Dil Seh Friendship at IAC: A day to celebrate diversity and champion inclusivity!

On Friendship Day this year, we at Indian Autism Center hosted a one-of-a-kind event for the first time at the Rotary Sadan in Kolkata in collaboration with the “Riddhi Society for Remedial and Integrated Education”, the “Pradip Center for Autism Management”, and Shivamandir High School, a government-sponsored Hindi medium school for neurodiverse students.

Dil Seh Friendship!

Our main objective in hosting this event was to bring to light the powerful significance of friendship and its natural and organic potential to promote inclusivity across social and physical barriers and boundaries.

We were lucky to have our mentor, Mallika Banerjee, a renowned psychologist, grace the event and deliver a powerful welcome speech that explained the importance of inclusivity.

They also highlighted the need to educate our future generations about this and elaborated on how they must be taught the true nature of acceptance and friendship as a lived experience rather than just a theoretical concept.

Our main goals for the event were:

1. Care: The event started on a positive and friendly note, as our IAC volunteers welcomed everyone with open arms. They also included a special friendship day note and a bracelet for every student.

2. Abundance: The event shined with an abundance of talent, as every attendee was treated to dazzling performances by both neurotypical and neuroatypical children, performing in groups and solos. Rotary Sadan Hall was treated to a mesmerising day of wholesome enjoyment, as every spectator was left swaying with happiness, resonating with the children at their very best!

3. Love: The feeling of love and compassion in the room was palpable as the students who were accompanied by their teachers, parents and mentors enjoyed themselves to the fullest, while being given the space to maintain their boundaries for sensory comfort. Despite the crowd and the music, we ensured that every student was absolutely comfortable, and having fun with their friends and family. 

4. Embrace: One of the event's highlights was the “find a friend” task. Every student was encouraged to look beyond their immediate circle and find a new person to befriend. The IAC volunteers then encouraged them to seal the friendship with friendship bands provided to them in pairs.
   This was intended  as a symbolic gesture that encourages the principles of socialisation through reciprocity.
   
5. Evolve: Surprisingly, every student, despite their neurotypical or neuroatypical challenges, jumped at the opportunity to make new friends. The friendship bands were all used and a huge success! The overwhelming feeling within the Hall was one of humanity trumping the hurdles of social labelling.
   

On a concluding note, the IAC CEO, Mr Jaishankar Natarajan, addressed the audience, appreciating their presence and congratulating the participants on their amazing talents and the dazzling show that they put on! 

Debolina Dutta, Tollywood star, graced the event with her presence and signature warmth. 
The audience enthusiastically welcomed her presence, and she was delighted to participate.
She thanked IAC for inviting her and said that carefully designed social gatherings like these can bridge the gap between neurotypical and neuroatypical groups, eliminating stigma, raising awareness and promoting inclusivity. 

We ended the day with the IAC team bidding the students farewell and giving them a small token of appreciation.
Every student left with a happy smile and memories to last a lifetime! 

 Author: Divya Somani | Head of Admissions