Our experiments with Autism - A never ending journey

  It was a freeing moment when my thoughts started the journey of expression. The mind sparked the thoughts and fuelled the words. Bond Beyond Words is surely an intriguing tale of my expressions. The feelings I gone through while reading the various reviews of the book, were very emotional. I felt honoured. I want to thank all the readers who read my book. Yes, life has changed socially after I was featured as a co-author in talking fingers and now in Bond Beyond Words. I started communicating more with the society like teachers in REACH centre and other people there. The experience I am having while communicating with many people is fascinating. I enjoy sharing thoughts especially with mamma. The autistics could feel deep emotions and mature enough to understand people’s perspective. So, kindly love them mindfully. I do expect that readers should feel the thoughts underlying the conversations in my book. I feel rooted in thoughts. Writing can provide an opportunity to bloom t

 Dear Readers, We are delighted to present our book, "Bond Beyond Words : The Unspoken Conversations" . The book steps into the remarkable world of Akshat. It is a powerful narrative, divided into two captivating parts, each unravelling a unique aspect of Akshat's journey. The first part of the book chronicles Akshat's path to communication mastery. Initially reliant on Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) app, Akshat takes you on his journey as he transitions to the world of typing to express himself more profoundly. In the second part, the book invites you into the intimate conversations that transpired between Akshat and me after he found his voice through typing. These dialogue provide an exclusive window into Akshat's transformation from a beginner communicator to an impulsive teenager, eventually blossoming into an eloquent and creative conversationalist. "Bond Beyond Words" is a moving testament to the power of determination, the strength

  There was a time when communication was a challenge and the thoughts could not be aligned. it felt that there was a storm of emotions that was waiting to hit the shore. Then gradually I learned to communicate and it was like a desert receiving rain after a long wait. The feelings started coming out and it was like a bird who got the wings and started to fly. Communication made me a more mature, thoughtful and very mindful person. The conversations held between mamma and me brought the terrific change. Bond beyond words is the book that I always dreamt of. The book is a thoughtful collection of heart to heart conversations between mamma and me. Hope you all like it. Akshat Rassay

  Hello readers, Sharing the Akshat's perspective of train journey and social function, we attended last month in our hometown. Most of the writeup's part he finished in last 2-3 days. I am quite amazed to see his willingness towards social exposure and resilience that he is showing to overcome his fear and challenges... Social Function   This was all started when mom received an invitation to attend the family function in Indore. It was a great opportunity for mom to be with her family but this also posed a serious question which always been a challenge for all of us while travelling. How would I manage in the train? How would mom manage it alone? As I always had sensory and anxiety challenges in train journeys, how will I travel and how mom would manage alone as daddy was not coming. Owing to the importance of function, mom and daddy asked me if I want to go? Thinking mindfully, I decided, I would go. I wanted to come out of my fear of socialisation and to cope up with

  In the last blogpost only, Akshat shared his experiences of train journeys, challenges he faces during it. However, those were his prior experiences and after the Covid, we didn't travel at all, so I was assuming that he still had the same challenges, until we got a chance to travel and attend a social function... After a long time, we finally had an opportunity to visit our hometown to attend a social function. As usual, I hesitated to bring Akshat along, given the challenges he faces on train and in crowded places. Nevertheless, the function held great significance, and it provided a chance to reunite with the family after a prolonged period. Thus, I decided to ask Akshat and gauge his feelings about the matter. We engaged in a detailed conversation. and to my astonishment, he expressed complete enthusiasm about attending. To verify his response, I asked him the same thing multiple times, and each time, his answer remained consistent. Sharing one of that conversation here... Bt

Image Source : Google Misery of a sensitive rail passenger Stinky toilets, body odours, disturbing loud perfumes And to make you suffer more, the repulsive lingering smell of cigarettes consumed Even with the carriage oscillating, which soothes, and earphones masking some horrible sounds... There's much to put up with. Blatantly people encroach your space, shocking to see... It's hardly tolerable - every now and then, having random feet brushing one's knee! My friends with sensory needs, perhaps would agree One has to be really, really  desperate, and choiceless To bear a train journey. By, Anagha Jwalekar A few months ago, while watching the music videos, Akshat stumbled upon some train videos and began watching them. These videos, like others, played repeatedly, but I was glad to see his interest in something new. In the next few days, whenever I had spare time, I would sit with him, watch various train videos along with him and recount our own train journeys. Each time,

Image by: Akshat Rassay   What next? That is what I was thinking when Akshat finished writing few poems for an online competition, last month. I had couple of topics in mind and I thought, let me ask him if he is willing to try any of them. I asked him if he would like to write something on 'Self-Advocacy' and pat came the answer, 'Yes'. I didn't expected it as I had no idea about his understanding on the topic. However, every time, the remarkable changes in his mindset, behaviour, confidence, and thoughts proves me wrong.  It is a feeling of content (and a little pride) for me, to see him growing as a mature, sensible and thoughtful person. As an adult with autism, he has his unique goals and aspirations, and I want to encourage him to pursue them as much as possible. Taking pride in his accomplishments, big or small, always provide me enormous joy. First time, as he writes for 'Self-Advocacy', I also stand by his side, supporting him, advocating for him an