Our History and Milestones of Autism Society West Bengal (ASWB)
Autism Society West Bengal (ASWB) was registered as a society on 30th December 2002. Initially ASWB started as a parent support group with an evening play group .Indrani Basu along other mothers conducted structured play, for a group of children with Autism. The children involved in the play group were mostly children of the core members of ASWB. Apart from the play group Indrani conducted 1:1 sessions with her younger son and other children of the members.
Soon other families came forward with a request for their child to join the play group, So the playgroup included more and more children.
After a while it was becoming evident that the number of children, who were coming to the play group needed more than play. They needed communication based intervention on a 1:1 session’s format. As many of the children as possible, were accommodated in the 1:1 sessions. However with the lack of trained people it was becoming difficult to accommodate all those who came. Therefore in June 2003, Autism Society West Bengal started DIKSHAN .
Indrani Basu graduated majoring in education and completed her BEd from London University. While working at a mainstream school in India her two sons were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. After the diagnosis, she trained as a special educator specializing in Autism.
In Kolkata she founded Autism Society West Bengal. The organization runs a school – Dikshan – which uses Verbal Behavior Analysis and Structure as a mode of teaching and management. She has a special interest in Asperger Syndrome since her elder son, Amitava, has Asperger syndrome.
She is a resource person for a number of other organizations in India and she also conducts workshops for various organizations in and outside Kolkata.
Indrani is one of the 2009 award winners for creativity and innovation in special education from Heartspring (Kansas, U.S.A)
Milestones of Autism Society West Bengal (ASWB)
2003 – DIKSHAN, A Special School for students with ASD founded.
2004 – DIKSHAN Therapy unit started which provided Hourly Intervention to children with ASWB who were not enrolled in Dikshan.
2005 – The Telegraph Award for the “School that Cares”.
2006– Started Summer School during the summer vacation. (During summer school we accommodate families who cannot avail of our services at other times.)
2008 – ASPIRES, Parent training with child commenced.
2009 – Invited by Organizations in Bangladesh to train teachers & parents.
2009 – Heart springs Award (USA) for innovation in Special Education given to ASWB Founder Director Ms. Indrani Basu
2011 – Usha Uthup sings for Autism.
2011 – Website launched by Governor of West Bengal, His Excellency M. K Naryanan.
2012 – Self Advocacy by three individuals with Autism for World Autism Awareness Day
2013 – The popular regional news channel, 24 Ghanta telecast an interview of Ms. Indrani Basu, Founder Director, Autism Society West Bengal (ASWB).
2014 – A new project Young Adult with Autism Reach out (YAAR) was launched at ASWB.
2015 – Computer and iPad training for the young children with ASD introduced in summer camp.
2016 – Autism Society West Bengal started D. Ed Special Education (Autism) Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) approved course.
2016 – Autism Society West Bengal was awarded ‘Outstanding Institution in the field of Disability’ by Department of Child Development, Department of Women Development, Department of Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal and Office of the Commissioner for Disabilities, Government of West Bengal and Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
2016 – Autism Society West Bengal in collaboration with Asiatic Society & Mental Health Foundation, Kolkata organized a 2 day International Conference on Autism. Theme of the Conference: ‘Autism Spectrum Disorder: Life in the Mainstream.’
2017– Autism Society West Bengal in collaboration with Keystone Institute and National Trust organized a one day workshop on Social Role Valorization (SRV).
2017– A short film about Autism Society West Bengal was telecast by Doordarshan Kendra Kolkata in April, 2017.
2017– Indian Museum observed World Autism Awareness Day by organizing a sit & draw event for individuals with Autism from ASWB.
2017– Ms Indrani Basu was invited as one of the specialist on Autism to formulate the Rehabilitation Council of India’s curriculum for a 6-month Course in “Advanced Certificate in Inclusive Education (cross disability)”.
2017– Ms. Indrani Basu was a member of the Screening Committee of State Awards for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities 2017 conferred by the Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal.
2017– Ms. Indrani Basu, Director, Autism Society West Bengal, was invited as a panelist at the International Conference on Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders to be hosted by the The Ministry of Health of Bhutan, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare of Bangladesh, WHO’s Regional Office for South-East Asia, Shuchona Foundation, and Ability Bhutan Society organized this Conference and World Health Organization South-East Asia Regional Office.
2017– Autism Society West Bengal started soft skill training program for young adults with Autism to help them enhance their social skills which will help them perform better in their professional and personal life.
2018– Autism Society West Bengal shifted to new premises at Mukundapur where the space is more. ASWB has started the afternoon respite unit where individuals with autism will spend their leisure time. We have also started an afternoon unit of the school, Dikshan II. An Occupational Therapy room has been designated and all items related to OT have been gifted by Inner Wheel Club of Central Calcutta District 329.
2018– Keystone Institute organized two workshops in partnership with Autism Society West Bengal.
2019– In April, 2019 two art exhibitions by Aarohan Pre-Vocational unit Trainees and Dikshan students were organized by Indian Museum and The Asiatic society in collaboration with ASWB.
2019– A book on ‘Understanding Autism Through the lens of Parents and Professionals’ edited by Dr. Subir Dutta and Dr. Mitu De was published by The Asiatic Society.
2019– YAAR turned 5 (five) years. The celebration was held in association with The Asiatic Society and Rotaract club of Heritage Institute of Technology.
2019– ASWB participated actively in the Autism Quiet Hour with Big Bazaar.
2019– ASWB was the social partner of Samaj Sebi Sangha, a well known Durga Puja Committee of Kolkata.
2019– Person Centred Planning started in ASWB with the guidance of Elizabeth Neuville, Director, Keystone Institute.
2019– ASWB was one of the knowledge partners at the International Conference on Sustainability and Healthcare.
2020– Outreach program started in Jhargram and Nityaberia, Nazat, 24 Parganas (North). In March, 2020.
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