Autism in India EXPLAINED: Guide for Parents | Parenting Aaj Kal Ep 6

In the episode 6 of Parenting Aaj Kal, developmental pediatrician and host Dr. Vibha Krishnamurthy sits down with Nidhi Singhal, Clinical Psychologist, Director, Action For Autism and Ved Gangoly, 22-year-old autistic advocate, Social work student, to unpack the questions families ask most — starting with the toughest one: “Doctor, when will my autistic child become normal?”

This episode answers those real questions with clear, dignity-first, neurodiversity-affirming guidance: Dr. Vibha reframes “normal,” Ved shares his lived experience, and Nidhi explains disclosure, anxiety, and why community support matters as much as therapy — making this a practical autism in India – Hindi guide for families.

#ParentingAajKal is a Much Much Media original series hosted by one of India’s most loved pediatricians, Dr Vibha.

Watch new episodes every Thursday.

Chapters:
0:00 – Episode preview
0:59 – Meet the host and the guests
2:40 – Talking about disability at home and everyday inclusion
4:08 – Ved’s autism journey: early autism diagnosis, therapy
5:11 – “The talk” at home: how parents can tell a child they’re autistic
6:53 – Feelings after diagnosis: fear vs relief
7:42 – School & learning differences
8:14 – Should you tell your child?
10:16 – What autistic kids feel but can’t say
11:28 – Ved on sensory overload
15:19 – How to talk to allies about autism
17:27 – Parent advocacy in school
19:17 – Challenges in school
21:46 – First job & support at work as an autistic adult
22:22 – Finding autism support in India
24:52 – Rethinking goals: from “fixing” to self-understanding, communication, and self-advocacy
26:57 – Media representation
28:35 – Strength from community
30:05 – Anxiety, meltdowns & sensory triggers: signs, supports, meltdowns
33:54 – Misunderstandings & communication
36:00 – “When will my child be normal?”: Neuroaffirming answer for parents
38:58 – What Ved’s parents did right—actionable ideas for families
40:46 – Rapid fire
44:37 – Outro

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Parenting Aaj Kal is now on:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/b16f...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3W6tXAH...

​​Parenting Aaj Kal is a first-of-its-kind Hindi chat show that brings honest, emotional, and real conversations about modern parenting in India, aiming to become a safe and relatable space for families to talk openly about the challenges and joys of raising children today.

This series brings together parents, youth voices, and leading experts across India. Each episode dives into culturally relevant issues that Indian families face but rarely talk about — all in Hindi – all grounded in science, compassion, and lived experience.

ABOUT THE HOST:
Dr. Vibha Krishnamurthy is one of India’s leading developmental pediatricians, with 30+ years of experience supporting children and families. After training in the U.S., she returned to India to champion family-centered care. Parenting Aaj Kal continues her mission: making tough parenting conversations easier and ensuring no parent feels alone.

ABOUT MUCH MUCH MEDIA:
Much Much Media is a Mumbai-based purpose-led impact storytelling company creating content that sparks real conversations and lasting change. Through films, shows, and digital storytelling, we center lived experiences around disability, neurodiversity, gender, family, and youth. With a mission to make impact visible, Much Much Media collaborates with communities, experts, and changemakers to tell stories that are deeply personal yet universally resonant.

Our platform, Much Much Spectrum, is a youth-led community space known for our bold, honest, and affirming tone – reaching a 75k+ strong audience across the world.

CREDITS:
PRODUCED BY: Much Much Media
HOST: Dr Vibha Krishnamurthy
CREATED BY: Aditi and Aalap
DIRECTOR: Aditi Gangrade
PRODUCERS: Aalap Deboor, Aditi Gangrade

ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS: Harshita Bajaj, Kenneth Abraham
DOP: Anirudh Menon
CAMERA OPERATORS: Anit Jaiswar, Sapna Jaiswal, Kanak Prasad
LP: Vipul A Mehta
EP: Shravan Leekha
COMMUNITY & EDITORIAL LEAD: Aastha Pol
DESIGN LEAD: Mahesh Jain
EDITOR: Aarav Agrawal
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Anita Subramanian
DI: Praveen Shetty
SOUND DESIGN: Abhinav Prajapati

FINANCE & LEGAL: Riddhi Dharod, Hemal Makwana
ACCOUNTANTS: Kishore Parekh & Co, Dhanalaxmi Bhanushali
HR: Elizabeth Deboor
LOGISTICS: Murali Wadhwa
ON-SET PHOTOGRAPHERS: Nimisha Solanki, Tanaya Pandey
ON-LOCATION SOUND: Sanjay Sharma
GAFFER: Gopal Giri
CAMERA CARETAKERS: Abhishek, Ashok, Arjun, Auvdesh
LIGHT CARETAKERS: Uttam, Budha, Gajendra
HMU: Shashi, Goodu
PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS: Neeraj, Dinesh, Prashant
LOCATION: Ambar Samtani

#AutismParenting #Autism #HindiPodcast