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Listen "Inclusion Story 1: India's First Autistic Model- A Strengths-Based Mindset"
Episode Synopsis
Pranav Bakshi is popularly known as India's first male Autistic model. Pranav claimed his autistic superpowers to design the life he wanted to have. Pranav also says his mom, Anupama, is his second superpower (Autism being his first).
Co-occupation is a term used in occupational therapy to describe occupations where two or more individuals share a high level of physicality, emotionality, and intentionality. Life's occupations are often interdependent, giving meaning and purpose to all involved. Pranav and Anupama's story reflects that.
Today, 23-year-old Pranav has a successful career in modeling and is ambitious about pursuing his life's dreams. This journey was not easy. Pranav's success was made possible by his tireless mother, Anupama, who refused to complain, resent, or give up. She invested her energies in focusing on her son's strengths and interests to help engineer a life that enabled him to do, be, and become what he chose. Their story urges us to rethink possibilities and reframe our interventions.
Key Takeaways:
1. Work hard, play hard
2. If you can't find a village, be the village
3. "....No way should we interfere with the basic personality of our child"- Looking at the larger picture of Autistic idiosyncrasies like obsessions.
4. Are we different because of our challenges?
5.".. ..Cut the crap and be focused on your child."
6. "Divyang"- An "Angel-like" status given to a special needs child in India
7. Caregiver energies must focus on intervention and not sensitization- For that, individuals with disabilities must be visible and accepted in society.
8. "We should not have to justify our child's presence in a particular place…" Humans are not blessed with one IQ. We are an assortment- so we need to let all the differences be.
9. We must give people the chance to make amends.
We all have different roles to play in inclusion. Some of us carry the torch, some take the idea of spreading awareness, and those work in the background (caregivers, educators).
10. Inclusion is very situation-specific- On certain days, it's a 10/10, other times 1/10.
11. Being considerate about inclusion. Look for spaces where you find acceptance, and do not expect everyone to become enlightened.
12. Parents must have faith in service providers, trust their expertise, and have transparency in the relationship to facilitate collaboration.
13. Ensuring generalization of all supports and services to the natural environment.
14. Marvel Movies and Super Heroes- A narrative they used to build an understanding of Autism.
15. We all need cheerleaders, and that makes all the difference!
More of Pranav:
Pranav's Ted Talk
Pranav's Interview- Youthopedia Talk Show
Some News Articles About Pranav:
GQ India
NDTV
1 Special Place
Edex Live
Check out our website- www.inclusiveoccupations.com
Podcast transcript with audio available at Otter.ai-https://otter.ai/u/c3PBb6k2rZvxFSPX5x9VTKPRgt0?utm_source=copy_url
Co-occupation is a term used in occupational therapy to describe occupations where two or more individuals share a high level of physicality, emotionality, and intentionality. Life's occupations are often interdependent, giving meaning and purpose to all involved. Pranav and Anupama's story reflects that.
Today, 23-year-old Pranav has a successful career in modeling and is ambitious about pursuing his life's dreams. This journey was not easy. Pranav's success was made possible by his tireless mother, Anupama, who refused to complain, resent, or give up. She invested her energies in focusing on her son's strengths and interests to help engineer a life that enabled him to do, be, and become what he chose. Their story urges us to rethink possibilities and reframe our interventions.
Key Takeaways:
1. Work hard, play hard
2. If you can't find a village, be the village
3. "....No way should we interfere with the basic personality of our child"- Looking at the larger picture of Autistic idiosyncrasies like obsessions.
4. Are we different because of our challenges?
5.".. ..Cut the crap and be focused on your child."
6. "Divyang"- An "Angel-like" status given to a special needs child in India
7. Caregiver energies must focus on intervention and not sensitization- For that, individuals with disabilities must be visible and accepted in society.
8. "We should not have to justify our child's presence in a particular place…" Humans are not blessed with one IQ. We are an assortment- so we need to let all the differences be.
9. We must give people the chance to make amends.
We all have different roles to play in inclusion. Some of us carry the torch, some take the idea of spreading awareness, and those work in the background (caregivers, educators).
10. Inclusion is very situation-specific- On certain days, it's a 10/10, other times 1/10.
11. Being considerate about inclusion. Look for spaces where you find acceptance, and do not expect everyone to become enlightened.
12. Parents must have faith in service providers, trust their expertise, and have transparency in the relationship to facilitate collaboration.
13. Ensuring generalization of all supports and services to the natural environment.
14. Marvel Movies and Super Heroes- A narrative they used to build an understanding of Autism.
15. We all need cheerleaders, and that makes all the difference!
More of Pranav:
Pranav's Ted Talk
Pranav's Interview- Youthopedia Talk Show
Some News Articles About Pranav:
GQ India
NDTV
1 Special Place
Edex Live
Check out our website- www.inclusiveoccupations.com
Podcast transcript with audio available at Otter.ai-https://otter.ai/u/c3PBb6k2rZvxFSPX5x9VTKPRgt0?utm_source=copy_url
In God we trust