We are Action for Autism (AFA): the pioneering, national and non-profit autism society of India. We provide support and services to persons with autism and those who work with them in South Asia. Founded in 1991, we are a parent organisation that works from legal, medical, and educational perspectives to "put autism on the Indian map." We are an Indian organisation, and our efforts are focused on the needs of those in India. At the same time, we enjoy working with autism organisations worldwide to share information, resources and assist families and children at a global level, and look forward to continuing our contact with families and professionals worldwide. To more effectively orchestrate services for the thousands of people with autism in India, we relocated to the AFA National Centre for Advocacy Research and Training in 2006.

Welcome to our website, and we hope you will enjoy learning more about autism in India and the services available through Action for Autism. We look forward to your comments, questions, and feedback.

Our Vision:
A society that views the interdependence of people of every ability
as valuable and enriching and seeks to provide equal opportunities for all.

Our Mission:
To facilitate a barrier free environment; to empower families of persons with autism,
and to act as a catalyst for change that will enable persons with autism
to live as fully participating members of the community.

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Find out how you can help the autism movement in India!

CURRENT EVENTS AND NEWS Positions at Open Door, Action For Autism Open Door is a day program that serves as a model school for children with autism. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals with high energy and creativity, and willing to take responsibility, as well as learn and grow on the job. Positions are available for Special Educators and Classroom Assistants. Individuals with Diploma in Autism or equivalent training in Autism will be considered for the post of Special Educators. Classroom Assistants with Diploma in Special Education in other fields too will be considered. The selected candidate/candidates will work from 8:45 am to 4:30 pm, five days a week as well as on second Saturdays of every month. Interested candidates can submit their applications along with their CVs to Action For Autism Pkt 7 & 8 Jasola Vihar New Delhi 110025. Please mark envelopes 'SEN Open Door'. Or they may email their applications to <positions.afa@gmail.com>. April 2008 issue of Autism Network Now Available Bengali Handbook on Autism: Education of Children and Young People with Autism Autistic Shishu O Tarunder Shikkha- A Bengali translation of the well-known book by Rita Jordan, Ph.D. has been translated by Prof. Shirshendu Chakrabarti. The manual is intended for parents, teachers, professionals, and community workers, with the aim of deepening knowledge and understanding of aspects of Autism such as developing social skills, communication, encouraging flexibility in thinking & managing behaviour, managing emotions and developing life & leisure skills and experiences. This manual also covers organizational aspects, which develop insight about the development of educational services for children with autism. For more information, click here Call for Essays: Siblings & Autism Anthology Seeking submissions of essays for anthology exploring dynamic of growing up/aging with a sibling who has autism. We seek essays that span generations, cultures, & ethnicities. Send submission by September 15 to: Bruce Mills, English Department, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI 49006 USA For inquiries, e-mail: bmills@kzoo.edu. AFA Mother Child Programme Action For Autism's Mother Child Programme is run three times a year, sessions starting each January, July and October. A group of approximately 10 to 15 mothers train together (with their children) throughout the duration of the programme incorporating elements of different interaction-based interventions. The programme seeks to maximize the benefits of the time that a mother spends with her child, teaching focused one on one intervention tailored individually to each child and taking into account the child's strengths, emerging skills and weakest skill areas. Click here for more information. One year Postgraduate Diploma in Music Therapy Following the success of its first year training programme in Delhi, The Music Therapy Trust is inviting potential students to apply to the second year of its one year Postgraduate Diploma in Music Therapy in Delhi and a new course starting in Mumbai. Jointly organised by Action for Autism and The Music Therapy Trust, this one year full-time course covers all aspects of Music Therapy enabling students to qualify as a Professional Music Therapist. Both courses start in September 2008. (read more here) Upcoming Training Opportunities: AFA Annual Training Workshop: Understanding Children with ASD 1-5 October 2008 * New Delhi AFA’s annual workshops are an eagerly awaited event each year. The workshops build on an understanding of ASD and work through teaching various cognitive, communication, and daily living skills. Free of jargon, the workshops are illustrated with practical examples based on AFA's hands-on experience and exposure to children with autism of varying ages and across the spectrum, and follow a format of lectures, a demonstration class, video clips, question and answer sessions and discussions... (read more here) India launches an affordable, government sponsored health insurance plan for people with autism, mental disorders and multiple disabilities Read about it in our Legal Updates section. Need information about Information on Tax Deductions? Under the Income Tax Act, 1961, as amended by Finance Act, 2007, there are tax benefits available to families of children with autism. You must have a certificate of autism in order to qualify for these benefits. Read more here. Action for Autism presents the Charter of Rights of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder have the same rights and privileges: civic, economic, and political as enjoyed by all citizens of their country. They have a right to be treated as equal with full human rights and fundamental freedoms and without discrimination...(read more here) More Related to Music: Escape to Cyprus & Help Guide a Musical Talent with Asperger’s The musical talent is a 27 year old talented musician with Asperger’s Syndrome. Based in Nicosia, Cyprus this interesting young woman is fairly independent and self-motivated, with the ability to communicate and make friends. She requires a patient, persevering and if possible fellow music lover, qualified in Psychology and/ or Education to educate and enhance her behavioural and social skills. If you have experience in attending to the development of individuals with Asperger’s, believe you are the right person for this role and would value the opportunity of support from a leading global expert in the field of Asperger’s please click on the link below for more information and to apply online and prepare to embark on a truly fulfilling opportunity. See: http://www.sfsct.com AFA Summer Camp 12 May - 7 June 2008 National Centre for Autism The camp ran 9:00-12:00 pm each day from Monday to Friday, with the Closing Party held on Saturday 7 June 2008. Activities offered include pool play, music, arts and craft, sensory therapy, and more. In addition, individual therapy sessions with special educators and occupational therapist will be available to interested families during the period. We had a wonderful week with considerable learning and FUN. Please join us next year! (For more information on the camp, click here for our flyer or contact Saumya at AFA.) Recently Completed Trainings : Behaviour Modification: At Home, At School, and in the Community Enabling Communication Volunteer Information Packet Available Now Discover how you can become an AFA volunteer World Autism Awareness Day Celebrated April 2nd, 2008 The United Nations General Assembly, by unanimous consent, passed the resolution of the Third Committee designating April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day in perpetuity starting in 2008. In India, children with Autism, their parents and other caregivers met with heads of state and other local dignitaries all over India and handed over the Autism Rights Charter. Action For Autism actively collaborated with South Asian partners in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan to create mass awareness on this day. As a part of observance of WAAD in Delhi, Action for Autism organized a series of events in the city named Autism Awareness Jamboree (AAJ). In Hindi, aaj means “Today.” See links below for a description of events related to WAAD in South Asia. Press Coverage and Reports on WAAD from throughout India Events in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka WAAD message from U.N. Secretary General WAAD message from the President of India See recent legal updates on autism in India Free Podcasts Available from Midnight in Chicago Listen to topics such as Autism, Asperger Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorders, AS and ASD Web Resources and Forum Communities, Autism on the Homefront: Parenting Autistics, Autism and the Media, Autism and Bullying http://mic.mypodcast.com/ TELL US WHAT YOU THINK What would you like to see on the AFA website? Email us and let us know! Recently finished... The South Asian Regional Conference on Autism Thank you to all who presented at, attended, and supported this event. We are thrilled at the response and success of this meeting. Check back soon for a full review. For pictures, see these from AACTION Autism: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aaction/ Want to know what it was? Day by day schedule