Autism Awareness Month

Acceptance Actions

Dear Friends,

Getting back after a month’s break but with wonderful news updates of Autism acceptance events which will liven you up.

I had been interacting with The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi to take up events for the Autism Awareness week in April as mandated by the United Nations. This conversation began in 2020 but then the pandemic intervened. This year the week long event (April 2-8) has rolled out in full bloom, with great participation from autistic learners, parents, art college students, curators, art therapists, special educators and government functionaries. Autistic children and young adults painted and drew as they liked on site. Their submitted works were also put on Special Display in the main hall of the administrative block. A Big Thank You & hurrahs from the Autism community to DG-NGMA, Adwaita Gadnayak for his exemplary leadership for Inclusion. NGMA Mumbai also organised a week-long program consisting of workshops and art displays.

Sharing here the links of visuals and footage for the readers to enjoy the spirit of the events.

National Gallery of Modern Art New Delhi @ngma_delhi

#NGMA में चल रहे #WorldAutismAwarenessDay कार्यक्रम के तीसरे दिन बच्चों ने अपनी चित्रकारी से रंग बिखेरे। #AutismAcceptanceweek #Delhimuseums #Inclusivity #neurodiversity #art @MinOfCultureGoI @kishanreddybjp @M_Lekhi @arjunrammeghwal @AmritMahotsav @ADWAITAGADANAY2

NGMA, New Delhi, Art Display

NGMA Mumbai @mumbai_ngma

The NGMA (M), MoC, GoI, organises a painting workshop “Antarmukhi Rang” on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day on 4th April 2022. @MinOfCultureGoI, @krishnareddybjp @M_Lekhi @arjunrammeghwal @GOVINDMOHAN #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav #AdwaitaGadanayak #NGMA #AutismAwareness

NGMA, Mumbai

I was there at the New Delhi event with my son.

Suhrid @SuhridSD

#SpecialDisplay: Thank you 🙏 DG-NGMA Sir, for Autism Acceptance. My work on the wall. Me with MA & Aunt Lucy (Divya Prabha) @ADWAITAGADANAY2 @smritiirani @PMOIndia @dpradhanbjp @Drvirendrakum13 @kishanreddybjp

Suhrid@NGMA

The National Council of Educational Research & Training (NCERT) also organised a half-day symposium in New Delhi on April 2, 2022. The program held online had Specialists and Parents as Speakers. It focussed on four themes: (i) Knowing the Child with Autism (ii) Teaching the Child with Autism (iii) Parenting a Child with Autism (iv) Technology as Enabler. The meet was very well attended as more than a 1000 people had logged in from different destinations. I spoke at this event from the parenting perspective.

Also The Indian Express Published my Column that highlighted three policy tasks before government. The column titled, ‘Joining the Dots on Autism’ appeared both in print and online editions on April 2. Please do read and share.

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/we-need-to-talk-about-autism-7848698/

Join the Good Cause. Lend your voice and hearts to the Autism Awareness & Acceptance Camapign.

See you soon. My Next column is on the Five Theories of Autism & what they can do for Intervention Planning. Don’t miss it.