On World Autism Day, we look at some of the special schools and non-profit organisations across the country working to create awareness about autism and increase the understanding of the need for early intervention.

World Autism Day is observed on April 2 to raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A developmental disorder, autism is characterised by poor social interaction and unusual or repetitive behaviour. Currently, one in 500 people are diagnosed with autism in India, which translates to 0.2 percent of the population, or 21.6 lakh individuals according to the Rehabilitation Council of India.

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.

Making lives better, one step at a time

The first exclusive school for autism-affected youth, called Open Door, was established in 1994. In the late 1990s, 15 such schools sprung up across the country, with an enrollment ranging from 15-70 students in each, according to a report published by the Rehabilitation Council of India.

In the year 1991, some of the parents of children affected with autism started the Action for Autism (AFA) initiative to support people affected with the disorder. By the turn of the century, quite a few organisations as well as a schools began opening up across the country, like Asha, Ashiana, Communication DEALL, Development Centre for Exceptional Children, Priyanj, and We Can. Today, this number has increased even further.

At present, there are more than 40 organisations, special schools, parent support groups, and speech as well as behavioral therapy centres to help people affected with autism.

We take a look at what some of these organisations offer

Source: These organisations in India are spreading awareness and understanding about autism, 2019

Aarambh’s mission is to provide quality education to the autistic children and adults. Using advanced therapies and holistic approach, the organization is not only helping kids and adults fight ASD but also counselling their families.

Academy for Severe Handicaps and Autism provides education along with a comprehensive set of therapies to individuals with autism spectrum disorders. In over two decades, ASHA has evolved and developed capabilities and expertise to address the different needs  

This day-school provides training and education to children with special needs. It aims at creating world-class learning environment for people with ASD. ASHA focuses on utilizing a child’s potential by providing him or her with assistance, training and support.

This organization works with autistic kids and focuses on early intervention. They aim at improving communication, cognitive skills, social skills and also enhance the attention span of the kids. Through music therapy, play therapy, special education, hydrotherapy and many other types of training, Adarsh Charitable Trust is trying to bring a significant change in autistic kids. 

AIKYA helps to promote the welfare and interests of children with Autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome and specific learning disabilities. To improve the support these children receive, AIKYA provides a wide range of materials for teachers, parents and others who work with children with special needs. We hope this blog will be a valuable resource for parents, schools, teachers, and professionals. 

The focus of Amrit’s work is presently on children with intellectual and developmental challenges. Our flagship programme – The Little Peepul Tree – aims to create a level playing field for children with intellectual and development disability, giving everyone a chance to succeed. We do this by creating new knowledge, sharing critical resources and building networks of support for people with challenges and their caregivers. We specifically focus on Autism 

Deliver measurable outcomes for children with developmental delays and special needs through integration of specialist therapies, parent support & training. Autism therapy uses right combination of Speech & language, Occupational therapy + play & Behaviour/ABA therapy

Speech Therapy

Our Speech-Language Pathologists are trained to work with children with a variety of childhood developmental delays and disorders

Behaviour Therapy

The therapists at Ananya work closely with parents. Our methods help parents learn to create structure, reinforce good behaviour

Arvind Foundation is a charitable organization for special needs children (children with cerebral palsy, Autism, ADHD, ADD, Arvind Foundation is a charitable organisation with the sole aim of providing equal opportunities and bringing in independent, comprehensive and curative education to underprivileged children with special needs. This includes children challenged with cerebral palsy, Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Down’s syndrome, dyslexia and a number of other neurological disorders.

By educating individuals with special needs or different abilities, equipping them with life skills and training them to be as independent as possible, the foundation is bringing them closer to a meaningful and respectful adulthood. From a humble beginning of caring for two children, today they have six day-care centres

https://arvindfoundation.org/

This is one of the best organizations in Assam working in the field of autism. They focus on spreading awareness of developmental disabilities and the methods of rehabilitation. AAF has a Day Care Centre, Community Awareness activities, Research Works, Swashroy Project dealing with paper products and Speech and Communication Development Centre.

ALFAA is Assisted Living for Autistic Adults. The primary objective of ALFAA is to create good quality living conditions and related facilities for adults with Autism in India.

