The question “What is autism” has concerned everybody who has come across an autistic person. Researchers have been trying to answer this affirmatively, for many decades now. But these descriptions are based on external observations and many a time; do not completely match the lived experiences of Autistic people. Yet, we seldom have public discussions about autism from the point of view of an Autistic person.
To celebrate autism awareness month in April 2021, we are organising: This is my autism: a one of its kind conference in India. It will feature only Autistic presenters, who will educate us about how autism looks like from the inside. We hope that these stories and ideas will lead us to better understand Autism and support our loved ones who are Autistic.
This conference is available for free to all who want to participate.
We will be advertising for businesses run by Autistic people. Through this, we hope to support and encourage Autistic people’s ideas, talents and livelihood without charging them for advertising.
However, we are incurring expenses to organise this event. Therefore, we encourage you to donate as per your financial ability.
The following topics may not be appropriate to the theme and vision of the conference, and therefore will not be encouraged.
We expect the following categories of people to attend this conference.
Audience will be allowed to type in their questions throughout the session. One of the organisers from the TruHap team will make a list of all the questions. The Question and Answer session will be scheduled after every three presentations.
Date | Event |
6th March 2021 | Abstract submissions open |
22nd March 2021 | Last date to submit abstract |
29th March 2021 | Submitters informed of acceptance or non-acceptance of abstract |
5th April 2021 | Roster or schedule of presentations published |
10th, 11th, 17th and 24th April 2021 | Practice or mock for the presenters |
18th April 2021 (4pm to 7pm) | Day 1 of conference |
25th April 2021 (4pm to 7pm) | Day 2 of conference |
1. Many of our presenters have no prior experience in giving presentations to the audience. All we want is to give them a platform to voice their opinions.
2. We request you to accept our presenters if they are unable to follow the social norms of self presentation and encourage our presenters to not feel embarassed when they stim, forget and ask for help.
Session number | Title | Time | Presenter | Type |
Session 1 | Introduction | 4 PM – 4.05 PM | Rakshita | |
Session 2 | I Was a Magic Candle Too | 4.05 PM – 4.15 PM | Devrupa Rakshit | Poetry |
Session 3 | Autism and Romantic Relationships | 4.15 PM – 4.25 PM | Pranav Sethi | Talk |
Session 4 | Invisible | 4.35 PM – 4.45 PM | Sushmita Ganguly | Talk |
Session 5 | Autism and Addiction: A discussion | 4.45 PM – 5 PM | David Gray-Hammond | Interview |
Session 6 | Q&A | 5 PM – 5.15 PM | ||
Session 7 | Autism and the power of self reconciliation | 5.15 PM – 5.25 PM | Anand Balasubramanian | Talk |
Session 8 | This is My Autism: My Autism through pictorial representations | 5.25 PM – 5.35 PM | Janak Doctor-Gregory | Art Talk |
Session 9 | Making sense of autism: Monotropism and the mind as an interest system | 5.35 PM – 5.50 PM | Fergus Murray | Talk |
Session 10 | Q&A | 5.50 PM – 6.05 PM | ||
Session 11 | Music, Emotional Regulation, and Connection | 6.05 PM – 6.15 PM | Spandna | Music |
Session 12 | Thinking through Art : A journey of my relationship with art | 6.15 PM – 6.25 PM | Ritika Gupta | Art |
Session 13 | I am a self-advocate. How can I help you? | 6.25 PM – 6.40 PM | Chris Beedt | Q&A |
Session 14 | Q&A | 6.40 PM – 6.55 PM | ||
Session 15 | conclusion | 6.55 PM – 7.00 PM |
Session number | title | time | presenter | type |
Session 16 | introduction | 4 PM – 4.05 PM | ||
Session 17 | Journey to the cosmos | 4.05 PM – 4.15 PM | Aranya Chakrabarti | musical performance |
Session 18 | Prose on Life | 4.15 PM – 4.25 PM | Laura Murray | prose |
Session 19 | I am not rude. | 4.25 PM – 4.35 PM | Sofia Akbar | talk |
Session 20 | My Life in Photos | 4.35 PM – 4.40 PM | Kabir Kumtha | photo display |
Session 21 | I and my Autism | 4.40 PM – 4.45 PM | Tarun Verma | poster |
Session 22 | Hide and Seek | 4.45 PM – 4.55 PM | Mel Duncan | talk |
Session 23 | Using avaz | 4.55 PM – 5 PM | Varun | interview |
Session 24 | Q&A | 5 PM – 5.15 PM | ||
Session 25 | How I learnt I was autistic at 28 | 5.15 PM – 5.25 PM | Rupalim Hazarika | talk |
Session 26 | MY AUTISM IS LIKE….. | 5.25 PM – 5.35 PM | Drishaan Grover | talk |
Session 27 | Sense in rhythm | 5.35 PM – 5.50 PM | Ashwin Shekhar | musical performance |
Session 28 | Q&A | 5.50 PM – 6.05 PM | ||
Session 29 | The Hidden Autistic Workforce | 6.05 PM – 6.15 PM | Laura McConnell | talk |
Session 30 | Healthy Autistic Boundaries | 6.15 PM – 6.30 PM | Moriah Williams | talk |
Session 31 | The Sensory of Self Advocacy | 6.30 PM – 6.45 PM | Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez | talk |
Session 32 | Q&A | 6.45 PM – 7.05 PM | ||
Session 33 | conclusion | 7.00 PM – 7.05 PM |