Creating a space for educators to exchange ideas, share experiences and learn practical approaches to inclusion.

What happened in the event?

On 18 June 2026, India Autism Center (IAC) organised the Classroom Collective Cohort at the IAC Training Academy, Kolkata. The gathering brought together 73 educators and professionals, including special educators, school counsellors, psychologists and mainstream teachers, to explore ways of making classrooms more inclusive and supportive of diverse learning needs.

The cohort featured a panel discussion on Inclusive Classroom Practices, with an engaging exchange of perspectives and experiences from professionals working across different educational settings. The panel included Ms. Noni Khullar, Ms. Amita Prasad, Ms. Somdutta Banerjee and Ms. Indrani Basu from Action from Autism. Ms. Puja Dutta moderated the discussion, guiding the conversation and encouraging the sharing of ideas.

Educators and professionals from several schools across Kolkata and beyond participated in the session. These included La Martiniere, Sree Sree Academy, Future Foundation School, Akshar, Mongrace and Indus Valley School, among others.

More than a discussion, the Classroom Collective Cohort provided an opportunity for educators from different backgrounds and institutions to connect over a shared goal: creating learning environments where every student feels supported and included. Participants could exchange classroom experiences, discuss practices they have found useful, and learn from the approaches adopted by their peers.

Inclusive education is strengthened when the people working with children come together, share knowledge and learn from one another. Through initiatives such as the Classroom Collective Cohort, IAC aims to encourage these conversations and build stronger connections among education professionals.

Key Takeaway

A key takeaway from the cohort was that inclusive education is a shared responsibility. It cannot depend on the efforts of one teacher or one specialist alone. Building an inclusive classroom requires educators to understand different learning needs, remain open to new approaches and work together to create an environment where every student has the opportunity to participate and learn.

The event reinforced the value of collaboration between mainstream educators, special educators, counsellors and psychologists. By bringing these professionals together, IAC hopes to encourage continued knowledge-sharing and help translate conversations about inclusion into more thoughtful classroom practices.

The cohort marked another step towards fostering collaboration and promoting more inclusive classroom practices across educational settings.