Autism Centre for Excellence

Autism Centre for Excellence (ACE) was launched in Gurugram in 2014 by Archana Nayar and Sameer Nayar, after they perceived a gap in early intervention for people with autism.

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, as well as fun activities like cycling, football, and relay for 35 autistic children and adults on a daily basis.

“We 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,” explains Archana, Director of ACE. 

CFA SOCIETY

An Organization formed in 2009 by two Educationists with a vision to work towards providing holistic care for everyone affected with Autism, be it families, educators and professionals. Care4Autism Society is a non-profit centre for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Centre's primary mission is to provide children with autism an intensive comprehensive educational program based on the scientifically validated procedures

To provide families with effective skills and intervention strategies for other environments (e.g., home, community, relatives homes, etc.) is also an integral part of our program. We recognize that this type of involvement is essential, not only for family happiness, but also to achieve the most positive outcome for the child. 

ASAP, a non profit organization was started to help families and children on the Autism spectrum. They offer a large number of services including Psychological Assessments & Diagnosis, Early Intervention, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Behaviour Modification, Sensory Integration, Music Therapy, Group Therapy, etc.

Started in 2009, this centre focuses on providing intensive comprehensive educational program based on the scientifically validated procedures. They also involve parents, families, educators, professionals in creating awareness about Autism and provide a common platform to share information.

Several locations across India

It is an early intervention program that addresses the needs of autistic children through intensive early intervention. The team works with the children for three hours a day, five days a week, helping them to bridge the gaps in their development.

DEALL units are also located at different parts of Karnataka (Bangalore, Belagaum), Kerala  (Kottyam),  Madhya Pradesh (Gwalior, Jabalpur), Maharashtra (Mumbai), Punjab​​ (Ludhiana), Puducherry, Gujarat (Bhuj), Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi, Lucknow), Jharkhand (Ranchi), Assam (Guwahati), Kolkata (West Bengal), and Hyderabad (Telangana) 

Darpan school is providing holistic development to autistic kids. From assessment and diagnosis to speech and occupational therapy and even parents counselling, Darpan is covering many grounds.

Disha Autism Centre is the first and the foremost institution in Gujarat which started providing all the therapies and services to the children with Autism and other developmental disabilities under one roof by a team of extremely committed, qualified, trained and certified professionals using evidence based practices, world class curriculum and customized Apps for learning every skill. Skill Development helps beneficiaries to develop requisite skills to become employable.

Centre for Child Development

Through their early intervention programme, group therapies, physical training and pre-vocational training, The Janey Centre is catering to the needs of children with special needs in amazing ways. Their aim is to rehabilitate autistic children as productive members of the society.

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. We are committed to improving the quality of life of children and young adults with intellectual and neurodevelopmental challenges. We help build and nurture social relationships in their lives that make them happier, independent and more confident.

Mission / Goals

• We strive to increase awareness amongst neurotypicals about autism and its related challenges. We believe the best way to do this is by bringing both groups together, where they can learn from and inspire each other.

• Self-advocacy plays a huge role in helping people on the autism spectrum deal with day-to-day situations as well as larger life decisions. We guide our participants on ways they can advocate for themselves, that help them navigate their lives with more ease and confidence.

• We envision a future where people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are successfully and seamlessly integrated into the society and its institutions - schools, colleges, workplaces and social communities.

What we do 

• We do our best to add joy and meaning to the lives of children and young adults on the autism spectrum. And their primary caregivers - parents, siblings and other close family members or friends. We provide opportunities and introduce experiences that help them connect better with the world around them.

The Mitra academy for performing Arts

At Mitra for life, we believe that Indian Classical Music and Dance can be tools for Cultural Inclusion and Individual Transformation.

​Vision

• To use Indian classical music and dance as a means to improve the lives of children and persons with disabilities.

• To nurture special talents and provide a platform to showcase them.

• To create opportunities to turn talent into a vocation.

• To support parents and families to explore the performing arts for their children.

• To enable talented artists to be recognised and applauded for their abilities and not their disabilities

Two ladies from the US, living in India, connected on a social networking website and started a not-for-profit organization aimed at improving lives of children with special needs through yoga. Prafull Oorja has collaborated with various schools and organizations where they teach Yoga. They organize two weekly yoga classes for about 50 special needs’ children at Tamahar Trust for Children with Special Needs. Classes include asana, pranayama, mantra, mudra and meditation, depending on the children’s physical and emotional levels.

