Students are beginning the fall back-to-school ritual of moving in, buying books and going to their first classes, and about every one in five of these is a graduate student.
According to the National Health Portal of India, an estimated
18 million people in the country are believed to be living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a group of developmental disabilities involving social, communication, and behavioural challenges. Despite the significant number of people living with autism, there is very little awareness about the developmental disorder in the country, leading to exclusion in schools, colleges, the workplace, and society.
Advocacy group Action For Autism (AFA), says there is a need to create an inclusive environment for people with autism to enable them to contribute as fully participating members of their community. This means creating a barrier-free environment where they feel comfortable. To facilitate that,