"Too young to worry, Too old to smile"

Avnit  was born on 19th June’17, as a younger of 2 boys (non-identical twins). We call him Avu , as it is a single syllable, and he responds better if we reduce complex commands. When he was born, he did cry, but needed to be in NICU for 2 days, due to respiratory distress. He was discharged2 days later. Thanks to having twins, at4 months, we figured some of his behavior was not like his brother. Things like not sleeping enough, or staring at one point in the room, or not making tracking individuals, were very typical for him We moved to Bangalore when the boys were 5 months old. We got advice from doctors and therapists in Gurgaon that Bangalore has more mature specialists in the field of development delays. In Bangalore, he was diagnosed with GDD (Global Developmental Delay), although nobody put it down on paper. By the time he was 5 years, by the time Covid was done, he showed high signs of biting (Aggressive behaviour) if he did not like something and could not be understood ...

I am the father of Avu, a remarkable boy who has taught me more about patience, resilience, and love than I ever thought possible. Avu is autistic, non-communicative yet verbal, and his world is shaped by patterns, rhythms, and the things that bring him comfort—like feeling the wind on his face during bike rides or spinning his chewy to self-regulate. His journey has been anything but typical. Born as the younger of two non-identical twins, we started noticing early on that his development was different from his brother’s. This led us down a path of countless therapies, sleepless nights, and a constant search for the right support system that could help him navigate the world in his own way. Our days have been filled with challenges—whether it was helping him walk, finding ways to ease his distress during haircuts, or simply ensuring he could communicate his needs. Yet, through it all, Avu has shown incredible strength. He has overcome physical hurdles, developed ways to express himse...

What is Autism? Autism is a condition where individuals experience and respond to the world differently from neurotypical people. It falls under neurodivergence, which includes autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more. Unlike certain conditions such as Down’s syndrome, autism doesn’t have distinct physical features. Autism exists on a spectrum. At one end, an autistic individual might excel academically, be musically gifted, or a chess champion, yet struggle with sensory sensitivities like loud sounds or sticky textures. At the other end, there are children like my son, Avnit. He is non-verbal, joyful, loves food, but faces unique challenges, including: 👉Aversion to wearing helmets, caps, or gloves—even in freezing weather. He resists change and reacts intensely if others wear these around him. 👉 A strong need for sensory input, like spinning in circles or enjoying the wind on his face. 👉Discomfort in closed spaces and difficulty with fine motor skills, making tasks like picking up s...