Welcome to the Action For Autism Website!

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 began with the goal to "put autism on the Indian map." Awareness of autism in India has grown tremendously in the past decade, and our activities have also changed to meet current needs in India. We work through direct services, advocacy, and research to improve the lives of children with autism and their families. We are an Indian organisation, and our efforts are focused on the needs of those in India. We are also committed to assisting other countries in South Asia achieve legal recognition of autism and develop services for children and families. To more effectively orchestrate national activities for autism, we relocated to the AFA National Centre for Advocacy Research and Training in 2006.

Welcome to our website. 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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Emotion Education and Management for Individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome
AFA is pleased to present a talk by Stephen Underwood on Saturday, 13 February 2010.

Emotions are a fundamental characteristic of our persona and well-being. Learning about emotions is critical for self-understanding and is a key foundation skill for learning social skills. Impairment in the communication and control of emotions is characteristic of individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome. Children with Asperger’s Syndrome often have emotional maturity years below their same age peers. Therefore, children with Asperger’s Syndrome will benefit from emotion education and management. This workshop will provide strategies to assist individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome in understanding, expressing and regulating their emotions. The talk will be presented by Stephen Underwood, a Clinical Psychologist who holds a Master of Clinical Psychology from the Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia and a Bachelor of Psychology from University of New England. Read more here

The Autism Network is our journal, published three times a year. Read the December 2009 Issue now! This month features the following articles:

Disclosure - Telling Others. Disclosing one’s own, or ones child’s, autism to the world flows from acceptance and respect. This article delves into the ‘who’, ‘how’ and ‘when’ to tell others about autism.
A Day in the Life. A rat, a grape and a screaming child. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
Toilet training for Babu. A mother from Kenya reports back to us after her time spent in the Mother-Child Programme, and describes what success means to her.
Helpline. Is Open Door the right place for my child? An open question gets an honest answer.

As always, back issues of the Autism Network from 1994 onwards are available online at no charge.

Volunteer For Action for Autism: Information Packet Available
Volunteering for a cause in which you believe can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life. AFA has had the good fortune to have a long history of wonderful volunteers from India and abroad. Each has found a corner of our organization in which to learn and grow, and we have learned from each. We have an ongoing need for extra hands, open minds, and creative hearts. Contact us to learn more about the wide range of options available to you, even if you don't live in India!

See our list of DSE-ASD graduates and current placements

AFA Position Opening: Project Coordinator
Action For Autism invites enthusiastic and creative individuals who enjoy a challenge to apply for the position of AFA Project Coordinator.The position will include proposal writing; project management, including oversight of implementation and reporting; coordinating and managing events; and representing AFA at meetings and conferences, and public events.(download information)

Catch up on the latest that has been going on at AFA through AFA Happenings

Aap Ki Antara: What do you think?
At this point, it is hard to find a parent or professional in the field of autism in India who has not heard about the Zee TV serial, 'Aapki Antara,' which began on June 1st of this year. What do parents and professionals think of the show? Watch an episode at online and email your thoughts to actionforautism@gmail.com. We'll include a sample of parent and professional reactions from emails and through the helpline in an upcoming issue of the Autism Network.

View videos of AFA families aired on Aap Ki Antara (RealPlayer needed: download here)

Achyutanal Guha

Vrinda and Indu

Nanu and Indrani

Isheeta and Reeta

Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Guide for Paediatricians in India has been released as part of the AFA Professional Awareness Campaign. Pediatricians are often the first point of contact for families of children with autism in India. AFA is currently in the second phase of a large awareness project among pediatricians. Over 800 pediatricians have received the Guide for Pediatricians, posters on recognizing signs of autism in Hindi and English, and other information about autism. To download these materials and read more about the project, click here

Meet the AFA Team
We work hard and love what we do. From the front desk to the bakery to the classrooms to the garden...visit our staff page to see us on our website, and then find a time to visit us in person!

Conducting research at AFA
Autism research in India dates back decades. AFA has conducted, collaborated with and supported numerous research studies over the past 15 years. Learn about a sample of these projects and read more information about research collaborations with AFA here.

