The Special Needs Children Podcast - with Chitra Iyer

One hundred episodes. One hundred conversations that mattered. Countless moments of courage, vulnerability, learning, and hope. With every story shared and every expert voice heard, The Special Needs Children Podcast has become more than a platform — it has become a safe space for families, caregivers, and professionals walking this journey together. Episode 100 is not just a milestone. It is a re...

Airports. Wheelchairs. Priority boarding. Favourite snacks packed across continents. Medicines are divided into two bags. Hotel doors secured at night.   There are meltdowns. There are delays. There are stares. But above all, there is joy. And there are memories. Families of children with special needs do not travel less. They travel differently. A special needs family does not need to stay at hom...

In this episode of The Special Needs Children Podcast , Chitra Iyer is joined by her husband, Ravi Iyer, as they share their story of having fun travelling, learning, and growing with their son, Shravan. His fascination with wheels has inspired them to want to travel the world with him. Do listen to their story to know how they dream of showing Shravan the world and seeing it with him. Tune in now...

What happens when a child’s vision challenge is hidden behind another diagnosis? What futures are quietly lost when we focus on labels instead of possibilities? In this moving episode of The Special Needs Children Podcast, our CEO, Chitra Iyer speaks with Dr. Dipti Gandhi, Founder & CEO of Muskaan Foundation and a nationally renowned low-vision consultant with over 30 years of experience in th...

As part of the Vocational Training Interview Series on The Special Needs Children Podcast, Chitra Iyer is in conversation with Anita Kumbhani from The Anchorage. Founded in 1988, The Anchorage is one of Mumbai’s earliest organisations supporting adults with special needs, started by parents who were thinking deeply about life after the school years. For over three decades, Anchorage has focused on...

In the latest episode of The Special Needs Children Podcast, our CEO, Chitra Iyer, sits down with Manu Sekar, founder of HashHackCode, a name steadily transforming how the world views neurodiverse learners in the digital age. Manu, who has spent years working closely with children and young adults with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Down Syndrome, has built an ecosystem where coding becomes more than...

What began with one mother’s lived experience has grown into a haven of dignity and purpose for over 25 special adults. In the latest episode of The Special Needs Children Podcast, our CEO, Chitra Iyer, sits down with Mrs. Vandana Karve, the Sanchalak of Aawhan Palak Sangh. Her journey, her resilience, and her unwavering commitment have touched countless families over the last 30 years. We are als...

In the latest episode of The Special Needs Children Podcast, our CEO, Chitra Iyer, is in talks with Dr. Shoba Srivastava, Managing Trustee of SOPAN, a name that resonates deeply within the special needs community. Dr. Shoba, a parent to an adult with autism and tuberous sclerosis, has spent decades transforming questions into action, from “What next after school?” to creating meaningful pathways f...

Every parent of a special needs child needs to plan for what comes after their child becomes an adult and is done with schooling. There is a process for this that many parents are not aware of. Once parents do the homework to understand their child’s abilities, interests, and preferences, they can plan a meaningful vocational journey as their children grow older. In this episode of The Special Nee...

What after school? Har maa aur pita jiske bachche ko special needs hai, yeh zarur sochta hai – 18 saal ya school ke baad kya? Vocational training aur kya options available hain? In this episode of The Special Needs Children Podcast, Chitra speaks to Ms. Sulekha Doshi, a parent who, while seeking options for her own son Geet, turned that question into action by starting a vocational centre where yo...

In continuation of our Vocational Planning series, our CEO Chitra Iyer brings you a truly heart-warming story on The Special Needs Children Podcast. This week, she features Kshitij, a sheltered workshop in Mumbai. Kshitij means horizon—and that is exactly what this centre offers. What began with four parents asking a single question—“What after school?” has blossomed into a vibrant community where...

From marathons to music, from painting to entrepreneurship, this episode of The Special Needs Children Podcast celebrates families who turned obstacles into opportunities for their young adults with special needs. These parents did more than just support — they helped their children discover their strengths, nurtured their passions, and created pathways where none seemed to exist. Whether it was g...

Previously on The Special Needs Children Podcast, our CEO, Chitra Iyer spoke about Vocational planning and why it is vital for children with special needs. In the latest episode, Chitra revisits inspiring changemakers who are transforming those plans into reality by nurturing skills, creating pathways, and unlocking opportunities for independent, fulfilling lives. Tune in to get a perspective that...

