Meet the parents who stepped up to support their neurodiverse children

Time of India

4 days ago

When a child is diagnosed with a neurodivergent condition, families are often thrown into a world of uncertainty — marked by grief, questions, and the daunting task of figuring out what comes next.
But some parents take that moment of upheaval and turn it into action.
Pallavi Shankar
profiles four such parents who didn't just adjust to their children's needs, they reimagined their careers and built spaces where neurodivergent children can learn, thrive and be understood
'I am no martyr. If I'm not at peace, how can I be a good parent?'
Sonia Jaitly, founder of
Oranea Kids
and mother to Udyati (19)
Udyati was around three when she was diagnosed with autism. What followed was a long, overwhelming phase of trying to accept, adjust, and still manage a demanding career.
I was 26 and worked as a telecommunication training head. The realisation that I was unequipped to raise a child with autism made me do a B.Ed in special education. I then left my corporate career to set up Oranea Kids for neurodivergent kids. I devoted seven years to my school, but I missed my career.
So, I returned to my first love and am now working as dean of training and development at a business school.
While it was empowering to return, it wasn't easy.
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The industry is brutal, especially for women. I faced pay cuts and had to work twice as hard just to reclaim leadership. I continue to oversee the school today. I am happy putting in 18 hours daily to manage both roles.
I have been judged by my peers in the autism caregiving community for returning to my former profession. Society still expects mothers to play the martyr, give up their dreams and 'put the kids first' in a performative way.
For some, that may be the right path. For me, it wasn't. I firmly believe: If I feel unfulfilled, how can I show up as a good parent? My well-being matters too. The worst advice I heard a fellow educator give a new parent was: 'Your child is your report card.
' No, your child is their own person, with unique strengths and challenges. Their progress is not a measure of your worth!
'We sold our home to build therapy centre'
Iftekhar Abidi, entrepreneur and father to Insiya (16)
My journey, along with my wife
Pallavi
, began when our elder daughter Insiya was diagnosed with autism and several associated medical conditions at a young age.
Her care and development demanded constant attention, which led my wife and me, then working professionals in the financial sector, to make a big decision to quit our careers to fully support her needs. It was not a personal sacrifice; rather, it was the beginning of a larger vision.
As a father, I realised early on that my daughter would need a structured, safe and empowering environment to live with dignity even beyond our lifetime.
This made me quit my job as VP of a company to step into the uncharted territory of entrepreneurship. I started a dates packing unit, followed by an autism centre, run by my wife, to build a pathway not only for Insiya but also other children with special needs. The journey has not been without hardship.
To fund our efforts, we took tough decisions — including selling our family home and moving into a rented space. But the purpose was clear: to create a safe space for neurodiverse children.
The Fortune Foundation for Special Needs began with just two children in a small room. It has now grown into a fully functional therapy centre for autism and other developmental challenges.
'Giving up the white coat for my son was hard but worth it'
Dr
Sonali Kataria
, founder of
Sunrise Learning Foundation
and mother to Poorab (16)
I was working as an assistant professor at Maulana Azad Medical College when my elder son, Poorab (he has a younger sibling, Yuvaj), was diagnosed with moderate to severe autism. I was travelling in two boats, with one foot in therapy centers and the other in my demanding career.
I felt drained and lost, and wanted to quit my job and become a special educator. But it was not easy. After years of studying medicine, teaching in lecture halls and wearing a white coat with confidence, here I was giving up my dream career.
When I decided to quit, my dean tried to dissuade me. I told him something that feels straight out of a Bollywood script: 'Sir, these MBBS students I'm teaching right now, they'll become great doctors anyway.
But, that little two-year-old at home, he's waiting for me. He won't even become a human being if I don't go home right now. Please allow me to leave.' And he said, 'Yes, you must go.'
I became a full-time caregiver to my child and after a training course in special education, I started a foundation/NGO called Sunrise Learning that provides education and skill-training to children and adults with neurodiversity. To say that setting up this place in a modest, rented place with limited resources was a challenge is an understatement.
There were no funds to hire staff, no housekeeping help, no educators.
I became everything — headmistress, teacher, cleaner, caretaker, gardener. Was it difficult? Yes. Did I miss my previous profession? In flashes, yes. Did I doubt my choice? Never. There were many lows: I had to take loans from family and friends, postpone printing worksheets if the ink ran out, I had to wait four years before I could afford to colour my greying hair.
It was hard, but also deeply meaningful.
By 2018, Sunrise Learning had evolved from a preschool to include a pre-vocational centre, and we rented a bigger building. We have grown to 120 students and a team of 84 individuals. While we struggled for funds, my foundation was rich enough to have a doctor in its team. I didn't take off my doctor's coat because my school needed a doctor. I was available with my experience for a child who puts a chana in his ear and needs urgent intervention, a caregiver didi with a tummy ache and so on.
'I don't hold power at work, but I have the power to change lives'
Namita Rawat, special educator and mother to Pranav (17)
I never imagined I would leave my banking career, which I had worked hard to build after completing my MBA in finance. But when my son Pranav was diagnosed with autism and epilepsy (at 10 months), it turned our world upside down. Out of guilt and pressure, I resigned from my job to focus on his therapies. It was not a planned decision, but a necessary one. After a particularly painful experience in a school, where Pranav (then six) was restrained, I made the conscious decision to pursue a diploma in special education from Action for Autism in Delhi.
Quitting my job was one of the most difficult decisions of my life as it meant leaving behind financial stability and familiar surroundings. But it was also one of the most empowering choices I've ever made. It transformed me not only into a trained professional but also into a better mother, advocate and human being.
In the beginning, I did miss my career — the routine, the recognition and the identity that came with a career in finance.
But today, I can confidently say that I no longer miss it. My current path as a special educator and counsellor feels more fulfilling than any title or position I have ever held. I may not have the same kind of 'power' anymore, but I hold the power to transform lives — to make a difference in the lives of children and families who need support, empathy and guidance.
This is far more rewarding.
Training as a teacher for special children gave me the tools to create structure, modify behaviours, and build communication for my child. It made parenting less overwhelming and more intentional. I became not just a mother but a guide, therapist and cheerleader for Pranav who needed my focused presence after enduring so much from a young age. He has battled epilepsy, undergone various therapies and is navigating a world that often doesn't understand him.
With my newfound understanding, my son Pranav continues to grow, and he has held on to his sense of joy, which gives me the strength to really give my best to both motherhood and teaching.
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