As part of World Autism Awareness Month, India Autism Center, in collaboration with The Quantum Hub, Special Olympics Bharat and The Accessibility Coalition, organised the ‘Sports for All’ initiative to promote equitable access and participation in sports for neurodiverse individuals.
The programme featured a felicitation ceremony led by Mallika Nadda and Geeta Mandaviya, along with Jaishankar Natarajan, Sakhi Singhi, and Rohit Kumar.
A key highlight was the recognition of four young neurodivergent swimmers—Meka Sri Ashvath, Gunturu Lav, Gunturu Kush, and Thanvesh Navin—for completing a 60 km open-water relay swim across the Palk Strait between Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar in 18 hours.
The initiative also hosted a multi-stakeholder panel on building an equitable sporting ecosystem, moderated by Nipun Malhotra, with participation from experts across sports, policy, and accessibility domains.
Organisers emphasised the need to move beyond participation towards structured pathways that enable skill development, confidence, and long-term growth for neurodiverse individuals. The initiative aligns with IAC’s broader vision of “Samaavesh,” a sustainable, community-based residential ecosystem for lifelong care and support.
The event highlighted the role of collaboration between policymakers, institutions, and communities in embedding inclusion into mainstream sports and building a more accessible, equitable sporting landscape in India.
Jaishankar Natarajan, CEO and Director, India Autism Center, shared, “The young athletes felicitated today stand as a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when individuals are met with the right opportunities, encouragement, and support systems. Their journey, perseverance, and achievements did challenge and redefine conventional perceptions of ability and potential.”
Dr Mallika Nadda, President, Special Olympics Bharat, said, “A more inclusive sporting culture demands collective effort from institutions, policymakers, educators, and communities. Initiatives like these are important in driving that conversation forward - bringing together diverse voices to reflect on accessibility, training, representation, and the pathways needed to create more inclusive sporting ecosystems.”
Nipun Malhotra, CEO, Nipman Foundation & Director – Disability and Inclusion at The Quantum Hub, said, “Building an equitable sporting ecosystem requires intentional collaboration across policy, infrastructure, and community engagement. Initiatives like ‘Sports for All’ play a critical role in bridging these gaps by aligning stakeholders and creating pathways that are not only inclusive but also sustainable."
