Kolkata: The City of Joy is witnessing a convention highlighting the remarkable resilience of parents who has turned their personal experiences into a mission to build a more accepting and inclusive world for their children with autism.
A three-day Second Autism Convention was flagged off in Kolkata on Thursday — a parent-led initiative that redefined conversations around autism and neurodiversity.
Themed "By the Parents, for the Parents," the convention has parents and experts from various walks of life deliberating on an inclusive society to make the life and journey of those with autism fair and equitable.
"The Autism Convention marks an important step toward greater awareness and inclusion. When parents and professionals come together with shared understanding and purpose, it leads to real change. Efforts like this remind us that every individual with autism deserves equal respect, opportunity, and a sense of belonging in society," said Upali Roy Nee Mukherjee, Director and Ex-Officio Special Secretary, Directorate of Mass Education Extension, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, West Bengal, during the inauguration.
The three-day national event is aimed at raising awareness, understanding, and empathy for individuals on the autism spectrum by bringing together voices that challenged stigma and inspired hope. Moving away from the traditional medical model of autism management, the convention placed strong emphasis on the social model — advocating community parenting and working towards making Kolkata a truly autism-friendly city.
Rather than focusing solely on therapy, academics, or ‘fixing' a child with autism, the event highlighted a lifelong, solution-centric approach that supports and empowers families throughout their journey.
Dr Rudrajit Sinha, Laparoscopic Surgeon and Organising Secretary of Autism Convention Kolkata 2025 said, "Understanding autism goes beyond awareness — it calls for compassion, patience, and inclusion in every sphere of life.
This convention is an example of how collaboration between parents, professionals, and advocates can create real impact."
Other dignitaries who took part in the inauguration included Bedanga Biswas, joint secretary, Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Department, Merry Barua, Founder Director, Action for Autism and Dr Jai Ranjan Ram, Consultant Psychiatrist.
What made the moment special was that it was by the parents, for the parents — an initiative led by those who live this journey every day.