The Special Needs Children Podcast - with Chitra Iyer

Hosted by MFA

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104

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Feb 2026

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About the show

Welcome! Listen to Chitra Iyer, (a special needs parent herself) give solutions to families in similar situations, to live financially happier lives and secure their child's future. Being a Trustee at Forum for Autism and the CEO at MFA she has been guiding 100s of special needs families with respect to finances, legal requirements so much more. This Podcast will help answer many 'How do I..." questions. Subscribe Now and you will not miss any of the new episodes published fortnightly! Stay tuned! Help is just a call away: Phone number- +91 98337 85892 Email ID- teammfa@myfinad.in

Listen to episodes

60 recent

February 28, 202629 min

A Hundred Reasons to Celebrate!

One hundred episodes.One hundred conversations that mattered.Countless moments of courage, vulnerability, learning, and hope.With every story shared and every expert voice heard, The Special Needs Children Podcast has become more than a platform — it has become a safe space for families, caregivers, and professionals walking this journey together.Episode 100 is not just a milestone.It is a reminder that when voices unite with purpose, impact multiplies.Here’s to the community that made this possible.And to the many more stories waiting to be told.

February 14, 202638 min

Traveling With Shravan: Planning, Preparation & Possibilities | Ep 99

Airports. Wheelchairs. Priority boarding.Favourite snacks packed across continents.Medicines are divided into two bags.Hotel doors secured at night. There are meltdowns.There are delays.There are stares.But above all, there is joy.And there are memories.Families of children with special needs do not travel less.They travel differently.A special needs family does not need to stay at home.They deserve to experience the world in a way that works forthem.Inclusion is not permission.It is our right!

February 1, 202626 min

Growing With Shravan : A Parenting Journey From Prams To Planes | Ep 98

In this episode of The Special Needs Children Podcast, Chitra Iyer is joined by her husband, Ravi Iyer, as they share their story of having fun travelling, learning, and growing with their son, Shravan.His fascination with wheels has inspired them to want to travel the world with him. Do listen to their story to know how they dream of showing Shravan the world and seeing it with him.Tune in now!Do share this with parents and caregivers who may need reassurance, courage, and a reminder that possibilities expand when we choose to try.

January 17, 202641 min

Parents Must Watch: Early Signs of Vision Impairment in Special Needs Children | Ep 97

What happens when a child’s vision challenge is hidden behind another diagnosis?What futures are quietly lost when we focus on labels instead of possibilities?In this moving episode of The Special Needs Children Podcast, our CEO, Chitra Iyer speaks with Dr. Dipti Gandhi, Founder & CEO of Muskaan Foundation and a nationally renowned low-vision consultant with over 30 years of experience in the disability sector.From beginning with just two children in a small verandah to building a multi-centre organisation that has touched over 2,000 lives, Dr. Dipti shares why children with multiple disabilities and visual impairment are so often overlooked—and how early, integrated intervention can radically change a child’s developmental path.This conversation explores why vision issues are frequently missed in children with autism, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disabilities, how vision rehabilitation actually works, and why parents and caregivers are central to every breakthrough.An honest, compassionate, and hopeful discussion about seeing potential before limitation—and why early action matters more than we realise.

December 20, 2025Episode 8133 min

Chitra in talks with Anita Kumbhani on Purposeful Adulthood at The Anchorage | Ep 96

As part of the Vocational Training Interview Series on The Special Needs Children Podcast, Chitra Iyer is in conversation with Anita Kumbhani from The Anchorage.Founded in 1988, The Anchorage is one of Mumbai’s earliest organisations supporting adults with special needs, started by parents who were thinking deeply about life after the school years.For over three decades, Anchorage has focused on what truly matters in adulthood: meaningful work, daily structure and dignity. Through job work from nearby industrial units and close partnership with families, adults are supported to build confidence, purpose and a strong sense of belonging.This episode offers a warm, thoughtful look at vocational training and what supported adulthood can truly look like.

December 6, 2025Episode 8027 min

Inclusive Coding for Autism, ADHD & Dyslexia with Manu Shekar | Ep 95

In the latest episode of The Special Needs Children Podcast, our CEO, Chitra Iyer, sits down with Manu Sekar, founder of HashHackCode, a name steadily transforming how the world views neurodiverse learners in the digital age.Manu, who has spent years working closely with children and young adults with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Down Syndrome, has built an ecosystem where coding becomes more than a skill — it becomes a pathway to confidence, independence, and belonging.In this soulful episode, we step into Manu’s journey… the questions, the breakthroughs, the quiet determination, and the belief that every child deserves a space where they are understood, included, and empowered.

November 22, 2025Episode 7929 min

Transforming Lives of Special Adults: The Powerful Journey of Vandana Karve | Ep 94

What began with one mother’s lived experience has grown into a haven of dignity and purpose for over 25 special adults.In the latest episode of The Special Needs Children Podcast, our CEO, Chitra Iyer, sits down with Mrs. Vandana Karve, the Sanchalak of Aawhan Palak Sangh.Her journey, her resilience, and her unwavering commitment have touched countless families over the last 30 years. We are also honoured to be joined by her daughter, Vasudha, whose creativity and story add a beautiful depth to this conversation.

November 7, 2025Episode 7836 min

From “What Next?” to What’s Possible - The Journey of SOPAN with Dr. Shoba Srivastava | Ep 93

In the latest episode of The Special Needs Children Podcast, our CEO, Chitra Iyer, is in talks with Dr. Shoba Srivastava, Managing Trustee of SOPAN, a name that resonates deeply within the special needs community.Dr. Shoba, a parent to an adult with autism and tuberous sclerosis, has spent decades transforming questions into action, from “What next after school?” to creating meaningful pathways for adulthood through SOPAN’s vocational and respite care centres.In this heartfelt episode, we go behind the scenes of her journey...the doubts, decisions, courage, and compassion that shaped SOPAN into a space of learning, dignity, and joy.Tune in to hear how one mother’s love and determination grew into a movement that continues to empower countless families. 💙Watch the episode now on The Special Needs Children Podcast, created by one of you, for all of you!

October 19, 20259 min

Vocational Planning Checklist For Parents of Adults with Special Needs | Ep 92

Every parent of a special needs child needs to plan for what comes after their child becomes an adult and is done with schooling.There is a process for this that many parents are not aware of. Once parents do the homework to understand their child’s abilities, interests, and preferences, they can plan a meaningful vocational journey as their children grow older.In this episode of The Special Needs Children Podcast, Chitra Iyer introduces a Vocational Planning Checklist for Parents of adults with special needs, a simple and practical tool to help you reflect, plan, and guide your child toward greater independence and purpose.You can get the form Chitra is referring to here: https://shorturl.at/j3cu0. Just click the link, fill out a short form, and receive the download link for the checklist directly in your mailbox.Tune in to The Special Needs Children Podcast now

October 4, 2025Episode 7737 min

What After School? How One Mom Created a Safe Future for Special Needs Young Adults | Ep 91

What after school? Har maa aur pita jiske bachche ko special needs hai, yeh zarur sochta hai – 18 saal ya school ke baad kya? Vocational training aur kya options available hain?In this episode of The Special Needs Children Podcast, Chitra speaks to Ms. Sulekha Doshi, a parent who, while seeking options for her own son Geet, turned that question into action by starting a vocational centre where young adults now learn, work, and find purpose. 💙Sulekha shares her journey, challenges, and advice for families still seeking options after school.Tune in for an inspiring conversation filled with hope and ideas.