Shows
The Special Needs Children Podcast - with Chitra IyerEpisode 46- Chitra Iyer in conversation with Ms. Kavitha Krishnamoorthy and Ms. Sharada Rajaram- The Expert Speaks SeriesIn this exclusive ‘Expert Speaks Series’, Chitra will be in conversation with various experts who closely work with Special Needs Children and their families. These experts could be doctors, therapists, legal professionals, vocational trainers or even family members who have successfully secured the future for a loved one. The aim is to bring their knowledge and vast experience to you so that you can find the solutions and guidance you need to live a happier life.
In this episode, our CEO, Chitra Iyer, is joined by Ms. Kavitha Krishnamoorthy and Ms. Sharada Rajaram, Co-Founders & Co-Directors of The CanBridge Academy, a co...
2024-03-0846 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 16 - Getting future ready: CanBridgeIn our final episode of this series, we discuss the work of the CanBridge Academy on preparing young adults with autism for independent living. We are joined by Beena Mohan and Srividya Alavandar, representatives of the parent community at CanBridge. Beena is the mother of a 28 year old with autism. She has 20+ years of experience in special education and works as a mental health professional. Srividya is the parent of a 20 year old with ASD. She presently works at a school, with over 9 years of experience working with children with special needs.To wrap up our series...
2024-02-2427 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 15 - Building a home: CLAPSIn this episode, we discuss a unique facility for independent and codependent living at CLAPS. We are in conversation with the parent leaders, Sanjay Rao Bantwal and Chandrasekhar Rao, and Arvind, a special citizen at CLAPS. Arvind also supports the CLAPS team in maintaining the facility’s library.CLAPS, Community Living Association for Parents of Special Children, aims to create a safe place for living for persons with special needs, building their independence for the future. CLAPS is parent-run, with a group of 50 parents collaborating to establish a campus and residential facility to take care of persons wi...
2024-02-0933 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 14 - Building a home: Listening to autistic voicesMeet Sarabjeet, Angad and Shivang, three residents of Ananda. They talk, with great honesty and straight from their hearts, about their lived experience in Ananda, covering a range of topics from their daily routine to relationships to their aspirations. Sarabjeet, a graduate in hotel management, loves reading books and listening to English songs. Angad loves watching TV, cycling and works in a sheltered workplace. Shivang regales everyone with his music and has recently joined Amazon. Ananda is an assisted living facility initiated by Action for Autism, in Gurgaon, NCR. It is a home away from ho...
2024-02-0322 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 13 - Building a home: AnandaIn this episode, we are in conversation with Merry Barua, a pioneer in championing autism rights in India. Merry is the Founder Director of Action for Autism. A parent of an adult with autism, she has spearheaded multiple initiatives to support the autism community.We discuss the impact of living arrangements for adults with autism, diving deep into AFA's assisted living programme - Ananda. Action for Autism (AFA), founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization that strives to facilitate an inclusive environment to enable empowerment for persons with autism and their community.
2024-01-2629 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 12 - Building a home: GruhaIn conversation with Usha Rajagopal, Managing Trustee of ESVI Sarada Foundation, Chennai, we continue our discussion around arrangements for independent and co-dependent living. Usha has over 17 years of experience, working on areas such as vocational training, self-help, independent and group living. In this episode, we talk about the latest initiative of the Foundation - Gruha, a residential facility which aims to bridge the gap for lifespan services.Recognising a lack of institutional support to help special individuals prepare for the future, ESVI Sarada Foundation, established in 2006, focuses on helping young adults with special needs and works closely...
2024-01-1932 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 11 - Building a home: ALAPIn this episode, we kick-off our discussion on the second focus area of our podcast series: planning for ‘What After Us?’. We are in conversation with Neena Wagh, Founder Trustee of ALAP, Assisted Living for Autistic Persons. Neena is a parent of a youngster with autism, a poet, playwright and Hindi language translator. She has represented the Autism Community during the drafting of the RPWD Act, and has spearheaded the team for setting up the Autism website for the National Trust.ALAP, Assisted Living for Autistic Persons is based in Gurgaon, India. Founded in 2018, ALAP offers residential faci...
