here’s how it began:

On December 24, 2020, the musician Sia publicly offered to fund CommunicationFIRST to make an introductory short to her new movie MUSIC. The short was intended to help humanize and spread awareness about real nonspeaking autistic people, who were left out of MUSIC, despite being the subject of the movie. 

In response to this offer, a team of nonspeaking and autistic people brought together by CommunicationFIRST in January 2021 previewed MUSIC in a special closed screening arranged by Sia’s management, and provided feedback and recommendations to Sia on how to improve it. 

However, they received no further response from Sia’s team. 

In early February 2021, CommunicationFIRST decided to move forward to produce a self-funded short by and with real nonspeaking autistic people, and to launch it on February 12, 2021, the release date for MUSIC in the US.

The film LISTEN is the result.

NEWS! On October 3, 2021, LISTEN was awarded the Zukor Award, the top award at the 2021 Astoria Film Festival!

Press Releases:

Advocacy

Raise awareness – help raise awareness by posting about autism acceptance, by educating yourself and the people in your life, by combating the spread of misinformation, and questioning your own biases 

#autismawareness #autismacceptance #redinstead

To find out more visit Autistic Self Advocacy Network or Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network

Inspiring quotes from people with autism

"Our experiences are all unique. Regardless, I do believe that it is important to find the beautiful. Recognize that there is bad, there is ugly, there is disrespect, there is ignorance and there are meltdowns. Those things are inevitable. But there is also good".


"Wanting to be free. Wanting to be me. Trying to make people see. And accept the real me. '"

Everyone has a mountain to climb and autism has not been my mountain, it has been my opportunity for victory.


There is need to raise awareness about people with Autism throughout the world. Some Autism slogans.


Autism speaks. It’s time to listen 

Autism is not a disability, it’s a different ability

I am not trying to be naughty, I am Autistic. Please have patience

Autistic rights are human rights


Some Sayings on Autism.


“People with AUTISM… do not lie, do not judge, do not play mind games. Maybe we can learn something from them.” 


“Schools connect children to their communities. Jobs connect adults to their societies. Persons with autism deserve to walk the same path.” -Ban Ki-moon 


“Children with autism are colorful- they are often beautiful, and like the rainbow, they stand out” -Adele Devine 


The Autism Rights Movement

The autism rights movement, The rainbow-colored infinity symbol is a popular symbol among autistic people and autism rights advocate, symbollising a broad and varied spectrum of experiences. Autism rights advocates believe that the autism spectrum should be accepted as a natural expression of the human genome, and accommodated like any other condition the social model of disability.


Rainbow infinity symbol – it is the preferred symbol of autistic people as it represents the beauty and diversity of their community, use this instead of the puzzle piece. 

Links on Advocacy 

Activists and Organizations in Advocacy and Awareness

AFA  awareness raising activities 

Action for Autism

Action for Autism is one of the oldest organisations working towards providing support for people with autism.The organisation apart from offering facilities like vocational training, educational programmes, sensory intervention, and counselling also organises co-curricular activities like pottery, painting, screening, diagnostic assessments, and self-advocacy programmes. Action for Autism also works with government initiatives such as Sarva Siksha Abhiyan. They provide inputs on aspects like faculty training, research, formulation of curriculum, and development of teaching aids.   

Autistic Self Advocacy Network

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement with regard to autism. ASAN believes that the goal of autism advocacy should be a world in which autistic people enjoy equal access, rights, and opportunities. We work to empower autistic people across the world to take control of our own lives and the future of our common community, and seek to organize the autistic community to ensure our voices are heard in the national conversation about us. Nothing About Us, Without Us! 

CapSarathi

CapSarathi is a joint initiative by Capgemini and Sarthak Educational Trust.

It aims at reaching to every nook and cranny across India and providing information, services and support to people with disability (PwD) at a click.

Target beneficiary - The app is directed towards providing support and services to people with disability. For the purpose of capturing their needs and extending information & services support beneficiaries are categorized under 6 age groups, 0-5 years, 6-11 years, 12-17 years, 18-35 years, 36-50 years and 51 years & above.

Outreach of PwDs -

It is conducted at two levels. Initially the user creates and completes his profile filling in his/her basic details in an online form. And, then the Sarthak team connects with the user and would capture his/her needs and requirements based on one to one interaction and capture their responses on predefined items based on age groups.

Services

https://youtu.be/22PjRFV_bwk

Movies on Autism

This Is Not About Me shows the difficulties endured by non-speaking people with autism when they aren’t given appropriate communication options. Partners: AssistiveWare, CommunicationFIRST, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, and Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism 

Listen is a short film in which nonspeaking autistic people talk about how nonspeakers are represented in books, theatre, and film. They provide guidance for changing the narrative. 

