Deva Bathula

Action for Autism, National Centre for Autism India

Action for Autism (AFA) was started in 1991 to provide support and services to persons with autism and their families, and to create an environment in India in which people with ASD are able to grow to their full potential. The AFA National Centre was established in 2004 to expand these services. AFA started as a parent support group, with a focus on raising awareness about autism in India. It now runs multiple services which are comprehensive, encompassing individuals across age groups (from very young children to adolescents to adults with autism) and across the spectrum of abilities (spanning those with very high to lower support needs). The AFA services accommodate for individual requirements, including those of people in a mainstream environment, a specialized one or even if the person primarily stays at home. In addition our programs take into consideration the particular needs and constraints of the families of the individuals. The services are geared towards both families who can attend the programs on a regular basis and for those who can access services intermittently - for example, those who live in far flung areas of Delhi or in other parts of the country. All the AFA services are designed with a solid understanding of autism, one that keeps pace with the evolving nature of the same worldwide. The services incorporate internationally recognized ‘best practices' which are also often modified and adapted to suit the Indian context. And, the central goal that prevails in each of the services offered is to help the person with autism lead a productive, dignified and happy life.