(India) Autism parents ask: 'Who will support our son when we are no longer around?'

June 15, 2025, ABP:  EXCLUSIVE | 'What Happens After Us?': The Unanswered Question Haunting Parents Of Autistic Children

For many Indian parents of autistic children, the biggest fear isn't today but tomorrow, who will care for, understand, and support their children after they are gone?

"What after us? Who will look closely into these things after we are gone?" is a profound question that most Indian parents of autistic children can identify with. There is an employment quota for disabled people in India, but there are no plans for autistic children.

When parents consider their child's future, they are troubled by the government's indifference to autistic children and its inadequate understanding of autism. A comprehensive future for children with autism is not supported by India's current infrastructure.

"I won't be controlling things from a photograph; that is impossible, right? This thought definitely crosses my mind, which brings a terrible anxiety that always remains with parents like us. We are looking for a place, or continuing to look for a place, where our children will remain secure after we are gone," said Sumon Bhattacharya, a resident of Kolkata, whose son Binayak is a special child.

1 In Every 65 Children

As per available data, approximately 18 million people live with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism is more commonly seen to occur among males than females. Analysis done in the Indian Pediatric Journal shows that ASD affects about one in every 65 to 68 children between the ages of two and nine.

Although the exact causation of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is unknown, a wealth of studies suggests that a complex interaction of genetic, neurological, and environmental variables leads to its development. A person with this neurodevelopmental disorder is born with abnormalities in the structure and wiring of their brain. . . .

Both at the federal and state levels, parents observe that government infrastructure has not yet expanded much. Additionally, parents report that formal career prospects for young people with autism are quite uncommon.

This demonstrates the clear difference between a handicap brought on by autism and other disabilities; since each autistic child is different, studying one does not necessarily reflect the whole. Every youngster needs a distinct kind of support system. Therefore, without a thorough grasp of autism, it is extremely difficult for an organisation to properly give this support. . . .

In a world where schools often shut their doors for autistic children and workplaces don't offer a seat, India Autism Centre is acting like the bridge between opportunities and autism so that no child or youth remains deprived of having a good career and future.

Suresh Kumar Somani, Managing Trustee, India Autism Center stated that when he started the India Autism Center, it was driven by a simple yet urgent realisation: while awareness around autism was growing, families continued to struggle to find comprehensive, lifelong support for their children. "As a parent of a son on the autism spectrum, my wife and I have experienced firsthand the questions, uncertainties, and concerns that many families face every day. One question, in particular, stayed with us over the years: What happens after us? Who will support our son when we are no longer around? Who will understand his needs and ensure that he continues to live a life of dignity?"

That question became the driving force behind the India Autism Center and continues to shape his vision for Samaavesh. Today, the India Autism Center is working to build that ecosystem through clinical services, early intervention, education, skill development, caregiver training, research, advocacy, and community engagement. . . .