Categories: BlogFacilitating Schools

Made by Special: Disha’s Silent Revolution of Inclusion

In a modest corner of Vadodara, a quiet revolution hums through colorful classrooms and therapy rooms. It’s not loud. It doesn’t seek praise. But it changes lives every day. At the center of this revolution is Disha Charitable Trust, a Centre of Excellence for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, and the home of the initiative known as Made by Special.

This is more than a brand. It’s a movement. A statement. A refusal to let disability be seen as limitation.

Founded in 1999 by Mrs. Prabha Mehta, a writer, academician, and social activist, Disha began with a simple but urgent idea: parents of children with developmental disabilities needed direction, a “disha”. What began as a small guidance center has since grown into one of India’s leading inclusive institutions.

Among its most impactful initiatives is Made by Special, which empowers children and young adults with autism to craft products, macrame bags, candles, jewelry, paper bags, that speak of skill, not sympathy. These pieces are more than handmade, they are heart-made.

Started in 1999 by Mrs. Prabha Mehta, founder, a writer, academician, and social activist, Disha emerged from a simple idea: parents of children with disabilities needed a direction, a disha. What began as a small guidance centre has now grown into one of India’s leading institutions supporting individuals with autism and developmental challenges.

One of the guiding lights in this journey is Alka Smart, an educationist and former school principal, who has been associated with Disha since its early days. As Vice President of the Board of Trustees, she isn’t the face of Disha but a steady force behind its evolution. “When I retired, I knew I didn’t want to stop,” she says. “So I came here every day, and kept going.” For her, every milestone at Disha is personal, every child’s progress a collective victory.

One of the strongest pillars behind Disha’s journey is Alka Smart, an educationist and former school principal. Now Vice President of the Board of Trustees, she joined Disha after her retirement, but never slowed down.

“When I retired, I knew I didn’t want to stop,” she said. “So I came here every day, and just kept going.”

Her drive helped shape Disha’s early milestones. In the 2000s, autism was barely understood in India. Parents often traveled to cities like Mumbai or Bengaluru in search of support. That’s when Disha decided not just to spread awareness, but to demand acceptance.

“We hosted national conferences, brought experts to Gujarat. We didn’t just want understanding. We wanted inclusion,” said Alka Ma’am.

Today, that inclusion is lived, not just spoken. Disha is home to Gujarat’s first sensory room, tech-aided learning, certified therapists, and experiential learning that extends to parks, cafés, and community spaces.

One story Alka Ma’am shares stays with you:

“There was a boy who never spoke. Not once. Then one day, he said, ‘Namaste Madam, aapka swagat hai.’ That moment… that’s what Disha is about.”

Through Made by Special, these children earn not only a stipend, eight currently receive one, but also a sense of pride, visibility, and contribution. Some have gone on to work independently; others, around 20 to 25, have transitioned into mainstream schools.

The spaces inside Disha are filled with intention. Therapy rooms buzz with breakthroughs. Craft tables hum with creativity. Instructors guide, never impose. And every achievement, big or small, is cause for celebration.

“We don’t wait for an annual day,” said Alka Ma’am. “Every day is a celebration here.”

In a world obsessed with fast results and polished perfection, Made by Special offers something different, progress rooted in patience, products made with purpose, and people who prove every day that disability doesn’t mean inability. It just means doing things differently, and beautifully.