Nayi Disha Chronicle

Highlights and Reflections from 2024

In 2024, Nayi Disha remained steadfast in our mission to empower families of children with Autism, Down Syndrome, and other developmental disabilities. This year, we prioritised fostering safe and inclusive environments through the Open Door Policy and Child Protection Policy sensitisation. Our events, workshops, and training sessions reached countless parents, caregivers, educators, and professionals, driving awareness and action on these critical issues. The year also marked a transformative phase of growth for Nayi Disha as we proudly employed persons with disabilities, embodying inclusivity in action. We forged meaningful partnerships with state governments, expanded our community of families and stakeholders, and scaled initiatives to ensure even more families received the support and resources they need to thrive.

As we step into 2025, here’s a recap of the milestones we achieved this year. Stay tuned for more!

Expansion of offerings?

We added more languages to our helpline, thus bridging the communication gap for parents and caregivers across India and ensuring inclusive and accessible support for families of children with Autism, Down Syndrome, and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our helpline is now available in eight languages - English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam, and Tamil.

We also added 1,600+ service professionals to our directory and 625 caregivers and parents to our support groups thus scaling and strengthening our community. Through workshops and helpdesks, we sensitised and trained 3,349 caregivers across eight states in four different languages.

Partnering with the government

This year, we partnered with the government the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Composite Regional Centres across Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra to enhance access to critical resources and training for parents and caregivers. Through collaborations with them, we conducted workshops and trainings in eight cities, launched regional language initiatives such as ‘Know your Rights’ and advocated for inclusive policies while also sensitising over 90 caregivers about the Disability Pension in Gwalior.?

Recognised as the Scaling Fellow for 2024-25?

We were selected as a Scaling Fellow 2024-25 by Zero Project Scaling Solutions which focuses on transferring and advancing outstanding innovations for persons with disabilities to new countries and regions. The award celebrates high-tech innovations and hands-on solutions directly addressing end-users’ needs. Nayi Disha was selected from a pool of more than 1,000 innovative solutions and was celebrated for leveraging technology for social good.

For the Parents, by the Parents: Abhivyakti @Bhopal

Abhivyakti, Nayi Disha's flagship event celebrating inclusivity, creativity, and community, was held for the first time in Bhopal this November. The event showcased soulful performances and engaging stalls championing awareness and inclusivity. Organised by the parents, for the parents, Abhivyakti brought together over 500 people including children, parents, caregivers, staff, and wellwishers and fostered a sense of empowerment and connection.

Walking the talk

This year at Nayi Disha, we embraced two transformative changes: first, we proudly employed individuals with disabilities, furthering our commitment to inclusivity and empowerment. Second, we upgraded our website to deliver multilingual resources and enhanced accessibility, making our services more inclusive for diverse communities. These milestones reflect our dedication to creating meaningful opportunities, celebrating diverse talents, and fostering a world where everyone is valued for their abilities, not their limitations. Together, we continue to walk the talk and pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future.

About Us

Nayi Disha is a lifelong partner for families and caregivers of children with Autism, Down syndrome, and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. We help the child reach their true potential by providing their families and caregivers with information, resources, and guidance through a reliable and evolving digital hub and supportive peer community. We help families by providing a support ecosystem throughout their journey via a national directory of verified medical professionals, parent communities and support groups, and evidence-based information resources. We also run a FREE Helpline (+91-844-844-8996) where parents can call or WhatsApp for any queries. Our team can speak eight languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam, and Tamil. 

We welcome inquiries and opportunities for collaboration. Write to us at [email protected] or call our free helpline 844-844-8996 today.