2024-01-1224 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 10 - Working and living in the community: AMAZEThis conversation with Akila Vaidyanathan bridges the two key focus areas of our podcast series: meaningful engagement and planning for independent living for adults with autism. Akila, Co-founder of the Amaze Charitable Trust, felt the need for a training institute that focused on skill-building for her son who is autistic. She is a software professional with immense experience in creating innovative programs leveraging technology to ease the lives of persons with disabilities.Amaze Charitable Trust was set up in 2012 in Coimbatore, India. Amaze was created with the vision to create a ‘lifespan solution’ for persons on the spec...
2024-01-0531 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 9 - Building community support for work: CanBridgeSharada Rajaram, Co-Director, CanBridge narrates the story of three youngsters at The CanBridge Academy - Rupak, Ramanathan and Ahed - and the journey to find an engagement that is born of their interest and strength. The CanBridge Academy, based in Chennai, India, is a college-like space that trains young adults with autism. Founded in 2018, the organization aims to help young adults with autism be future-ready, building life skills and helping trainees identify their passions.
2023-12-0921 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 8 - Building work skills: PragatiIn this episode, we explore the role of training programs in building interest, employability, and life skills to help individuals with autism be meaningfully engaged. We are in conversation with Sarbani Mallick, Founder Director of the Biswa Gouri Charitable Trust. Sarbani is passionate about the field of autism and introducing innovative approaches for training students.Biswa Gouri Charitable Trust was established with the vision to create ‘an inclusive society built on trust, respect and equality for individuals with autism and other intellectual challenges to live the life they choose’. Founded in 2009, Biswa Gouri Charitable Trust is the paren...
2023-12-0135 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 7a - Soul food: Music: HumDrum: PostscriptIn this postscript to episode 7, Rudy (Rzhude) David talks about how music can build new neurological pathways, irrespective of the age of the person.
2023-11-2404 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 7 - Soul food: Music: HumDrumIn the first of a 2-part episode, we explore the role music plays in the lives of autistic individuals. We are joined by Rudy (Rzhude) David, a musician and sound designer who discovers the healing power of music through interactions with individuals on the spectrum and early learners. Rudy has evolved a purpose-designed HumDrum and Rudiments of Music program through which he engages neurodiverse individuals. In addition to this episode, do tune in to its Postscript (episode 7a) where Rudy talks about music as a gateway to neurological development.
2023-11-2442 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 6 - Soul Food Art: ABWAContinuing our series on meaningful engagement, in this conversation with Mala Chinnappa and Kavitha Krishnamoorthy, we discuss how the arts play a transformational role in the lives of autistic young adults. Mala is a facilitator at A Brush with Art, a mother of a 20-year old girl with autism and an advertising designer. Kavitha is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of CanBridge Academy, a parent of a young adult with autism, and a certified Arts-based Therapist.A Brush with Art, ABWA, is a visual arts program for the neuro-diverse and is based in Chennai, India. CanBridge Academy, based...
2023-11-1742 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 5 - Building on Interest: EntrepreneurshipIn this episode, as part of our series of episodes on meaningful engagement, we discuss entrepreneurial opportunities for young adults with autism. We are in conversation with a mother-son duo, Veena and Varun Naren who share their journey, learnings and experiences as Varun pursued a multitude of interests over the years.Varun Naren is a young adult with autism, diagnosed with FragileX syndrome. He is an artist, a doodler, a photographer among many other things! He presently runs virtual art and doodling classes. Veena Naren, Varun’s mother is a special educator and helps Varun with his di...
2023-11-1017 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 4 - Building Purpose: Cafe ArpanJoin us as we discuss what meaningful engagement looks like at Cafe Arpan. Cafe Arpan was founded in 2018 in Mumbai, India under Yash Charitable Trust with the vision that persons with development and intellectual disabilities (PwIDD) will live and work in the community of their choice with dignity and self-respect. Cafe Arpan is the first cafe in Mumbai that is solely run by persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities.We are joined by Sushama Nagarkar, the Co-Founder of Cafe Arpan and Nikhil Sharma, a neurodivergent adult and counter assistant working at Cafe Arpan.
