Rising Strong Through Love, Loss, and Leadership: Anu Aga’s Journey

Anu Aga, former Chairperson of Thermax and now a billionaire, didn’t inherit an easy life. She was working in HR when she lost her young daughter to an undiagnosed illness, and years later, her husband Rohinton passed away from a heart attack. Just 48 hours later, she stepped up to lead Thermax. In the year that followed, she also lost her mother-in-law and her 25-year-old son Kurush in a tragic accident. Despite unimaginable loss, Anu found strength through Vipassana meditation and an unwavering belief that life unfolds with a deeper purpose, even when we can’t see it. Her daughter Meher eventually took over Thermax, and together, they’ve continued to build a globally respected company. Vineet, our founder, recently had the privilege of meeting Anu and Meher over a home-cooked meal at Thermax House in Pune. It was a masterclass in humility, grace, and how people never forget how you make them feel. Thank you Anu and Meher, for all the wisdom and warmth.

Micron makes history with the first ever hiring of PwDs in semiconductor industry

Micron Technology India marks a key milestone for leading the way in disability inclusion within the semiconductor industry. With 6 candidates with hearing impairment hired to work at their plant in Sanand, Micron adopted a holistic approach with sensitization, training and basic infrastructural changes to ensure that they provide a safe working environment to these candidates. When we began exploring opportunities at Micron, the idea of persons with disabilities in technical roles seemed daunting because attention to minute details is required, but we knew it was necessary. Through rigorous site visits and collaboration, we proved that inclusion in the semiconductor space isn’t just possible but also essential. Thank you, Micron, for your belief, commitment, and leadership. You’ve not only made space, you’ve made history.

A collaboration with the global leader in recruitment, Michael Page

We're thrilled to welcome Michael Page, a global leader in recruitment, as our latest inclusion partner. As part of their ongoing social impact efforts, they are joining hands with us to deliver inclusive hiring sensitization sessions for their internal teams and client-facing consultants across regions. From identifying and addressing unconscious bias in the recruitment process to learning inclusive hiring strategies across sourcing, screening, and onboarding, our sensitization sessions will give a holistic approach to inclusive hiring. We’re thrilled to be their inclusion partner in this journey and we look forward to a successful collaboration.

A space without judgement, a movie about autism

It’s not every day that you walk into a movie hall and see every seat occupied by neurodivergent individuals and their caregivers. A space where the lights weren’t fully turned off, the sound wasn’t overwhelming, and intermissions could happen at any moment. Tata Power, in collaboration with Anupam Kher Studios, hosted a special movie screening that bring together neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals across India. As a key partner, Atypical Advantage set up experiential booths at these screenings where children, parents, and volunteers participated with wide smiles and open hearts. We were truly honored to be part of such a heartwarming and inclusive celebration.

Girl born with rare debilitating disease secures admission to IIT‑Kanpur

Riddhima Paul, a 19‑year‑old from Malda, West Bengal, born with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and reliant on a wheelchair since childhood, has earned a place at IIT‑Kanpur under the PwD quota for the 2025–26 session. Despite early denial of mainstream schooling and facing severe physical limitations, she topped her classes and scored 94.8% in Class 10 and 90.8% in Class 12. Missing IIT qualification by one mark in 2024, she completed a preparatory year at IIT‑Indore and eventually succeeded in securing her spot. Her journey is celebrated as a powerful testament to perseverance and resilience. (Source: TOI)

SSC mandates original disability certificate for scribe or extra time in exams

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has updated its policies for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD/PwD). Starting with Selection Post Phase XIII and CHSL 2025 exams, candidates requesting a scribe or compensatory time must carry their original disability certificate to the examination centre for verification. Failing to present the original document can result in denial of these accommodations. (Source: TOI)

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 40,000+ talents with disabilities and have worked with 450+ 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.