Mysuru: In a touching tribute to Autism Awareness Month, Youth For Seva (YFS), Mysore Chapter, organised a drawing and colouring event that brought together children with intellectual disabilities, spirited volunteers and compassionate change-makers under one inclusive roof.

The event was a vibrant celebration of creativity, dignity and the limitless power of art and saw the enthusiastic participation of 21 children from seven institutions dedicated to the care and development of children with special needs.

These included Arunodhaya Visesha Makala Shale, Hemavathi School (Basanth Nagar), Devdhan Foundation, Rotary Mysore, JSS Sahana, and Beautiful Gate. Each child, with joy and imagination flowing freely, expressed themselves through art, using colours as their voice and creativity as their language.

Chief guest Anuradha Nandakumar, theatre artiste, activist and proprietor of ‘Namana Production,’ moved the audience with her powerful presence. Speaking not only as a dignitary but also as a parent of a 40-year-old intellectually disabled youth employed with Vinyas Technology, she highlighted the importance of dignity and purposeful engagement for all individuals.

Pratibha Gururaj, guest of honour and President of Spoorthi Mahila Balaga, sponsored the event and shared words of encouragement. Badri Narayan, engineer, author and activist from Dignity Foundation NGO, offered thoughtful support and motivation.

Vasudev Bhat, Secretary of Vijaya Vittala Vidyashala and Advisory Board Member, sponsored the venue, enabling an accessible space for the event.

The programme was anchored by C.V. Keerthi, Lead Coordinator of YFS Mysore. A special highlight was the support from eight engineering students from NIE, Mysuru and a psychology student from Christ University, Bengaluru. Their enthusiasm, empathy and interaction added a unique spark to the event, creating an uplifting environment for the children.

This gathering was more than an art event — it was a celebration of neuro-diversity, inclusion and community spirit. Bursting with colour, laughter and emotion, the children’s artworks reflected individuality, imagination, and the message that creativity transcends boundaries.’