On October 3, 2021, LISTEN was awarded the Zukor Award, the top award at the 2021 Astoria Film Festival!

CommunicationFIRST

Access. Opportunity. Justice.

CommunicationFIRST advocates to ensure every person has the support they need to express themselves effectively - and to be heard. 


Mission

To protect and advance the rights, autonomy, opportunity, and dignity of people with speech-related disabilities through public engagement, policy and practice change, and systemic advocacy.


Vision

Every person with a speech-related disability will have what they need at all times to communicate effectively, to be fully included in their community, and to be free from abuse.


Activities

Methodology

https://youtu.be/vZ2JMmQ5Nig

Autism Day initiative brings together artists & children on one platform to promote inclusion

15 leading artists mentored small groups of children as they gave expression to their vision of inclusion on canvas.

The occasion was a unique art initiative organized on World Autism Awareness Day in Mumbai. The theme of the two-hour-long event organized by Jai Vakeel Foundation & Research Centre was To a more inclusive world we remain committed.

Jai Vakeel Foundation & Research Centre, India’s oldest and largest non-profit, has been working to empower people with intellectual disabilities. for 75 years. The unique initiative brought together six prominent Mumbai schools — Cathedral & John Cannon, Bombay International, Dhirubhai Ambani International school, Ascend International, Jamnabai Narsee International and JB Petit. . Children from these schools have interactions on a regular basis with the children at Jai Vakeel as part of a community integration program started four years ago.

Each artist mentored a small group of children to create their individual piece on a single canvas, with all 75 pieces finally merging to form one final work of art.

Voice of SAP 

Voice of SAP is an Actionable Advocacy mobile App for Empowering Specially Abled People i.e. Persons with Disabilities. It allows for crowd sourced data on accessibility, pledges of their leaders and community members, solutions, issues news on disability etc. Volunteers can upload building accessibility information which is then available in the mobile app on Google map so persons with disabilities can plan accordingly as where they can go with wheelchair. Volunteers can share the information on social media and promote accessibility related awareness. 

Download the mobile app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vosap&hl=en

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/voice-of-sap-vosap/id1265835335?ls=1&mt=8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLHXWc9Ns1E

VOSAP Ignite

VOSAP Research Internship (VRI) program, VOSAP Ignite is designed to encourage young students to volunteer and strengthen the VOSAP mission of helping and promoting the empowerment of Specially Abled People.

25 motivated and compassionate students who are currently studying in 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade are selected after 2 months of a rigorous process of applications, screening, and selection for the Ignite program across High Schools of North America for 9 months of intensive volunteering program.

It will help encourage students to learn about disability, build a network, volunteer, and promote empathy and sensitivity in students towards Persons with disabilities and to nurture virtue of ‘Individual Social Responsibility

Selected students who are US citizens or Permanent residents are eligible for receiving the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) under the VOSAP volunteering program. 

If you would like to learn more about the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA), visit the link 

https://www.voiceofsap.org/pvsa/

Autistic Kids enjoying in Cruise Boat on 'World Autism Day' in Bhopal. 

ASDetect

ASDetect guides parents through the assessment questions using specially produced videos. There are videos of both autistic and non-autistic children. Each one shows a development milestone, and some questions also have activities that you can do with your child to help you answer the question.The Users “If we had ASDetect when our eldest son was an infant we would have easily identified that he has ASD. The videos make it very clear.”

ASDetect is a free app that empowers parents to assess their young children for early signs of autism.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.edu.latrobe.asdetect

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/asdetect/id1058669141?ls=1&mt=8

https://youtu.be/OSL7RyjRIwI

Sugamya Bharat App

Sugamya Bharat App: Recently the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the Sugamya Bharat app virtually. The application has been launched with features to enhance the environment and accessibility-related issues of disabled people.  Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD).Provision of uploading the geotagged picture of the available infrastructure Integration of Accessibility features enabling Divyangjan to hassle-free navigation .Accessible India' mobile application has been launched with a vision to create an inclusive barrier free environment by identifying the gaps and facilitate their remedial by concerned authorities. The application is intended to crowdsource the issues and possible solutions related to accessibility from citizens. The application is also intended to register appreciation from public to identify best practices in creating barrier free infrastructure. 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.geostat.sugamyabharatMOH

Divyang Sarathi Application

https://youtu.be/BPHTXzAlBlo

Divyang Sarathi APP

Divyang Sarathi is a one-stop destination for all information regarding Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan). It provides details about various Indian laws, local rules and regulations, guidelines, government schemes and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The app also has a text-to-voice conversion software that converts written information into an audio file.

In 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that people with disability should not be called ‘viklang’ which translates to disability. He coined the term ‘divyangjan’ for the disabled, which means ‘the divine’. He also renamed the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities as the 'Divyangjan Sashaktikaran Vibhag' in Hindi.

