As the founder and overseer it is humbling to see what a beacon of hope Niraya has become in just a short three years from the day it was founded. While the number of students whose lives we have been able to change can be easily put into words, it is the sense of dignity we create in our community that we cherish most, in all its subtle, intangible quality. Niraya has been able to prove on numerous occasions that every child has a contribution to make to our world, and a lack of Special Needs Education does not have to be a hindrance in that journey. Just as darkness can only be dissipated by light, a child's development lies in the nurturing of his strengths and not just in the targeting of his challenges and limitations. My experience both as a student and a teacher with some of India's and the world's most respected institutions, including the likes of The Vasant Valley, The Shri Ram School, and the University of Cardiff, I have learned that educators need to be passionate about empowering students not just through the mainstream but also through special needs education, and that, now more than ever.

The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) certification generously awarded to me by the highly respected Tamana School of Hope in New Delhi, was specialised for Autism Spectrum Disorder, and with this enlightening experience, I find myself constantly appreciating the unsatisfied requirement in this extremely important field of Special Needs Education today. With the conflicting and demanding lifestyles and ever-increasing mental health challenges in contemporary society, this need is more pressing than ever before, and as teachers and guides, we must look beyond just literacy and STEM. It is the general perception regarding individuals with special needs that require changing; the barriers of communication must be broken, and children must get the opportunities they deserve without the limitations of pre-conceived profiling, stigmas, and stereotypes.