Read about them in an article on The Better India.

Using various special techniques like audio visual tools, picture communication, behavioural and social skills, Prasanna aims at bringing special education one step closer to autistic children. They also make the kids self dependent and provide them vocational skills.

Bengaluru  Sampoorna Music Therapy Center for children with autism, a project of Kilikili Trust, is located in Bangalore and endeavours to use Indian music as a therapeutic intervention to help children on the autism spectrum develop skills and abilities which they need to functionally adapt to their environment, and thus become more of who they truly are. The focus is to develop skills in social, emotional, motor and cognitive areas for children on ASD through a structured, consistent, eclectic and long-term music intervention program 

Autism Centre is Rajasthan’s first rehabilitate and research centre for autistic individuals, Separate centres - at  SNM  special school - are run by a multi - disciplinary team which consists of the social worker, psychiatrist, clinical Psychologists, counselor, special educator, speech therapist, occupational therapist and the physiotherapist.

The services provided are :-

• Early developmental assessment of infants and toddlers. Intellectual assessment of children from 2 to 18 years.

• Hearing, speech and language assessments. Assessments of communication abilities of people with autism.

• Functional and academic skills assessment. Individual program planning according to each child's abilities and potentials.

• Outreach and home based programs for outstation and distantly located children.

SAI Connections is an autism awareness and работа в москве training centre constantly working towards empowering individuals with autism spectrum disorder to live more purposeful and fulfilling lives. We also empower parents and siblings of affected jobitel com individuals to enjoy more wholesome family lives.

For over a decade, we have helped parents understand what autism is, and provided high quality international education to children and individuals on the autism spectrum. The encouraging results and optimism in all individuals and guardians after completing the training is the force that continues to drive us.

SAI Connections educates individuals with autism spectrum disorder to develop their strengths, adjust to their surroundings, and live more fulfilling lives. We also conduct training programs for parents and families of affected children to understand the child better and help him/her progress accordingly. We uniquely treat autism spectrum disorder (and all its forms like Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS and more) by remediating the core deficits and co-occurring conditions accompanying autism.

Tanay Foundation was started with an objective to provide world-class education and training to autistic kids. They also provide pre-vocational and vocational training to children. With experienced staff who conduct exercises and  provide speech and occupational therapy to the kids, the foundation is trying to make life better for autistic children.At Tanay Foundation, we empathize with your kid and adopt a collaborative approach to develop basic and advanced life skills so that he/she can lead a normal life. 

A new program in Chennai is enabling differently-abled children and children with special needs to experience the joys of music, dance and other art forms in a comfortable and non-invasive environment. With performances from stellar artists, this organization aims at including these children in the cultural space that is largely denied to them due to their peculiarities, and allowing them to immerse themselves in the therapeutic effects of creative arts.

Utkarsh is a special needs school for kids with ASD, ID, CP and other disabilities and offers services to kids from the age of 3 years onwards. Experienced occupational therapists, Speech therapists, Special Educators and Yoga instructors work together to guide the kids with autism to attain their potential.

A school and home for children and adults with special needs, Vasantham, since its inception in 1989, has empowered thousands of such individuals and their families. Services such as Special Education, communication therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, vocational training, yoga, dance, music, play and several activities are provided based on every student’s interest and needs.

Vasantham runs predominantly through support from several well-wishers and organisations. It continues to also raise awareness and sensitise the general public about developmental disorders. 

The main aim of the program is to train children on the autism spectrum through behaviour management and structured teaching. 

Services Provided

• Assessment / Evaluation

• Infant stimulation

• Early Intervention

• Sensory Integration

• Speech and communication

• Special education

• Occupational Exercises – Techniques

• Behaviour modification

• Remedy and Management

• Counselling for the Child and the Parents

• Home management programme for parents

• Normal education

• Vocational training for appropriate age group

Founded with a belief that children with autism can learn many things if taught properly, We CAN is a resource centre providing services based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to children with ASD. Through early intervention, life sills, speech training, occupational therapy, pre-vocational training and even parents counselling, this organization is playing an active role in reaching out to autistic kids.