Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Headlines
  • Coronavirus-News
  • Get-Hooked
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Parasports
  • Ask Bhavna
  • NHBrandView
  • Independent Living
  • Lifestyle
  • NH Videos
×
Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability Logo
  • Stories
  • Videos
  • Inclusive
  • NH Voice
  • Login
COVID-19 Notification by Government in Accessible Format

Accessibility Tools

Text Size:

Contrast Scheme:

  • C
  • C

Reset

  • Home
  • Get-hooked
  • #WonderWoman – What is Inclusion but knowing, accepting & valuing oneself, says Akila Vaidyanathan

#WonderWoman – What is Inclusion but knowing, accepting & valuing oneself, says Akila Vaidyanathan

Get-hooked March 10, 2019
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
0

Through the month of March, we will bring you the many different and unique voices of women in the disability space. Today, Akila Vaidyanatha, Founder, Amaze Charitable Trust, an organization that is helping many families to navigate the bewildering and challenging autism maze, shares her thoughts on what inclusion, in its deepest, truest sense means.

Some time ago I was talking to a Class 11 student who had come to me for an assessment. He aspires to become a civil servant and showed a keen interest in current affairs. He was self-assured, confident and had every chance of realising that dream. He was also on the Autism spectrum.

His parents had recently taken him for an evaluation and were heartbroken when told that based on his IQ assessment, he would not succeed or survive in the real world.

The mother had become depressed and anxious and passed on her hopelessness to the son. He started avoiding her, his grades were falling and I met them in this state.

True, the world out there is tough to survive in with all the skills one has. So if one has ‘Autism’, which means your social skills are not up to the mark, you are at a clear disadvantage. But is that true?

Is the world not moving towards less interpersonal communication and more transactional relationships? So are these children actually not ‘already there’ – no frills, or preambles, or chivalry. Just the facts and needs and great attitude?

Coming back to that professional. If she had concerns about the student’s survival skills, she could have helped the parents with strategies to improve in those areas rather than make a grim prognosis? Everything was based on an IQ test, which children with ASD find difficult to perform on.

As professionals we need to be aware of these differences and give clients and caregivers a clear picture. Do we really have to be so ‘clinical’? Don’t we also have a responsibility to point to possibilities?

Stories like these are heart-breaking. Here is a child with abilities and aspirations, and of course autism also thrown in. He has survived the mainstream school system in spite of its shortcomings thanks to his parents, teachers and friends. And in just three hours, a so-called expert is able to bring all that to nothing.

The reality of inclusion

The student and family lose hope and stop believing in inclusion. They feel small within and withdraw. They isolate themselves and try to survive in their own island. And this suits everyone. Because who wants to include the strange creature from nowhere anyway?

It took a few sessions of counselling the parents for the mother to start looking at the child with positivity again. Now they are on the way to a better relationship and the boy’s grades are picking up.

At the other end of the spectrum are families ready to pay any price, even an extra year’s fee in a mainstream school, so they can get a school leaving certificate from a ‘normal’ school. They chase treatments, therapies and temple visits to see if the child can be ‘cured’. They are chasing the mirage in the hope of a miracle.

The reality of inclusion lies somewhere in the space where families and PwD start acknowledging who they are and where they stand with pride and grace and operate from there.

When they approach mainstream society from this space of self-awareness, we see that people on the other side are ready to try inclusion. This is the space we want every child and family to operate from. Then maybe the mirage will disappear and a miracle may be in the making.

Other stories in the #WonderWoman series:


Acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal shows incredible will in the face of repeated odds


Challenges bring out the tough side of Divya Sharma, a visually impaired content writer

0

Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today

We need your continued support to enable us work towards Changing Attitudes towards Disability. Help us in our attempt to share the voices of people with disabilities that enable them to participate in the society on an equal footing!

Contribute to Newz Hook

NH Videos

Healing pain through art - Dr. Anubha Mahajan, Founder Chronic Pain India

Read more on Newz Hook

  • Technology
    Check out these free apps that help develop fine motor skills in children with cerebral palsy
  • Get-hooked,Headlines
    Celebrate Achievers with Disabilities with us today

Contribue to Newz Hook. Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today.

Newsletter

 Subscribe to our Newsletter

Want to feature your inspiring story or share an event with the disabled community? Write to:

editor@newzhook.com

Related News

Christine Ha has covered her eyes and the words how you see me are on the back of her hand

Get-hooked

Blind MasterChef winner Christine Ha is the face of month-long campaign this International Women’s Day

Matthew Walzer is wearing a blue shirt

Get-hooked

Matthew Walzer’s letter continues to make an impact nearly 10 years later

Images of the 5 apps featured in article

Technology

Check out these free apps that help develop fine motor skills in children with cerebral palsy

Invite to the telecast & webstreaming of the 2021 CavinKare Ability Awards at 7pm today.

Get-hooked

Celebrate Achievers with Disabilities with us today

Newz Hook - Accessible News

Download App Now!

Videos

View More

Get-hooked

Autism no barrier for Kuhu, who crafts the most amazing jewellery designs

Get-hooked

My journey with ‘Pehel’, My take by Dr Kinjal Chandra

Technology

#TechThursdays – Kibo XS, world’s 1st intelligent personalised scanning & reading companion

Parasports

Champ para swimmer Wg Commander Shantanu looks to set a new record, this time in rowing

Newz Hook Logo

About Newz Hook

Newz Hook is a media site focusing on Changing Attitudes towards Disability globally. We highlight stories that share insights into the lives of people with disabilities, offer solutions and create collaborations. Our focus is to have Inclusion Champions from across the globe who share knowledge about disability, inclusion & accessibility.

Lets come together to change attitudes towards disability!

Newz Hook is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow us on:

Related Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with Newz Hook
  • Embed Newz Hook Timeline
  • Affiliate disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contribute to Newz Hook

Our Awards

Zero Project Award Winner 2018
Back To Top
© 2019 All Right Reserved. Inclusive News India Private Limited.

Ask Bhavna

All fields are mandatory unless specified as optional.