She and her husband, Ved, were speaking on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day on Tuesday during an webinar organised by Lubdhak Research Foundation.(Representative Photo/File)
“My husband and I had never heard the term autism before our son was born. At two-and-a-half years, he wasn’t speaking properly and used to have difficulty in understanding things… it’s only when we enrolled him in a school, that they told us he needs extra care,” said Anupama Tripathi.
She and her husband, Ved, were speaking on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day on Tuesday during an webinar organised by Lubdhak Research Foundation, a Delhi-based nonprofit organisation working for the empowerment of individuals with autism and other developmental disorders.
Their son, 10-year-old Vedang, was diagnosed with the autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Ved, an electrical engineer at ONGC, said, “It was our very first encounter with autism”.
The couple took Vedang to a therapist at the school’s suggestion, where the professional diagnosed him. “We were unable to accept that it’s not a disease and can’t be cured with medication. So we left midway. We went to several other places and only after numerous consultations with various doctors did we gradually start to accept Vedang’s condition.”
Vedang’s parents said he used to be very cranky and used to throw things around. “Concerned with his behaviour, we stopped travelling by trains and public transit. We even refrained from attending family gatherings… We looked at ourselves as failed parents,” shared the couple.
After a lot of trial and error, the Surat-based couple enrolled Vedang, then four, for a one-year Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) therapy in January 2018. “We saw improvements within three months,” said Anupama.
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However, they were worried as Ved had a transferable job and the family was to eventually move to Assam where there were no such therapists. “So I got in touch with the therapy centre in Surat and requested them to teach me the methods and techniques,” Anupama said.
But things took another turn for the family when Covid struck. “I started the course In 2019 but everything shut down in March 2020 due to the pandemic. So I started looking online for someone to supervise my work, and I came to know about BACB – Behaviour Analyst Certification Board in the US. I reached out to them and got Anit’s details…”
Anit Chhetri, a certified Behavioural Analyst and a Masters graduate in ABA, is the director of LSF.
Today, Anupama, a B.Tech and MBA graduate, has been working as a Registered Behaviour Technician (RBT) for the past five years.
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Ved too is a certified RBT. “Initially in August 2019, I started making audiobooks out of her course material to help her save time,” he said.
Later that year, Anupama had surgery and was recommended bed rest for two months. “It was then that I decided to pursue the course and get certified in ABA just like my wife,” said Ved.
The couple currently runs an autism therapy clinic in Surat.
“The major issue in tackling autism is non-acceptance. We have to overcome the social stigma,” said Ved.
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Chhetri, meanwhile, highlighted the shortage of certified professionals in the field in India. “There are around 2,000 to 3,000 master-level analysts in major cities in the US. Meanwhile, there are only two to three such professionals in Indian metros like Delhi.” He said a lack of certified professionals is also a major problem in the acceptance of autism in India.
Himanshu Harsh is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, currently leading on-the-ground coverage in Bihar. With a reporting career rooted in the complexities of the National Capital Region (NCR), Himanshu specializes in the critical intersection of law, crime, and civic governance.
Professional Expertise & Credentials
An alumnus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi, Himanshu brings a rigorous academic foundation to his investigative work. His expertise is characterized by a "ground-up" reporting style, most notably demonstrated during his extensive coverage of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where he analyzed shifting political landscapes and grassroots sentiment.
Specialized Beats
Himanshu’s portfolio reflects versatility, allowing him to navigate diverse industries and social issues:
Civic & Legal Affairs: Extensive experience covering the Delhi reporting beat, focusing on policy implementation and judicial impact.
Automotive Industry: A technical background in reporting on India’s evolving transport and automotive sectors.
Social Fabric & Human Interest: Beyond hard news, he is known for exploring the changing social dynamics of India’s urban and rural heartlands, bringing a human-centric lens to systemic issues.
Personal Interests & Digital Literacy
Outside the newsroom, Himanshu’s deep engagement with technology and gaming informs his understanding of digital trends and the modern information economy. A trained DJ with a passion for music, his diverse personal interests contribute to a well-rounded perspective that resonates across both traditional and digital media platforms. ... Read More
