April 2nd is celebrated globally as World Autism Awareness Day to raise awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and emotional expression. This special edition features three powerful stories to commemorate the day.

“He’ll catch up,” they said. And He Did: Story of Shreyas Das

Shreyas Das was born at just seven months. His mother noticed he wasn’t speaking like other kids, but everyone said, “He’ll catch up.” At three, doctors confirmed what she had feared—Shreyas had autism. His mother started therapy. For him words were hard, but colours weren’t. While holding a pencil frustrated him, he could hold a paintbrush for hours. “Art gives me confidence”, he said. 

Then, in December 2024, something incredible happened—he got an opportunity to showcase his painting at London Art Exhibition. His mother was apprehensive because Shreyas had just undergone a major operation. But guess what? A pre-mature baby who couldn’t hold a pencil, not just showcased, but sold an artwork in LONDON! His family was overjoyed, but the most touching moment came from his 80-year-old grandfather, who has mild dementia. Seeing the exhibition photos, he smiled and said, “I may forget other things, but I’ll remember that my grandson’s painting sold in London!” With teary eyes Shreyas’ mother said, “This is the best news of the year for us.” 

A kid who never stopped being curious: Story of R Kedhar

A smiling cute and curious kid. That’s how R Kedhar's infant days looked. But everything changed when he was diagnosed with autism. Smiles turned to frustration. Cuteness faded, but the curiosity remained. When autism tried to tear him apart, art held him together. Kedhar expressed his feelings through paintings, capturing his world on small canvases.

Life shifted when TATA Power in Bangalore approached him for an 18 ft x 6 ft mural. There was hesitation on both sides. "Can we trust an autistic person with such a big project?" wondered Tata Power. "Can my child do it?" thought his mother. Until then, Kedhar had only created smaller artworks at home. But a mother’s instinct whispered—he could. To prepare, they started small. Kedhar painted a scaled-down version, planning every detail. On the big day, he stood before the vast blank wall, brushes in hand, ready to transform it. With his mother’s encouragement and his own meticulous planning, Kedhar worked tirelessly. In just two days, the mural came to life—a stunning visual on autism awareness. As his mother watched him admire his work, she knew Kedhar had broken a barrier.

The Boy Who Spoke Through His Fingers: Story of Kabir Vernal

Kabir was just like every other kid. By age two, his laughter and chatter filled Vernal’s family home. But then the words slipped away. At two and a half, he was diagnosed with autism. His voice vanished, replaced by frustration. Amid the struggle, his mother noticed his fascination with textures. Sticky cello tape became his favourite toy. She then thought: What if I give him colours? Kabir smeared them across the paper like a language only he understood. It was as if the words he lost were reborn through his fingertips. And then, the world listened.

His abstract piece, "Lily Pad," was chosen by Arrow for their Joy of Giving campaign. Not just to display it. But print it. On T-shirts. Real people, wearing his art — not out of sympathy, but admiration. Pride gleamed in his mother’s eyes as she watched strangers admire her son’s art. But for Kabir, it wasn’t the applause that mattered. It was the colours — still vivid, still his own. 

Atypical Advantage is India’s largest livelihood platform for Persons with Disabilities(PWD). Whether it is a singer looking for a show, a visual artist looking to sell their paintings, or job seekers with disabilities looking for career opportunities, it bridges the supply & demand side inefficiencies so that Persons with Disabilities can earn a dignified income. We have a large pool of 30,000+ talents with disabilities and have worked with 400+ corporates within a short span of 4 years. We were also featured on Shark Tank Season 2 and were declared the winner of the prestigious National Startup Award for Social Impact, and the National Award for Best Organization empowering persons with disabilities in 2024, conferred by the Union Government. For more information, visit our website here.