What after school? - It’s a question almost every parent of a child with disability wonders. When school ends, the structure fades, the daily routine changes, and the future can feel unclear, especially if the child hasn’t built real-life skills yet. In countries like the US, UK, Australia and others this stage is planned for way in advance. Career counselling, internships, and skill-building are...

ऑटिस्टिक बच्चों के परिवारों के लिए एक महत्वपूर्ण क्षण 💙 सालों की मेहनत, जागरूकता और उम्मीदों के बाद अब मेडिक्लेम पॉलिसीज़ में ऑटिस्टिक बच्चों के लिए भी coverage शामिल किया गया है। The Special Needs Children Podcast के 86th एपिसोड में, हमारी CEO चित्रा अय्यर, Happyness Factory के Head of Product Development, मिलिन शाह के साथ इस महत्वपूर्ण बदलाव पर रोशनी डाल रही हैं। इस बदलाव का असल मतलब क्या है और...

In this episode, our CEO, Chitra Iyer, has a heartfelt conversation with Sonali Saini, the Founder & Executive Director of Sol’s ARC—an inspiring changemaker who has dedicated over two decades to building inclusive education and livelihood opportunities for individuals with disabilities across India. Driven by her powerful and compassionate vision—Every Child Learns, Every Adult Earns—Sonali h...

In this episode, our host and CEO of MFA Capital, Chitra Iyer— mother to a special needs adult, Financial Coach, and fierce advocate for long-term care — unpacks the quiet yet powerful companion to Mediclaim: the Health Corpus. She explains what it truly stands for, how it supports everyday healthcare needs, and why it’s an essential layer of protection alongside Mediclaim. This episode is a heart...

We promised to share details of health insurance plans now available for individuals with Autism. This podcast will answer your questions on kinds of policies available, from which insurance companies, how to apply, what mistakes parents should avoid making and much more. Children with autism can now be covered under Mediclaim policies — a long-overdue breakthrough built on years of advocacy, pers...

In this episode, our CEO, Chitra Iyer, is in conversation with Debashis Paul —a renowned marketing strategist behind campaigns for Coca-Cola and Microsoft, and more personally, an autism parent and author of I Have Autism and I Like to Play Bad Tennis, a book that has sparked global conversations on parenting and inclusion. In this podcast, Debashis shares the story behind his book and reflects on...

This week on The Special Needs Children Podcast, our CEO, Chitra Iyer, talks about the importance of Health Insurance coverage for children with Autism. She talks about: ✅ What does health insurance really cover? ✅ Why a health corpus is equally important? ✅ How does it impact the families of those with special needs? To get in touch with us: Contact us on - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ teammfa@...

In episode 80, our CEO Chitra Iyer is in conversation with Benifer Satarawala, a Special Needs mom, Secretary of Forum for Autism (FFA) and Principal of Priyanj Special School, Mumbai. With over a decade of experience in remedial education, play therapy, and communication skill development, Benifer is a passionate advocate for children with autism. Today, she shares how her journey fuels her missi...

In episode 79, our CEO Chitra Iyer is in conversation with Beverly Louis, founder of Mann- Centre for Individuals with Special Needs and co-founder of Karmann, a brand creating handcrafted quilted products by artisans with intellectual disabilities and autism. Joining her is Gauri Shringarpure, Chief Program Officer at Mann and a seasoned mental health expert with over 25 years of experience in co...

In episode 78 of The Special Needs Children Podcast, our CEO, Chitra Iyer is in talks with Ms. Gulshan Kavarana, a founding member of SFS (Special Families Support group), a support group for families with children with special needs, also the founding member of Ahura Support and Residential home in Mumbai and the Art Mentor at Mawaheb, an art studio for adults with special needs. Get inspired by...

In the latest episode of The Special Needs Children Podcast ,our CEO, Chitra Iyer is in talks with Dr. Gayatri Narasimhan, Founder & Director at Prakramika Vocational Institute. Dr. Gayatri’s journey from software engineering to specialeducation is a testament to the power of purpose. With a Doctorate in Special Education and expertise in psychology, yoga therapy, and behavior management, she...

In this episode, our CEO, Chitra Iyer is in conversation with Sonalee Shyamsunder, Founder & Director of Urmi Foundation, a non-profit organization that is making a remarkable impact in the lives of children with developmental disabilities. Tune into the podcast to watch her inspiring journey, the challenges she has overcome, and the transformative work being done at the Urmi Foundation to cre...