I am the father of 22-year-old girl. Deeply loving, trusting and vivacious. She also happens to be autistic.

While, we feel sad that she may not be able to enjoy a ‘normal’ life leading to marriage, a regular job, family… we are also proud of her determination to acquire life skills and vocational training.

I am the father of 22-year-old girl. Deeply loving, trusting and vivacious. She also happens to be autistic.

While, we feel sad that she may not be able to enjoy a ‘normal’ life leading to marriage, a regular job, family… we are also proud of her determination to acquire life skills and vocational training. What we wouldn’t trade for anything else is her innocence that allows us to retain the joy that my wife Sumana and I first experienced as new parents.

That is what the heart says.

The mind is like, ‘there is so much care and responsibility involved. Who will step in to attend to her personal needs when Sumana and I are travelling.’

‘I am also not getting younger. Who will take care of her, when we are no more?’

‘Health is one aspect. How can we ensure the physical security of a vulnerable young woman with limited verbal skills against black sheep?’

I’d be lying if I said, I didn’t lose sleep.

But, Sumana and I aren’t the kind to wallow in self-pity. We said, ‘why not help her and others like her by thinking out-of-the-box?’

Buoyed by the rich experience of Akshadhaa Foundation in caring for, educating and training neurodiverse individuals, we are well on our way to developing Akshadhaa Assisted Living Community. It is not going to be just days going by This is about real living, with people, with real-time creative engagement…all the works.

The parent-led initiative will enable neurodiverse individuals and their families to have connected but independent and enriching lives.

The idea has found resonance among many families. But there are still a few concerns among guardians of female autistic individuals.

‘How can we entrust the security of our daughter to a third party?’

This is quite natural. I asked myself the same question before deciding that Aishani will stay in the same community as other neurodiverse female individuals.

Here is what we came up with

• Strict screening of care giving, training and maintenance staff
• Clear segregation of accommodation for male and female neurodiverse residents
• Optimal ratio one is to six of female staff for every resident with flexible support options based on the changing needs
• AI-enabled security and access control system and alarm systems
• Unique visibility and access to parents with a structure in place
• Parent-led safety committee supported by professionals to continually review safety
• Daily health checks to track any possible adverse change
• Food to invigorate and rejuvenate life force
• Creative programs to make every day worth looking forward to

Having shared all this, I understand that it is still a big leap of faith for many of you.

All I can say is that you don’t have to go through the pain by yourself.