U n' I with Rashmi Shetty- Kavitha Krishnamoorthy
On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we have with us, Kavitha Krishnamoorthy, the Founder and Managing Trustee of Kilikili, a network of parents of children with disabilities, supported by professionals and volunteers. A social development professional (MSW) by training, her experience of working for more than two decades on child rights and development issues, coupled with her experience as a mother to a child with autism, led her to the question,” why are children with a disability not seen in public play spaces? Kilikili emerged out of this enquiry, with a mission to create inclusive public play spaces where all children, irrespective of their abilities, could play together. A certified Arts-Based therapist, Kavitha has, in recent years, been involved in exploring the relationship that children with autism have with the Arts, through initiatives she co-evolved that facilitate children’s natural artistic expression. She currently co-directs The CanBridge Academy in Chennai - a college-like space for young adults with autism that seeks to impart life skills that would enable them to lead a life of dignity, in the community, doing what has meaning for them.