CategoriesAwareness CSR and CompaniesThe Reality Behind Closed Doors In India’s cities—behind construction sites, informal settlements, and crowded rental rooms—there is a reality we rarely acknowledge. A daily wage worker leaves home at 6 a.m.Inside, a child with a disability stays behind. Not because the family does not care.But because they have no choice. This is where disability meets […]
CategoriesAwareness CSR and CompaniesDisability is not a marginal issue—it is a fundamental part of the human experience. Globally, over 1.3 billion people live with some form of disability. In India, official estimates suggest 26.8 million persons with disabilities, though the real number is likely much higher due to underreporting. Within this population are millions of neurodivergent individuals, including […]
CategoriesAwareness CSR and CompaniesAs corporate social responsibility (CSR) investments in disability inclusion continue to grow in India, many companies are making sincere efforts to support persons with disabilities. However, disability is a highly specialised field that intersects with education, health, rehabilitation, employment, and social inclusion. As a result, well-intentioned CSR initiatives sometimes fall into predictable pitfalls when programmes […]
CategoriesAwareness CSR and CompaniesIn CSR committee meetings across India, one number often dominates the discussion: cost per beneficiary. It appears neutral, rational, and financially prudent. Lower cost per head is frequently equated with efficiency, scalability, and good governance. But in disability-focused CSR — particularly in neurodiversity and developmental disabilities — cost per beneficiary is not merely misleading; it […]
CategoriesAwareness CSR and CompaniesEvery year, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) investments in India channel significant resources into education, therapy, skill development, and employment initiatives for persons with disabilities. These efforts are well-intentioned and often substantial in scale. Yet a critical question continues to sit at the margins of CSR decision-making: Are these investments enabling people to live meaningful, valued […]
CategoriesAwareness Research StudiesRethinking Disability, Dignity, and Human Flourishing through SRV and Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach What does it mean to live a good life? For decades, development, education, and disability systems have tried to answer this question through metrics of productivity, independence, economic output, or charity-based support. However, a growing body of scholarship has shown that such […]
CategoriesAwareness Parent SupportBased on training inputs by Mrs. Viveka Chattopadhyay Summary: At Ashish Foundation, learning is designed as an experience—rooted in exploration, participation, and real life—rather than a set of instructions. Through the Discovery Method, or learning by doing, children with autism and developmental disabilities engage with concepts through hands-on, multi-sensory, and visually structured learning, moving beyond […]
CategoriesAwarenessChildren with developmental disabilities in India continue to face an education system that often underestimates their abilities and aspirations. A UNESCO report (2019) highlights that nearly 75% of children with disabilities in India do not attend regular schools, and among those who do, many encounter low expectations, restricted roles, and limited participation in community life. […]
CategoriesAwarenessFriendship, Neurodiversity, and the Power of Interdependence Friendship is one of life’s greatest joys—a source of laughter, belonging, and emotional well-being. But for neurodivergent people, including those on the autism spectrum, forming and sustaining friendships can be more complex due to differences in communication, social understanding, and sensory experiences. In a society that glorifies independence, […]
CategoriesAwareness Parent Support“Autism is one word attempting to describe millions of different stories.” – Duncan, 2012 Autism—what does it really mean? You may have heard phrases like “suffering from autism” or claims that vaccines cause autism. Unfortunately, there are many myths and misconceptions surrounding autism. These myths can be offensive, harmful, stigmatizing, or simply misleading (One Central Health, […]
