In Their Corner Archives

Invisible Disabilities: A Parent’s Journey to find her and her child’s voice!

🌟 “Navigating Life with Invisible Disabilities and Inclusion: A Conversation with Suchitra” 🌟

In this deep and eye-opening conversation, Suchitra shares her journey as a parent and advocate for inclusion, shining a light on the struggles, challenges, and triumphs of raising a child with invisible disabilities. From her early dreams of a career in forensic science to her lifelong dedication to disability advocacy, Suchitra takes us through her powerful story of resilience, love, and the pursuit of equality.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or just curious about how you can make a difference, this conversation highlights the importance of exposure, understanding, and the power of asking the right questions. Discover the nuances of invisible disabilities, the reality of sensory issues, and the need for more awareness, empathy, and systemic change in India and beyond.

Key Themes:
The transformative power of exposure and empathy
The complexities of family dynamics around disability
The impact of access to resources and systemic advocacy
Balancing self-care with caregiving responsibilities

👉 Watch now to gain valuable insights and a fresh perspective on inclusion, resilience, and the journey towards a more inclusive world.

Who should watch this? Parents, educators, caregivers, and anyone curious about making a difference in the world of inclusion and support for invisible disabilities.

Parenting, Autism, and Inclusion with Chitra Paul | Just Your Normal Missfit

About the Guest:
Chitra Paul
Co-Founder & Director, Allinclusive Foundation
India Lead, Institute of Neurodiversity (ION)

Chitra is a strong advocate for participatory inclusion and the power of neurodiversity. She considers herself an Ally of the Autistic Community and is extremely passionate about communication inclusion. She firmly believes in the power of lived experiences and the need to include autistic individuals in all aspects of life, including but not limited to those concerning them. She strives to follow the tenet – “Nothing about us, without us!” in every sphere of her life, professional and personal.

Chitra completed her MA in Special Ed and Inclusion from the University of Northampton, UK, and her work involves training special educators and empowering parents. Being trained in the philosophy of Social Role Valorization greatly influences her work; she occasionally contributes as an Associate Faculty for Keystone Institute India. She is also trained in the practice of Narrative Therapy which she uses in her work to support parents of children with autism.

Allinclusive Foundation is an organization that Chitra Co-Founded. The organisation based in Bangalore works to change environments to make inclusion a reality. The role she considers most precious and the one that constantly inspires her, though, is that of being a parent to her 19-year-old autistic son.

Social Media Links:

www.linkedin.com/in/chitrapaul
https://allinclusivefoundation.org/home/
https://ioneurodiversity.org/

In This Episode

🌍 Breaking Barriers in Inclusion & Neurodiversity 🌍
In this episode of Just Your Normal Missfit, I sit down with Chitra Paul, Co-Founder & Director of Allinclusive Foundation and India Lead, Institute of Neurodiversity (ION).

As a parent and advocate for neurodivergent individuals, Chitra shares her journey raising a non-speaking autistic son, navigating early diagnosis, and building a community of support.

We dive deep into:
✅ The emotional journey of receiving an autism diagnosis
✅ The importance of alternative communication methods
✅ Creating truly inclusive spaces at home, school, and work
✅ The role of technology in supporting neurodivergent individuals
✅ The Gendered Impact on Caregivers
✅ The ‘disappearance’ of neurodivergent individuals with high support from society as they grow older

This episode talks about normalising disability and questioning the way we look at productivity.

Wisdom on Autism, Motherhood, Relationships & Career Wisdom: A Conversation with Aparna

What if motherhood didn’t come with a manual, and every milestone felt like a question mark?

In this deeply moving episode, strategist, writer, and parent Aparna joins host Ann Thomas to talk about raising an autistic, nonverbal child and all the shifts, doubts, and growth that come with it.

Together, they explore:

💬 When the red flags show up, but no one believes you
🌀 Gaslighting, grief, and the emotional labour of being “the only one who sees it”
👣 How parenting changes — from toddler meltdowns to teen transitions
🧠 ADHD, silent epilepsy, and rethinking the role of medication
🏫 Why “mainstreaming” isn’t always the answer
🪞 The loneliness of caregiving — and how we find our people anyway
💔 What regret and healing really look like
💡 Finding yourself beyond being a mother

This isn’t just a podcast. It’s a space to feel seen.
Full episode available now on Spotify, Amazon Music & Apple Podcasts.

