About Us - Ishanya India Foundation

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Reflections

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Timeline

About Ishanya

“ISHANYA”;- Meaning “North-East”, is the direction which symbolically represents Education, Knowledge, and Prosperity

Ishanya India Foundation (IIF) is a Centre for Individuals with Special Needs started in 2015, with the intent to make society more inclusive.

We cater to the needs of individuals with difficulties such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, Learning Disability, Down syndrome, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

At Ishanya, we work with varied age groups, use an eclectic approach and curriculum tailored to the specific needs and abilities.

Our aim is to work along with families and schools as we believe in the holistic development of the child and we also aim to train these individuals for employment and independent living

Our vision

To create a society built on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities.

Our MISSION

Build agency and advocacy for the Disability sector by:

Capacity building of stakeholders
Creating inclusive spaces of learning and development
Person centric approach to find solutions
Transitioning from beneficiaries to active contributors
Focus on building social, economic and political inclusion of Persons with Disabilities

Promote inclusion by:

Creating new opportunities, providing freedom of choice & experiences to live a life of equality & independence
Creating awareness, identifying the support system required for an inclusive society.

LEGAL STATUS

ISHANYA INDIA FOUNDATION (IIF) is a registered trust under the Karnataka Trust Registration Act

Reg No. JAY-4-01301-2017-18

Date of Establishment: 08/03/2018

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INCOME TAX EXEMPTIONS

All donations made to Ishanya India Foundation (IIF) are exempt under Section 80G(5)(vi) of the Income Tax Act, 1961

Approval No: CIT(EXEMPTION S) BANGALORE/80 G/201920/A/10243

DIN & Order No: ITBA/EXM/S/80G/201 9-20/1026777752(1)

NGO Darpan ID: KA/2019/0229185

Guide Star India Transparency key

leadership team

The leadership team oversees all of the programs and initiatives at Ishanya. They are always connected & meet as frequently as possible to ensure smooth & efficient operations.

SWATHI VELLAL RAGHUNANDAN

FOUNDER, DIRECTOR

Swathi, a dedicated special educator didn’t take long to realize her career path. She started Ishanya IIF at the age of 25.

As the founder, Swathi brings in empathy in her leadership and has set the tone for others in the team by being open about challenges, seeking for everyone’s opinion & feedback thereby bringing the team together and also nurturing a new generation of leaders.

Her strong communication skills & ability to absorb knowledge has made her proficient in her field

Swathi holds a Master’s degree in Special Educational Needs and Inclusion from University of Northampton, U.K. and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Christ University, Bangalore

RAGHUNANDAN Ranganath

Co-FOUNDER, trustee

After having worked in the field of Information & Technology for some of the biggest MNC’s for over a decade, Raghu shifted gears to Media services.

He Co-founded Ishanya along with Swathi & was initially there only to provide support as & when needed, however, the joy of being part of something as amazing as enabling & empowering the differently-abled community, makes him more & more inclined towards spending as much time as possible at Ishanya.

In the past couple of years, Raghu has been actively involved in the day-to-day operations, setting up new processes & collaborations bringing his collective knowledge & corporate experience to the table.

Together Swathi & Raghu are working towards their shared vision of an inclusive world

Ashwathanarayana Reddy

Chief Mentor, trustee

Ashwath can be simply described as a ‘Sthithapragna’.

He is someone who enjoys the constant bliss of the self. He loves reading and spends a lot of time every day chanting. He loves thinking about and drawing parallels between Vedas and Science and has given many talks on the subject in various forums.

Ashwath is also the founder trustee of an organization called Premaanjali Foundation founded in the year 1988 offering various services to differently-abled and underprivileged children.

He has extensive experience in the field of architecture, interior designing and has handled big turn-key projects. He took voluntary retirement a few years ago & has been contributing to the social sector ever since.

neurodiverse advisory board

Our Neurodiverse advisory board consists of individuals who have gone through the struggles of the modern-day world & have now created a place for themselves. They advise us on enhancing our programs, new collaborations, workshops & creating livelihood opportunities

Priyanka Rao

I come from a hotelier family & we run a hotel in HYDERBHAD, I did my 10th & 12th through the National Institute of Open Schooling in Bangalore & then I did an animation course in Arena along with a photography course from JD Institute Fashion Photography & then I also got trained in Photo editing at Ishanya.

I also interned at a Montessori school for the underprivileged as a Teaching Assistant & then underwent the Job Readiness training at Ishanya.

I am currently working in a multinational financial company. I’m hardworking & lively in person, good with communication, and very ambitious in life.

Pranav Bakhshi

I am a fashion model, a graphic designing student, a contemporary English music buff, a fitness enthusiast, a budding photographer, a three-time TEDx speaker, a self-advocate, a guest columnist, a budding writer, and an Associate Digital Producer-Contractor with Thomson Reuters.

‘Work hard, Play hard’ is my motto and I like to be helpful and caring. I love my sister the most in the whole wide world and Mumbai is my dream city.

Rishi Gupta

My early schooling was in India but then we moved to Dubai where I finished High School & then went to the USA to finish my undergrad at Ithaca College in upstate New York. I started my working career with Dataraft, Tech Mahindra & then joined Ixia Technologies through which I was posted in Kit Creek, North Carolina. It was then in 2012 I met with a tragic accident and fell from the 4th floor of the Cisco building where I was working.

I was A TBI victim and lost my long-term memory and had to relearn everything from the very beginning. The accident affected my walking and my memory.

As time went by, I progressed and am currently working in a multi-national bank in Bangalore. My strengths are communication and motivating people.

I believe that There is no limit to more progress.

Rajarshi Roy

I was born in Kolkata but I spent most of my childhood time in Sunnyvale, California, USA. I did my kindergarten in the U.S and did my 10th and 12th Board Exam from Delhi Public School Bangalore East and got my Bachelor of Science in Animation graduate degree from Jain College.

I am a proficient 3D modeler and have moderate experience in Content Writing. Currently, I am working in Thomson & Reuters as a “contractor ” and learning lot of things.

I have many hobbies like drawing, painting, and listening to music. In my leisure time, I like to take walks and exercise at the Gym

operations team

The operations team consists of our Special educators, Program managers & directors, Multimedia & Graphics designers/trainers & our backend support staff. They are the people who work tirelessly to keep everything going at Ishanya.