WATCH AAC IN ACTION

There are examples in TV and movies of people using AAC that the disability community has universally panned, but fortunately there are also some authentic portrayals. One of the best ways to learn more about people with disabilities is to hear directly from them or interact with media heavily influenced by their voice. Here are a few movies and short films to get you started.

Barfi

In the film, Priyanka Chopra plays the part of Jhilmil, a young autistic girl with autism. To prepare for the role, Priyanka studied children with autism and their behavior thoroughly. She was appreciated for her efforts and was approached by the Forum of Autism (FFA) to become the face of the organization.

Yuuvraj

Anil Kapoor’s character in the 2008 movie Yuuvraj is supposed to have He plays a musical genius Gyanesh in the movie who. The movie is loosely based on the Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman starrer Rain Man, where the latter plays the role of a genius with autism.

My Name is Khan

Shah Rukh Khan’s character in this film is said to have Asperger’s syndrome and not autism. Asperger’s syndrome is considered a part of Autism Spectrum Disorder. It’s a milder form of autism. SRKS plays the role of Rizwan Khan, a man who has impaired social skills, but with a special ability to repair things.

Taare Zameen Par: With ‘perfectionist’ Aamir Khan and child actor Darsheel Safari, the movie highlighted some really difficult events in the life of a child. His journey, struggle and fight to overcome the grave difficulties is depicted beautifully in the movie. 

Listen 

Listen (2021): A short film made by and with nonspeaking autistic people.Link -https://youtu.be/H7dca7U7GI8

Loop

Loop (2020): A short film by Pixar and Disney highlights Renee, a nonspeaking autistic girl who makes friends with Marcus, a speaking boy, when the two go canoeing together at camp.Link https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FY4Sf_cA41tA&sa=D

Thasya 

Thasya (2012): This powerful short film is a profile of Thasya Lumingkewas, an 8-year-old autistic girl.Link -https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F43931633&sa=D

Carr Brackett

Carr Brackett (2008): In this short film, Carr, a young man with Down syndrome, uses his AAC to support his communication needs in a general education classroom. Link -https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FIGKS95G4ynM&sa=D

Autism Advocacy, a website

Up with an invisible disability like autism was not easy for Delhi youngster Rudraaksh Karthick. Over time he realised these attitudes come from a basic lack of awareness. This led him to start what could be India’s first website by a person with autism that seeks to bust the myths about the condition.He made a presentation on autism awareness in school. The response triggered Rudraaksh’s advocacy journey. He decided to do everything in his power to spread awareness and launched Autism Advocacy, a website dedicated to invisible disabilities. 

Self-advocacy, or the ability to speak on behalf of oneself, is a critical skill to acquire as one moves towards independence. Rudraaksh Karthick’s journey as self-advocate started when he was in school. He was diagnosed with autism at age six, and growing up with a condition of which there is such little awareness, made him aware of the need to find ways of explaining it to classmates.

Rudraaksh hopes the website will also encourage people to be more open about their disability because “the more we try to hide our issues thinking it as a stigma, the lesser the opportunities for an open discussion on the means to make life better for all of us as a community”. 

Autism self advocate Rudraaksh Karthick starts website to spread awareness about invisible disabilitY

https://youtu.be/sWB2uNrbFLc

These organisations in India are spreading awareness and understanding about autism

The term “autism” appeared in Indian literature for the first time in 1959. This was followed by a series of other publications on the disorder through the 1960s. Back then, there was very limited knowledge about autism among people at large. During the early 1980s, the level of awareness about autism grew gradually in the medical fraternity. From then on, the disorder has experienced an intense period of activity compared to the previous decades. Gradually, the support system in areas such as diagnosis, access to education, parental involvement, vocational options, and legislation gained traction.

Tanay Foundation

The Foundation offers a slew of support services for autistic children, including counselling sessions, early communication intervention, vocational training, and activity-based learning modules for children.  Since parents tend to spend a considerable amount of time with their kids, they need to be well-trained to deal with them 

Sunrise Learning

Parent Empowerment Program both physical and online.They training, education and support services to differently-abled people and their families.  Every autistic person has some dash of genius in them”. And only the parent of the child can feel and explore that.Provides Homeschooling

http://www.sunriselearning.in/parent-training/

Autism Centre for Excellence

ACE aims to impart communication, academic, self-help and social skills through Applied Behavioural Analysis, a scientifically validated approach based on some of the principles of behaviour. ACE conducts self-help sessions, occupational therapy programs, train people affected with autism to hone their academic and social skills. We have our very own campus consisting of classrooms, therapy spaces, and play areas. Parents tend to undergo a lot of stress in terms of dealing with their children affected with autism, Hence, we have given the parents access to a huge repository of content detailing the symptoms and treatment of the disorder, 

