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Neuro Diverse Children Within Mainstream Education

Education, to me, is a bigger journey navigating a path beyond textbooks, examinations, report cards and not to forget- those last-minute exam panic attacks we all pretend we don’t have. As a Special Educator specializing in Autism, I’ve learned that education is more often than not myriadly beautiful yet unpredictable—much like my classroom on a typical Monday morning. It’s not just about what a child learns, but how they learn and whether they feel safe, seen, and maybe even a little excited (yes, that does happen!) while learning.

Inclusion sits right at the heart of this journey but in no way does it imply getting every child fit into the same mould. Honestly, that would have been boring and rather impossible as well. I think inclusion kind of resembles a playlist where different songs are randomly shuffled without any order but they are in that list for a reason. Working with children on the autism spectrum has taught me that inclusion isn’t merely fancy educational jargon; it’s a daily practice of patience, creativity and sincerity which often involves thinking off your feet on the lines of something like- “Okay, Plan A didn’t work. Let’s invent Plan B, C, and D.”

The importance of education becomes clearer when you celebrate the tiniest of milestones that others tend to overlook. A moment of eye contact, a spontaneous “Ma’am” or independently packing a school bag—these are not small wins in my world; they’re headline-worthy achievements. Education gives my students tools to communicate, connect, and navigate through life, while gently reminding families that progress may be slow, but it is always meaningful, needs to be sustained and needs their support as well.

And learning? It doesn’t happen inside classrooms. Some of the best lessons are learnt while sharing snacks, following routines, or negotiating over who gets the blue crayon (a very serious matter, by the way). These everyday moments often teach more than any worksheet ever could.

Special education isn’t something to be dealt with in isolation—it’s simply education viewed through the lens of a magnifying glass with more focus, more empathy and a toolkit full of visuals, structure, and sensory breaks.

Being a special educator has completely redefined success for me. It’s no longer about marks—it’s about effort, resilience, and those proud little smiles that say, “I did it.” And honestly, those smiles make all the efforts behind it worth it- every bit of it.

- Rittika Ray