Our experiments with Autism - A never ending journey

  Being a mother to a neurodiverse adult has been one of the most humbling and transformative journeys of my life. Over the years, my priorities as a parent and teacher have evolved — constantly adapting to Akshat’s growth, his challenges, and his changing needs. There was a time when my entire focus revolved around enhancing his cognition — every activity, every goal, every plan was built around developing his understanding and intellect. But as life unfolded, I realized that cognition, though important, is only one part of the puzzle. What truly matters now are the life skills that empower him to navigate the world with confidence, and the social exposure that helps him feel included and accepted. Cognition hasn’t disappeared from the list — it’s simply found a new place, making space for what’s most essential today. With this in mind, I am always on the lookout for meaningful opportunities to give Akshat the social experiences he deserves — those rare and precious moments wh...

  Last Sunday, Akshat and I had the opportunity to watch a play together. I was quite apprehensive at first, as he had never been to a play before. Although I’ve taken him to watch movies many times, his response is usually unpredictable — sometimes he sits through them, and sometimes he doesn’t. But this time, even though it was his very first experience of watching a live play, he sat quite well. We decided to leave after the first part of the play. I didn’t want to push him beyond his comfort level or make him sit forcefully. My idea was to end the experience on a positive note, before he reached his threshold. I wanted him to know that nobody would force him to sit — that he always has a choice. Perhaps, by allowing him that sense of control, he’ll feel more confident and willing to stay longer next time. The next day, we sat together and I asked him about his experience of watching the play. It took him four days to complete his narration. Do read and comment! Ritu 13-10...

  30/06/25 I went to a movie after a long time. Watching a movie in a theatre is so tiring. The auditory and visual inputs in the theatre are overwhelming for me. The sound system is too loud to bear, and the screen bothers a lot. Apart from that, the darkness in the hall is scary. I prefer to watch a movie at home as at home there is no sensory overload. However, despite the challenges, I thought I should go and watch this movie. This movie was special because it is the first movie I saw that has neurodivergents in the lead roles. When I reached the mall, I was a little anxious because of the environment. However, it was manageable. But, as soon as I entered the theatre hall, sensory feelings started, and I got overwhelmed. Well, I managed to sit and watch the movie because I was deeply moved by the punch line sabka apna apna normal and excited to see its interpretation. Although I was able to process the language (dialogues), story, and characters in the movie, it was difficult t...

  25-4-25 Going to Indore has always been interesting. Despite the mood swings and challenging sensory issues during travelling, I look forward to it. I love food in Indore. Be it sev, mixture, samosa, or good kachori, I love them all. It is the food that pushes me for Indore visits. However, this trip was interesting for other reasons too. This time it was mom and dad’s 25th wedding anniversary, so the excitement was double. We had arranged a get-together in Indore. Initially, mom was in a dilemma about whether to keep a get-together considering my social challenges. Nevertheless, she asked me my opinion. I expressed my willingness to go to Indore and attend this family function. I wanted to attend this get-together because it was a good opportunity to socialise with family. I don’t prefer socialisation much, but family get-togethers I can attend. Smell and noise that used to bother me earlier are now controlled. The reduced sensitivity of these senses has made me calm. To an exte...

  I mage Description : A galaxy with various planets rotating around, depicting the different moods. It’s been quite a while since we last shared a blog post. Lately, I’ve been leaning more towards sharing Akshat’s thoughts and expressions, but over the past couple of months, he hasn't really been in the mood to write—perhaps a bit of a writer’s block. Interestingly, he began this particular piece way back on March 19th. At first, he was reluctant to even start. He didn’t feel like writing at all. But despite that, he showed up every day—sometimes just putting down a word or two. That quiet consistency made all the difference. Slowly but surely, he found his rhythm, and today, he finally completed it. A few days ago, I came across a line that really resonated with me: “Sometimes, habit creates the change that motivation alone cannot.” Watching Akshat over these weeks, I truly see the power of that idea coming to life. Ritu Rassay Autism — a word that defines my personality, but...

17-12-24 A year that went by 2024 would be a great year to remember, with resolutions, goals, and purpose ending positively. This year, our journey of autism reached a remarkable milestone. My book ‘Bond Beyond Words: The Unspoken Conversations’, was published and received an overwhelming response. The book results from persistent efforts and my desire to express my thoughts. Every human mind is capable of thinking. The difference lies in the way of expression. Thoughts need to be expressed and discussed. They are like vibrant colors that beautify the canvas when splashed. The year 2024 will remain significant not only for the bond beyond words but also for other reasons. This year, I could see an improvement in my writing. I felt the change as my thoughts matured and were reflected in my work. I wrote a few quotes in the last few months, which turned out to be good, and I earned from them, too. The year ended on a fascinating note when Talking Fingers released a short film...