My Experience with NIMHANS

As parents of autistic children, we endure the deepest emotional and mental struggles—ones that eventually take a physical toll. The stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—are not just phases; they cycle through us repeatedly, sometimes one at a time, sometimes all at once, using us as a punching bag. And yet, the world moves on.

Friends drift away, saying, “Let’s give them space to figure things out,” or assuming, “They’re just too busy.” At work, exhaustion is mistaken for a lack of commitment. At home, life with your partner becomes a series of routines—predictable, necessary, but often mechanical—built around stability and survival.

In all this, you are alone.

Someone once told me that as you climb the corporate ladder, things get lonelier at the top. Well, try being a parent to a special needs child. You will understand the meaning of alone long before it becomes corporate jargon.

Your world shifts. Special schools, psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, and therapists become part of your routine. You start by trusting most of them, collecting every piece of advice like puzzle pieces. Eventually, patterns emerge, and you commit to an intervention.

For us, that progress was short-lived. COVID hit, and everything stopped. By the time the first two waves passed, many centers had shut down, and therapists had moved away. We were back to square one.

We then tried individual therapists, carefully choosing them based on expert recommendations and our own understanding of our child’s needs. Physical therapy for strength and spatial awareness, occupational therapy for functional and problem-solving skills, and swimming to improve muscle tightness and proprioception—this became his six-day-a-week schedule.

At first, it made sense. It helped. But soon, I noticed a major gap—there was no coordination between therapists. If they weren’t talking to each other, how could they build a common goal for my child?

To find answers, I put my career and relationships on pause a few months ago. With renewed hope and a clearer mind, I’m now searching for a more integrated approach—one that makes my son’s days more meaningful and helps him gain independence in daily tasks. That journey led me to Dr Lakshmi Sravanti at an event for special educators hosted by Shaastra, IIT Madras. She is an Assistant Professor at NIMHANS, specializing in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. She encouraged me to visit the center for a detailed evaluation.

Below are three videos I posted about my experience at NIMHANS. My goal is to reach as many parents and caregivers as possible, giving them an unbiased starting point.

Part 1: https://lnkd.in/gHyrBX_J

Part 2: https://lnkd.in/gZMtwaRx

Part 3: https://lnkd.in/guM-ZGvX

If this helps even one family, my job here is done. Let me know your thoughts and share your experience in the comments.

#autism #AutismAwareness #Neurodiversity #Inclusion #ASD #SpecialNeeds