Nine months ago we set up Much Much Spectrum and started talking about our lived experience as late diagnosed autistics. Our team has been dedicatedly working towards telling honest stories of neurodivergence and disability. We believe in looking at things as a spectrum and from an intersectional lens. Another thing we strongly believe in is that like-minded people are brought together by the universe.
In December, Jo McGowan-Chopra, the Executive Director of Latika Roy Foundation, wrote to us saying she came across our work and that she’d love for us to come down to Dehradun to share our story with her team at their annual event.
Now, Jo is someone we admire a lot. For decades now she’s done some path breaking stuff in our space, to ensure a better future for children with disabilities in India.
She has demonstrated to the world the power of inclusive education. And I'm amazed by the sheer modesty and humility she speaks with.
So we went to Dehradun and spoke to team LRF. The amazingly neuro-affirming staff there, comprising educators, caregivers, professionals and neurodivergents, held space for us to slowly unmask as we told our story to a live audience (rather nervously) for the first time.
It came to us so naturally. Just like filmmaking does. And it felt good being vulnerable. We spoke about our experience as late-discovered autistics, Autism in women and other intersectionalities, dating and relationships, and delved into our experiences with masking, sensory overload, executive function challenges, and difficulties with social communication at different stages in our lives.
And hearing about their experiences working with children with disabilities made us believe more that inclusion could be achieved only when it's a community-led effort. People from all walks of life - individuals with disabilities, caregivers, parents, professionals, educators, and allies - will have to come together to make this happen.