2023-11-0418 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 3 - Building MeaningIn this episode, we discuss what meaningful engagement looks like for young adults with autism and how one could facilitate it. The conversation also identifies practical tips to help sustain an autistic individual’s interests and pursuits.We are joined by the Co-Founders and Co-Directors of The CanBridge Academy, Kavitha Krishnamoorthy and Sharada Rajaram. The CanBridge Academy, based in Chennai, India, is a college-like space that trains young autistic adults. Founded in 2018, the organization aims to help young adults with autism be future-ready, building life skills and helping trainees identify their passion.
2023-10-2714 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 2 - Setting the contextIn this episode, we discuss the crossroads faced by young adults with autism as they transition from school to college. We do a deep-dive into understanding the perspectives of the autistic young adults and their immediate community. Through our discussion, we identify certain opportunities to create a supportive environment for individuals with autism.We are joined by the Co-Founders and Co-Directors of The CanBridge Academy, Kavitha Krishnamoorthy and Sharada Rajaram. The CanBridge Academy, based in Chennai, India, is a college-like space that trains young adults with autism. Founded in 2018, the organization aims to help young adults with...
2023-10-1715 min
Thriving on the SpectrumEp 1 - PrologueWelcome to Thriving on the Spectrum! After weeks of preparation and speculation, our podcast series is finally live! We are excited to share the learnings and perspectives of parents and practitioners caring for young adults with autism.In our first episode, we are joined by the Co-Founders and Co-Directors of The CanBridge Academy, Kavitha Krishnamoorthy and Sharada Rajaram. We discuss our motivations to start this podcast and what one can expect in the episodes to follow!Thriving on the Spectrum is produced by The CanBridge Academy, a college-like space that trains young adults with autism, b...
2023-10-1607 min
U n’ I with Rashmi ShettyU n’ I with Rashmi Shetty- Kavitha KrishnamoorthyOn the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we have with us, Kavitha Krishnamoorthy, the Founder and Managing Trustee of Kilikili, a network of parents of children with disabilities, supported by professionals and volunteers. A social development professional (MSW) by training, her experience of working for more than two decades on child rights and development issues, coupled with her experience as a mother to a child with autism, led her to the question,” why are children with a disability not seen in public play spaces?
Kilikili emerged out of this enquiry, with a mission to create inclusive pu...
2021-12-021h 20
U n' I with Rashmi ShettyU n' I with Rashmi Shetty- Kavitha KrishnamoorthyOn the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we have with us, Kavitha Krishnamoorthy, the Founder and Managing Trustee of Kilikili, a network of parents of children with disabilities, supported by professionals and volunteers. A social development professional (MSW) by training, her experience of working for more than two decades on child rights and development issues, coupled with her experience as a mother to a child with autism, led her to the question,” why are children with a disability not seen in public play spaces?
Kilikili emerged out of this enquiry, with a mission to create inclusive pub...
2021-12-021h 20
The Autism Everyday PodcastAdulting 101: CanBridge Academy!Join us as we chat up with Sharada & Kavitha, Co-directors of CanBridge Academy, a center for adults with ASD!
2020-07-3119 min
Over componistenDe meesterwerken van Bruch - Aflevering 7In deze (en volgende) uitzending zal de volledige aandacht gaan naar het late en overwegend orkestrale werk van Max Bruch. Nadat hij in 1890 de post van docent compositie oppikte aan het conservatorium Berlijn kwam er relatieve rust in zijn leven. Op die post bleef hij tot hij in 1910 met pensioen ging. In die periode kreeg hij ook steeds meer waardering voor zijn bijdrage aan de muziek in brede zin. Zo ontving hij een eredoctoraat aan de universiteit van Canbridge (1894) en werd hij gevraagd toe te treden tot de directie van het conservatorium in Berlijn waar hij les...
2020-04-201h 00