The Velvi Art for Autism Festival is a unique and exciting confluence of nationally and internationally renowned artistes and the autism community to celebrate talent and culture, make friends and have fun. We bring you feedback of the participants - youngsters and their parents - and details on this year’s Festival held over three days in Bangalore recently.

Mitr is a vibrant community centre in Chennai for parents who have children with special needs, where you can bond with like-minded families, sit back and relax at the Special Needs Mitr Cafe, or engage in an exciting range of vocational classes and activities held for both parents and kids.

On Fragile X Awareness Day, Avanti Balachander,18 shares her insights of living with her brother who has Fragile X and ADHD. And her three wishes. 

16 years ago my brother was born. 14 years ago he was diagnosed with Fragile X and ADHD. I would like to say it was all dandy. And that once we knew what the issue was we could work on it. But man it was difficult. No one knew anything about Fragile X back then, we had to figure it out as we went. 

Madhusudan Srinivas, parent of a 24 year old autistic boy, Abhimanyu, shares the surprises a day throws up for families of people with autism. His life's vision is to ensure enjoyable evenings for all people with special needs, especially the community of young adults with autism. 

Blips on a screen, jumble of words for you, but way beyond reality bites for me, and for us in the autism community. 

Hi all, this is Madhusudan Srinivas, father of Abhimanyu  24 and autistic, and HAPPY, in New Delhi.