AFA seeking full time research assistants for epidemiological project in Delhi
Looking for motivated post graduates interested in research on Autism to join an international project that will translate key diagnostic tools into Hindi and Bengali. The project will be run by Action for Autism, Delhi and Creating Connections (an autism intervention service based in Kolkata). Read more here

AFA and Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) India Initiate Inclusive Computer Learning Centre
Through generous support from Adobe India and Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) India, AFA has recently developed an inclusive computer learning centre for children with autism and mainstream school students. This free computer training course is available for children of all economic strata and background; children from a nearby school work with students from AFA. We are grateful to for support in this exciting project!

Funded by: Adobe India

Facilitated by: Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) India

Implemented by: Action For Autism

A forum for Aspies in India

Have you visited our list of international autism organizations recently?
AFA has been maintaining a list of international autism organizations on this website since 1995. New countries and organizations are continually added and updated, and outdated information is removed. We have recently added new countries to the list!

Diploma in Special Education (Autism Spectrum Disorders) 2009 – 2010
The one year Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) training programme in Autism began in July. Read more here

Join our group on

World Autism Awareness Day 2009 celebrated with gusto in India! Read more here

Indian Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will now allow accomodations for students with autism
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) posted a notification dated 2 January 2009 by Mr MC Sharma, Controller of Examinations, that informs several amendments/additions that have been made in the CBSE Examination Bye-laws. Read more here

AFA receives grant from U.S. advocacy organization Autism Speaks
In collaboration with Creating Connections (Kolkata), AFA will will translate and adapt the Modified TQ, SCQ, and ADOS into the two most commonly spoken languages in India: Hindi and Bengali... Read more here

Recent legal updates on autism in India

Teaching Positions at Action For Autism
Action For Autism invites energetic and enthusiastic individuals who are creative, logical, intelligent, and willing to work hard, to apply for various teaching positions at Open Door School. The positions offer exciting opportunities to therapists and teachers to work with individuals with autism and communication differences, in what is one of the most challenging and exciting areas of special needs education. Read more here

Recently completed trainings

Tamil and Bengali Translations of Education of Children and Young People with Autism
By Rita Jordan, Ph.D.
This manual is intended for parents, teachers, professionals, and community workers, with the aim of deepening knowledge and understanding of aspects of Autism in areas such as developing social skills, communication, encouraging flexibility in thinking and managing behaviour, managing emotions and developing life and leisure skills and experiences. This manual also covers organizational aspects, which develop insight about the development of educational services for children with autism. The manual is now available in Tamil and Bengali translations.

Tamil Translation: Autism Ulla Kuznanthaigal Matrum Ilagayarkallukana Kalvi Murai, Translated by Mrs. Ramamani Sundar. For more information, click here

Bengali Translation: Autistic Shishu O Tarunder Shikkha, Translated by Prof. Shirshendu Chakrabarti. For more information, click here

Health Insurance Scheme "Niramaya" extended to the entire country
"In order to enable and empower persons with disability to live as independently and as fully as possible, health services and their access to persons with disabilities assume a very significant role. In this context, the health insurance facility becomes important but presently such products are not easily available for persons with disabilities. In such a situation, a health insurance scheme “Niramaya” is conceived with the following objectives..." Read more here

Read more at the National Trust site
Download an application

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

Link of Interest: Indian Aspergers Group
This Yahoo Group is dedicated to Indians with Asperger's or High Functioning Autism. This forum has been created to unite and inform parents and caregivers from India or of Indian descent who live in the USA and have children or a family member with this diagnosis. This is open to ages 2 to 99! Please share this group with other Indian organizations and families so that we can share our experiences with each other. You can remain anonymous if you choose to do so.
Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianAmericansWithAspergers/

Autism and Bollywood
Autism has a long history of representation in Western media, some of it powerfully good and some which perpetuates stereotypes and misconceptions. India, too, is beginning to include autism in different ways into mainstream films. Apna Asmaan, by director Kaushik Roy is one example of this. And now, My Name is Khan will be released in February. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, the latest of these Bollywood autism films features a character with Asperger's Syndrome. The mainstream Indian press has been closely following this project.

See also:
Autism in Indian Cinema: Cultural Representations of Disability, by Sudha Rai, University of Rajasthan
'Film World to Support Autism,' an article from The Times of India

AFA Mother Child/Parent 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. Read more here

AsiaPacific Autism Conference 2009 (APAC 09)
Action for Autism participated in the APAC 09, held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Sydney, 20 – 22 August 2009. Merry Barua was a symposium keynote speaker, and gave a paper on the status of autism in South Asian countries, including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and India.