Being autistic, you might come across more challenges than others around you, such as dealing with ableism, discrimination in employment or difficulties in your relationships. Learning to successfully self-advocate will help you to build confidence, strengthen your relationships and ensure your needs are met.Written by two autistic activists, this book will give you the tools and strategies to advocate for yourself in any situation. 

https://www.amazon.in/Autism-Neurodiversity-Self-Advocacy-Handbook-ebook/dp/B09J75VFFW

ALFAA

Ruby Singh started ALFAA in Bengaluru in 2009 to create good living conditions and vocational opportunities for adults with autism. The organisation offers daycare and residential facilities When autistic children grow up, their parents become too old to take care of them. In such circumstances, they tend to feel ignored and dejected. I did not want anybody to face such a situation, which is why I started ALFAA. While there are many schools supporting autistic children in India, there are very few initiatives that cater to adults with autism, 

Action For Autism, National Centre for Autism

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

A not-for-profit organisation that is recognised as a center of excellence, Action for Autism has grown steadily over the years in reaching out and providing services to thousands of people with Autism and their families across the country and world. We could not have done it without the help of our many volunteers and friends who have generously helped us over the years with their creativity, energy, enthusiasm and resources. However, given that there are an estimated 18 million individuals with ASD in the country, there is still an enormous amount of work to be done.

We at AFA value your help, support and love. There are many ways to get involved with us.

DONATE MONEY

DONATE MATERIALS

DONATE TIME

PARTICIPATE IN OTHER WAYS


#MoveToInclude.

Learn Autism, the world’s digital Autism resource is launching its services in India. The platform which provides information about Autism to support parents with children on the spectrum is expanding its footprint to India just before Autism Awareness Month, which commences in April. 

To commemorate this important occasion, the platform is launching a social media campaign #MoveToInclude. The premise of the campaign is that while there have been some conversations about Autism in India by way of mass media, movies, etc, the awareness levels and therefore inclusion, still remain low. Through its #MoveToInclude campaign, Learn Autism will encourage inclusion in several ways. As per research titled “Autism Spectrum Disorder - An Indian Perspective”, about three million people live with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on the Indian subcontinent.

The campaign will lend a voice to everyone who is part of the Autism community – Autistic individuals, employers, parents, educators and healthcare professionals including doctors and therapists – to celebrate their role in promoting inclusion. People from around the world who are connected to Autism have been asked to create short videos while elaborating on what Autism inclusion means to them and the difference it can make to so many families globally. Learn Autism is also encouraging the public to share their videos as a part of the campaign.  

AUTISM SOCIETY OF INDIA was founded by a team of parents and professionals in May 2006.

We have around more than 800 members across india.

Advocacy for inclusion of Autism as a disability in the PWD Act of 1995 is the major goal of ASI.

The aim of AUTISM SOCIETY OF INDIA, is to function as a NATIONAL body for concerted action on all matters relating to persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families.The objectives are aimed at improving the quality of life of individuals with ASD by securing for them all fundamental rights as enjoyed by all citizens under the Constitution of India. This includes provision of remedial, educational, training, employment, respite, residential, welfare and social security services, as well as legal rights and protection.

The Autism Society Of India will:

Be an independent and strong voice of the autism (ASD) community across India

Advocate to secure adequate representation in policymaking and implementing bodies of the Central and State Governments and local level bodies.

Advocate for legal rights and protection of persons with Autism Spectrum disorders

Advocate for education (special and inclusive) together with social rights of persons with Autism Spectrum disorders

Form a common bond of understanding, cooperation and action among professionals , parents and families, affected by the challenges of ASD as well as organisations working in the area of intellectual / developmental disabilities at the national and international level.

Promote awareness and sensitization in the community as well as in medical, legal, educational and other related fields through awareness and training programs

In India, cases of autism have been rising. Currently, 10 million people in India are living with autism spectrum disorder.

However, awareness about autism spectrum disorder is very low. Most people’s understanding of the disorder is rather limited. Many Bollywood films have tried to create awareness by exploring the topic in films. Here are three movies that have depicted autism.Bollywood has played a big role in creating awareness about rare disorders in recent years, such as Tourette syndrome and cerebral palsy through Hichki and Margarita with a Straw. Given the influence it has on people, more movies about disorders such as autism will help focus attention on this serious topic and create more awareness about autism in India.

Mitra For LifeJayanagar, Bangalore+91-97400 93408info@mitraforlife.org

Mitra for Life

Mitra for Life is a non-profit organization supported by a growing team of volunteers, passionate about making a difference in the autism and special needs community. 

Mission / Goals


For more details check Mitra for Life in NGO in India page.


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