India Autism Centre’s Mission and Vision

Kerry Magro very wisely said, “Autism is not a tragedy. Ignorance is the tragedy.”

India Autism Center was born with the sole purpose of empowering those with autism and their families.

Founded in 2019, in Kolkata by Mr. Suresh Somani and his wife Mrs. Namita Somani, parents to an individual with a neurodevelopmental condition, India Autism center was born out of a deeply emotional ambition.

Parents of developmentally challenged children always have one great fear: What after us?

India Autism Center aspires to relieve them of this daunting anxiety.

India Autism Center’s mission is to work towards a particular goal. A world where individuals with autism, across the spectrum, can reach their full potential. Inclusive of all ages, abilities, genders, communities, ethnicities, and faiths. We wish to advance the physical and mental health of autistic individuals through biomedical research and education.

Research is one of our primary areas of focus at our center for autism therapy in Kolkata. Currently, most research on autism therapy and rehabilitation is taking place in Europe and the United States of America. India Autism Center has taken it upon themselves to change this narrative. The research wing of India Autism Center is based in India and is stubbornly intent on developing research-based evidence for autism therapy out of this population.

We hope that the efforts of our research wing will have a positive impact on the interventions, care and facilities currently available at not only India Autism Center but outside as well. In the long run, our hope is that our research leads to a better understanding of human development so that we can help make interventions better for other related conditions as well.

India Autism Center values empathy towards the human condition above all else. We believe that if we come together, we can impact outcomes, empower autistic individuals to find their independence, educate and support their families, and transform our community as a whole.

Our core intentions are:

Collaboration: We strive to build authentic partnerships.

Acknowledging the autistic voice and choice: At our center for autism therapy in Kolkata, our services reflect what is important and integral to people and families impacted by autism. We seek to acknowledge their voices, needs, and requirements to create an ecosystem without boundaries.

Focus on the individual: We endeavor to avoid falling into the trap of slotting people.

Our curriculum is termed as the “IAC Approach”. It is a holistic curriculum that focuses on the strengths of the individual.

Transparency: We believe in full honesty and clarity while engaging with individuals with autism and their families.

Autism is NOT a disease.

We are not in the business of “curing” or “preventing” autism. India Autism Center is a not for profit initiative. Autism is very much a part of an individual’s identity, and we seek only to support them and help them with any difficulty they might be facing due to any co-occurring issue.

Prioritizing support for the families of autistic individuals: At India Autism center, our goal is not just to empower individuals with autism, but also their families.

We understand the staggering pressures that families of autistic people face in society and recognize the failure of our community to effectively support them logistically as well as take care of their emotional needs.

We are creating a community at India Autism center. A safe space for autistic individuals to live with their families on campus without boundaries. Our residential facility will have the option for families to move into campus and have a home, and ensure assisted living for individuals on the spectrum.

Advocacy: Advocating and supporting the interests of individuals on the autism spectrum and their rights and welfare is something we wholeheartedly participate in.

The vision we are working towards is to create a safe and hospitable environment where individuals and their families feel safe and protected. We are bringing together the perfect blend of researchers, medical professionals, and support staff to create the perfect environment for autistic people and their families.

We aspire to create the perfect ecosystem that will empower all individuals dealing with autism and delayed developmental disorders, through individual-focused rehabilitation and skill-building in a way that will lead to him/her greatest success and an abundant life.

We believe that autistic people have a different and unique way of looking at life and it is our greatest motivation, to add their unique value to the world, in a way that society recognises, acknowledges, and appreciates it.

We work tirelessly and plan to deliver excellence through innovative clinical practices, outreach efforts, and responsive practices.

IAC’s mission is to spread this message as far and wide as possible and transform the lens through which our community perceives autism.

 Author: Shaireen Ali | Coordinator - Clinical Service