For Bengaluru-based Bela Joshi, the journey towards autism support began with her son’s diagnosis and her family’s search for appropriate learning opportunities. An engineer by profession, Joshi is the Founder and Managing Trustee of Colours Centre for Learning, an organisation that supports autistic children, adolescents and adults through personalised learning and family involvement.
Its Dynamic Behaviour Transformation (DBT) programme focuses on areas including communication, emotional regulation, cognitive and occupational development, life skills, behaviour and independence. Colours says it has supported more than 100 individuals and families through its sustained interventions.
A Personal Journey
Joshi’s work grew from her experience of raising her son, Sachin, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of one, according to a profile of her work. Following his diagnosis, she began educating herself about autism and different intervention strategies and worked closely with therapists to understand approaches supporting social, behavioural and communication development. Her husband, Sharad Joshi, supported her journey, which eventually led to the founding of Colours Learning Education Trust and Colours Centre for Learning.
Joshi’s own account of her journey says Sachin, despite being bright, struggled to settle in the centres where he was enrolled. The experience prompted her to look for approaches that could respond more closely to an individual’s needs. Colours’ stated objective is to create an environment where autistic individuals can learn to adapt to social challenges, while receiving support suited to their abilities and development.
Beyond The Classroom
Colours Centre for Learning says its curriculum addresses formal, informal and non-formal educational needs. A typical day can include academics, art, computers, sports, music, movement therapy, LEGO therapy and activity time. The organisation also says it conducts a field trip or school event every month. Family members are involved in the development of learners, with the centre providing counselling to support continued learning and development at home and in the community.
The organisation’s DBT programme is designed as a flexible and individualised approach to autism support. It addresses areas such as communication, emotional regulation, cognitive development, occupational development, life skills, behaviour and independence. Colours says meaningful progress cannot be built only through isolated therapy sessions and instead requires consistent support across everyday environments. It also describes parents and families as key collaborators in the learner’s journey.
According to the organisation, its approach has supported more than 100 individuals and families through sustained interventions. Colours works with autistic children aged four and above, adolescents and adults, and says its approach is intended to support development across different stages of life.
Creative Ways Forward
Joshi’s work also extends into art, design and creative education. She has combined her technical background with an interest in art and education for autism, exploring ways in which creative activities can support engagement and learning. The organisation’s work includes art and pottery activities alongside its wider educational and skill-development programmes.
In 2025, the team behind Colours Centre for Learning conceptualised and developed The Birthday Party, a puppet show created in-house. The production uses storytelling, puppetry and theatre and was designed around themes such as friendship, cooperation and emotional understanding. The initiative reflects the organisation’s broader interest in using creative practices to encourage engagement, expression and skill development among autistic individuals.
Recognition And Reach
Joshi has also received recognition for her work in autism education. She reportedly received the ChangeMaker Award under the Education Category at the Let Us Dream Conference at Christ University, Bengaluru, in 2023. Colours Centre for Learning was also reportedly awarded the NGO Leadership Award at the National CSR Leadership Congress & Awards in 2023.
The organisation’s public information indicates that its work goes beyond classroom-based learning, with family participation, counselling, creative activities, life skills and community engagement forming part of its wider approach. Its stated focus is on helping autistic individuals develop skills and adapt to social challenges while giving families practical support through the process.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Bela Joshi’s journey shows how lived experience can inspire efforts to create more inclusive and dignified support systems. Autism support cannot follow a one-size-fits-all model, as every individual has different abilities, needs and ways of communicating. Creating meaningful inclusion requires empathy, patience, family involvement and opportunities for autistic individuals to learn, participate and contribute on their own terms.
As communities become more aware of autism, what more can schools, workplaces and families do to make inclusion a part of everyday life?
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