SAMBODHI 2025- PARENT, FACULTY AND POSTGRADUATE EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME ON AUTISM
The Department of Kaumarabhritya (Ayurveda Paediatrics) at SDM Institute of Ayurveda and Hospital (SDMIAH), Bengaluru, organized “SAMBODHI 2025 – A Workshop on Empowering Parents of Kids with ASD and REELS Training for Staff and Postgraduates” on 28th April 2025, marking Autism Awareness Month.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Mrs. Kusuma, Executive Officer; Dr. Gururaj, Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Prathibha, PG Coordinator; Dr. Reena Kulkarni, Professor and Head of the Department, Dr. Girish Kumar S. V., Associate Professor, Dr. Srilakshmi, Associate Professor, Dr. Priyanka H. S, Assistant Professor; and Dr. Pravitha P, Assistant Professor. The session began with traditional rituals, including the lighting of the lamp and watering of the Tulasi plant, symbolizing the auspicious start of the event.
During the inaugural session, two informative video reels on Autism, conceptualized and drafted by the postgraduate scholars of the Department of Kaumarabhritya, were officially inaugurated. These reels aimed to raise awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD), highlighting early signs, intervention strategies, and the importance of holistic support. The initiative was well-appreciated by attendees for its creativity and educational value.
The morning session included REELS (Receptive-Expressive Emergent Language Scale) training, conducted by Ms. Monika Prasenan, Speech and Language Pathologist experts from Rapture Therapy Centre, followed by a PG orientation programme where final-year postgraduate scholars presented various autism assessment tools. The morning session of the workshop concluded with the felicitation of the guest speakers, acknowledging their valuable contributions. The session was well-received by both staff and postgraduate scholars, who appreciated the depth of knowledge shared and actively engaged in meaningful interactions throughout. The training was recognized as highly informative and beneficial for enhancing clinical understanding and practical skills in speech assessment.
In the parent-focused sessions which was held afternoon, Mrs. A. Shakila Banu, Founder of JDC Sparsha Educational Trust, spoke on Managing Sensory Issues in ASD Children from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Dr. Reena Kulkarni presented the department’s SAMBODHI Autism Protocol, outlining an integrative approach to autism care. Further sessions included Dr. Girish Kumar S. V. on Diet in Autistic Children, Dr. Srilakshmi on Addressing Sleep Issues in ASD, Dr. Priyanka H. S. on Speech Issues Management in ASD, and Dr. Pravitha P. on Managing Gut Health in ASD.
The programme concluded with a felicitation ceremony for the guest speakers, followed by high tea, providing an opportunity for interaction and feedback. A total of 20 parents of children with ASD from various parts of Bengaluru and across Karnataka attended the event. The participants expressed high appreciation for the well-organized sessions, valuable insights, and the overall arrangements. They found the workshop both informative and empowering, and many requested that such awareness programmes and hands-on workshops be conducted regularly, preferably on a monthly basis, to continue building support and knowledge in managing ASD effectively.
