Autism India Network is a platform to discuss about Early Intervention and the different approaches in managing and training the children affected with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Occupational Therapy, Sensory Integration, Speech Language Pathology, Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Psychiatry, Developmental Disability, GFCF Diet, Bio-medical intervention, Ayurveda, Homeo and non-conventional treatments, different methodologies like ABA, VBA and TEACCH and new researches in different fields, with specific relation to Autism in India can be discussed here. One of the very important objectives of forming of this e-group is to guide parents of kids, newly diagnosed / doubted to have autistic features with advices, and helping to locate and identify the resources at the respective locations in India.

Two years ago, when I discussed my plans of starting an India-specific Autism related E-mail group, the professionals and parents from many Non-Governmental Organizations and parent support groups from different parts of India had shown keen interest in my endeavor. So, I voluntarily started this India-specific e-mail group in Dec. 2003 and named it Autism India Network.

It is my personal endeavor to unite all the interested persons in India and abroad -students, professionals as well as the parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders under this network, so that topics and subjects relevant to Autism in India can be discussed and the information can be shared among its members through e-mails.

With nearly a thousand parent, professional and student members, spread across the length and breadth of India, and even a few of us from abroad, our group is the largest and most lively Autism-specific, and probably any disability-specific, Indian e-group on the cyber world today.

My vision

I have a vision on this e-mail group in future, as seen probably, in the wish-full dreams of many persons in India.  It is me and you -the honorable members, who have to strive to make it happen, -not for the benefit of any one of us, but for the ultimate benefit of hundreds, or even thousands of parents and children, fighting the devil of Autism in India. Let us strive to make it a winning battle, rather than being mute spectators to this irony.

(1) Like many other parents, I too wished to have an e-mail discussion group/ an internet resource centre, where the members can share the information regarding the new developments in the field of diagnosis, early intervention and treatment /management of children with Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder. The members are encouraged to discuss and share the information and knowledge and thus, making the group more lively and informative. I believe, an open interaction between professionals and parents is required to serve the very purpose of forming such e-groups.

(2) Together with the task of spreading the awareness and answering the queries of parents and students, it must also help share the knowledge, news and information regarding the latest findings in the areas of research, so that it will help augment the knowledge of the professionals, students and to a certain extent, to the parents.

(3) I wished to have a place, somewhere in the cyber world, where we can share the news about the events, programs, courses, etc. specific to the locations in India.

(4) Information regarding the non-conventional therapies are also be included.

(5) The relevant portions from the Newsletters of different organizations and institutions of India, working in the field of Autism awareness or intervention also can be reproduced in this e-mail group. While allowing the news and information from such organizations, we should restrict any advertisement/ profit motive and/ or mutual competition among the organizations/ institutions, which are following different approaches.

(6) To set up a panel of (professional/ experienced parent /counselor) volunteers in each city/zone/state of India, who can be contacted by those require guidance and support. Such a database can be made available at the website, but with the prior approval of the concerned personnel.

(7) The setting up of a panel of expert professionals in the fields of Speech Language Pathology, Child Psychiatry, Psychology, Special Education, Sensory Integration, Occupational Therapy as well as some experienced parents, to involve in answering the questions of the members are to be considered.

(8) If any professionals/ experienced parents /counselors/ experts can come forward or made to agree, we can start a weekly or monthly column in any particular subject of relevance. I welcome your valuable inputs.

(9) As a parent, I have observed that in India too, a number of professionals and targeted organizations are working very hard in the respective regional areas, to help the special kids, lead better tomorrows. But, there is neither any umbrella organizational set up nor any single source of information in India, from where the parents of newly diagnosed / non-diagnosed autistic kids can get all the relevant information available across the length and breadth of the country, to choose the preferred options. So, in this era of Internet, a consolidated database of the resources available in different cities of India can also be maintained on the net, so that the parents of the hapless kids can utilize the information. For setting up this database, the help of all the organizations and professionals working in this field in India are needed. To start with, the information regarding the Autism-related facilities available in Bangalore and Mumbai are already made available for downloading, at the group website. Parent support groups/ parents from other cities may please send me whatever such data available with them. Even if such a data is not complete in all respects, it will help me in compiling the database.

(10) Recently ‘Autism India Career Line’ is launched. It helps the professionals and experienced parents, who wish to find suitable placements to serve the Autism community in different cities of India, and even abroad. Those who are interested may send-in their CV’s and other details to AutismIndia@Gmail.com. Those institutions, organizations or individuals who are looking for their services, may also contact the same address with the details of their offer / vacancy available. (For details on Autism India Career Line, please check the page, ‘Career Line’

(11) Last but not least, the time and energy of a group of resourceful persons are also needed to transform all these dreams into reality. Considering the scope and the resulting help and benefit it will impart to the thousands of kids and parents of our country, I hope, some of the parents as well as the professionals will come forward to help me in this time-consuming and a bit tedious task.

I understand that many of you will have similar dreams and aspirations on how this group can be improved further. Please express your opinions /suggestions in this regard, to the group e-mail address of AutismIndia@yahoogroups.co.in.  While sending mails to the group, if you wish, you may specifically request to keep your name and/ or e-mail address hidden. In case you do not wish to express your concern or point of view in public, you may send them to AutismIndia@Gmail.com

Reaching out 

You must be having many friends, colleagues, students or parents of children with Autism, who would like to be associated with us. Please forward this e-mail to them or make printouts and distribute, or even put on the notice boards of your organization or institution for the benefit of others. You can do them a favor, by sending me their e-mail addresses, so that I can introduce this e-mail group and invite them also, to be a part of this AutismIndia family.

I wish and pray that all your presence in this group will make it more meaningful and livelier. Please come-up with ideas/ suggestions or share your own experiences and thoughts on Autism related subjects. Articles, messages, informative resource links from the net, humours, poems, -anything with quality and substance, related to Autism in India are welcome. Please send them to AutismIndia@yahoogroups.co.in Let us jointly strive to work towards our common goal of helping our children -in one way or the other.

In case you need more information, please contact AutismIndia@Gmail.com