Action for Autism's 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

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
What would you like to see on the AFA website? Email us and let us know!

Make a Donation
Action for Autism is now accepting donations in 16 currencies through PayPal, a secure and easy way to send money from outside India. Our account is actionforautism@gmail.com. For those who are interested in subscribing to the Autism Network, or purchasing anything else from AFA, PayPal can also be used. Anyone can sign up for a PayPal account at http://www.paypal.com. For more information, visit our page on getting involved with AFA.

Autism materials available in Indian languages
We are periodically asked for information in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and other Indian languages. AFA has received funds to translate other materials, and we will provide information when these are available. The National Autistic Society (of the U.K.) has published some materials in Indian languages, free of charge. Others are available for a cost. Links to these resources are available here. For additional materials in Hindi, please see PDF versions of the Autism Network, which contain articles in Hindi.

AFA and Heartspring Collaboration
AFA's Open Door and Heartspring, a worldwide center for children with special needs with its headquarters in Wichita, Kansas (US) have a formal relationship as "sister schools." This offers the opportunity for AFA staff to engage in both cultural and informational exchanges with the Heartspring staff. In July 2007, Merry Barua was named a winner of the Heartspring Award for Innovation and Creativity in Special Education and attended the summer conference in Wichita, Kansas. In November 2007, Heartspring staff visited AFA and we introduced them to the work we do. Most recently, in October 2008 two of our staff, Preeti Siwach & Jayati Ghosh, were invited to Heartspring. We have greatly enjoyed this true exchange of experiences and expertise!

Read about the Heartspring/AFA sister school relationship on the Heartspring site
Preeti Siwach & Jayati Ghosh share their experiences at Heartspring, October 2008
From a blog by Chris about the Heartspring visit to AFA, November 2007

"More than once I would wander down the hallway and peek inside a classroom, only to see the last thing I expected - the only thing I should have expected - I saw what I see when I walk down the corridors of Heartspring. Teachers are working with children, one on one, doing solid ABA (such as new skill acquisition programs), managing behaviors, generating data for the outcomes of an individualized education for a child with special needs. I am here in a culture so different, a context so different from the one I am used to, but I feel at home inside the big red doors, because so much of what I am feeling is the same feeling as being at Heartspring. It’s about reaching that child, at all costs, with everything you’ve got; it’s about lighting up a child’s world, and setting their communication and imagination ablaze with organized thoughts they can manage and return. It’s about illuminating the interaction in that very special way only a teacher can know. It’s about turning the lights on." Read more here

AACTION Autism
Another organization with whom we have a partnership is AACTION Autism, which stands for Action Awareness Campaign Through International Organizations Networking. Aaction Autism is based in Chicago, IL, and shares our commitment to serving families of children with autism and partnerships between organizations. In January 2008, six volunteers from the organization worked with staff from AFA to provide information and training. Learn more about this organization at the AACTION Autism site. In December 2009, we were delighted to welcome back a team for another wonderful training.

Spreading Reach in a Low-Resourced Environment
Read a perpetually relevant paper that describes the challenges of autism in developing countries from the 2006 AWARES conference.

The "Other" Action for Autism: Mike Stanton’s Blog shares our name

Index of original articles by AFA plus parent stories

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Action for Autism Pocket 7 & 8 Jasola Vihar New Delhi-110025 INDIA Tel: +91-11-65347422, 40540991/2 Fax: +91-11-40540994 Email: actionforautism@gmail.com

Action for Autism is a member of Credibility Alliance. Credibility Alliance is a consortium of voluntary organizations committed towards enhancing accountability and transparency in the voluntary sector through good governance. As an organisation CA aspires to build trust among all stakeholders through improving governance with in the voluntary sector. Credibility Alliance is akin to a professional body that will set norms or standards of governance. The members participate in the process of evolving suitable guidelines based on voluntary disclosure of information and adhere to them. This shall promote the ideals of accountability and transparency within the voluntary sector.

About this site:
As with many aspects of our organization, this site is designed, maintained and operated by volunteers. We are a non-profit organization and rely on friends of AFA to update and provide suggestions for the site. We also have tried to minimize the graphics and pictures to allow for faster uploading, since many families who access our site do not have high speed connections. We welcome your comments about the site, and if you experience problems, please contact us so we can improve our site and services. Thank you for visiting!

Site last updated on 7 February 2010