ANITA BHASKARAN

Co-Founder, Aarambh Foundation 

The decision to move from journalism to education was a conscious one made more than 22 years ago to create a difference in self and others. Ms Bhaskaran has served as the Principal of Skills and Abilities School in Navi Mumbai and Vydehi School in Bangalore. Her core strengths lie in assessments, evaluations, and parent & teacher training. She has organized many awareness programs, parent workshops, and teacher workshops in Mumbai and Bangalore. Her passion lies in promoting collaborative work in a school environment. She has published research papers on using Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) in special needs classrooms and mainstream classrooms. She has also been involved in small-scale research work conducted to understand the needs of parents of children with special needs and children with special needs in mainstream inclusive schools. She has her Master’s in Inclusive and Special Education from the University of Northampton, UK. She is also a Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)-certified special education professional

ANITA BHAGWAT

Co-Founder, Aarambh Foundation

Ms Bhagwat is passionate about working with children with autism and other developmental difficulties. Leaving the comfort of family business, she decided to pursue a degree in special education. She has over 20 years’ experience in this field. Her expertise lies in connecting with families and empowering them to bring about positive changes in their relationship with their children. Her core strength is about developing AAC systems depending on the child’s strengths and requirements. She specializes in behaviour modification strategies and works towards creating a healthy home environment for the family. She has worked as a special needs teacher in California, USA. She has a Master’s degree in Psychology and is also an RCI-certified special education professional.

MUSTA MANAV

An operations manager in a reputed MNC with 19 years of industry experience with various organizations and roles.  He is a nature enthusiast and an avid reader. He is a good cook and works towards promoting millet consumption by conducting cooking classes and demonstrations.  He supports and works with various organizations working on causes ranging from environment to rural growth to education.

Narayan Rangarajan

One meets many inspiring friends in their life.  A few change the way you feel, think, believe and there is one and only one along the journey that can make you act. Little was I aware about children with special needs until I met Anita Bhaskaran . Her first words were “they are ideal humans, we all want to be”. It took me a long time to absorb, understand and act. Our friendship and conviction took 10 years before it was realized into Aarambh. Thanks Anitas’ (Anita Bhaskaran and Anita Bhagwat) and the entire team. I am Narayan Rangarajan, I believe in equal opportunity and Aarambh is our first step in enabling this.