This is the tenth and final episode of the first season of Mind ki Baat, a Newslaundry podcast with a neurodivergent host with a focus on the invisible epidemic of mental health issues in society today.

Autism spectrum disorder is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how a person perceives, interacts with, and understands the world. It is fundamentally marked by difficulties in social communication and interaction, presence of restricted and repetitive behaviours, interests or activities. While these core characteristics remain the same, they manifest differently in every autistic individual.

The disorder itself is called a “spectrum” disorder, because it presents in a wide range of severity and characteristics. People with ASD also commonly have sensory sensitivities, and might be over- or under-responsive to sensory stimuli such as lights, sounds, textures and smells.

We talk to Merry Baruah, activist, specific needs educator, and the founder and director of Action for Autism, an organisation that works with individuals with social and communication challenges. We also speak to Anindita Kundu, a queer and neurodivergent psychotherapist with ADHD who is on the autistic spectrum.

Tune in!

Resources

Action for Autism (AFA)

Swabodhini Charitable Trust

Autism India - IRIS

Credits

Script and host: Shardool Katyayan

Producer: Chanchal Gupta

Editor: Umrav Singh

Design: Shambhavi Thakur

Research: Shardool Katyayan