Drop a 💙 in the comments if you’ve ever had to fight to be heard.
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to support Just Your Normal Missfit.

📌 Connect with us:
🎙️ Podcast Page: / justyournormalmissfit
🌐 More on JYNM & Ann Thomas: https://linktr.ee/jynm

The Everyday Juggle of Raising Misfits with Nikita Crasta

In this episode of “Just Your Normal Missfit,” host Ann Thomas welcomes Nikita Crasta, a communications professional and a fiercely dedicated mom, to discuss what it truly means to raise, support, and champion children who learn and live differently.

Nikita courageously shares her family’s journey: from the first instincts that something was different about her son, through the confusion of early red flags, painful school rejections, and the constant search for an environment where her son could thrive. Together, Ann and Nikita unpack what so many parents of neurodivergent children experience but often keep silent—the guilt, the battles, the patience, and the endless emotional labour.

The conversation candidly explores:

🚩 Spotting the first signs of learning differences, and what to do when others dismiss your concerns
🏫 The reality (and limitations) of “inclusive” education, decoding the gap between policy and practice
🧠 The complex world of multiple diagnoses, navigating dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD while honouring each child’s unique way of learning
🌀 The unseen work: managing arguments, guilt, comparison, and burnout as a parent and professional
👣 Finding—and reshaping—routines that work for neurodivergent kids, from childhood to adolescence
💬 Why refusing to hide or feel ashamed is key to breaking stigma, building community, and changing conversations around learning differences
💡 Tips for other parents: trusting yourself, letting go of comparisons, and boldly carving your own parenting path, even when it means breaking with tradition

They also reflect on maintaining self-care, holding onto career dreams, and how powerful—yet challenging—it can be to find “your tribe” of understanding supporters.

If you’re looking for honest, raw, and relatable insights on the realities of parenting neurodivergent children in India, navigating the labyrinth of educational options, and reclaiming your own identity as a parent, this episode is for you.

🎙️ Podcast Page: / justyournormalmissfit
🌐 More on JYNM: https://linktr.ee/jynm

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more conversations about celebrating every unique mind. Drop your thoughts or experiences in the comments. Let’s break the silence together.

Resilience in the Newsroom and at Home: Ajita Shashidhar on Raising a Child With Autism

What does it mean to balance career ambitions while raising a child on the autism spectrum? In this episode of Just Your Normal Missfit, I sit down with Ajita Shashidhar, National Editor at Fortune India and mother of two sons, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. Ajita opens up about the emotional labour of raising a neurodivergent child, the constant advocacy required, and why she chose not to give up on her professional career despite the challenges.

We talk about the emotional labor of advocacy, the challenges of education systems, sibling dynamics, and why holding onto one’s professional identity is vital for personal sanity. This conversation is a candid yet deeply personal look at resilience, empathy, and courage needed to support neurodivergent individuals. Ajita’s honesty about the struggles and triumphs of parenting while leading a newsroom makes this one of our most moving episodes yet.

Empathy in action: Rashmi Shetty on Autism, Myths and Inclusive Narratives

In this episode of ‘Just Your Normal Missfit,’ we speak with our very special guest Rashmi Shetty, founder and CEO of Cohort Communicationz about the intersection of strategic communication and parenting a child with autism. Together, we explore the intersection of strategic communications and parenting a child with autism. Rashmi, an autism advocate and certified psychology counselor, shares her personal journey and professional insights into creating empathy-driven narratives. The discussion delves into the basics of autism, the importance of customized environments for autistic individuals, and the impact of a supportive community. Rashmi also discusses the Hidden Disability Sunflower initiative for invisible disabilities and what it means for parents who worry about their children’s future after they are gone.

Tune in to learn about the importance of community, the role of communication in inclusivity, and practical solutions for supporting children with autism.