1. Introduction
📍 Think back to your childhood—those moments of joy, discovery, and belonging. Now imagine that experience being different, that the world feels overwhelming, confusing, even hostile at times. That's the reality for many children on the autism spectrum. But what if, instead of focusing on what's "missing," we shifted our perspective to see the unique strengths, the hidden potential within each child? What if we embraced those differences as pathways to new possibilities?
Welcome to the Ananya Child Development Center podcast. I'm Madhavi Adimulam, your host, and today we're embarking on a journey of transformation. Joining me is Dr. Pooja Jha Nair, founder of Total Solutions Rehabilitation Society (TSRS) here in Hyderabad, whose work is changing lives, one child, one family at a time. Dr. Pooja, welcome!
Dr. Pooja Jha Nair: Thank you so much for having me on the podcast.
Madhavi Adimulam: It's a pleasure to have you, Dr. Pooja. So, tell us, how did you start Total Solutions? What's your journey been like?
2. The Genesis of Total Solutions
Dr. Pooja Jha Nair: Honestly, I never planned for it. I've always had a soft spot for children. Back in Delhi, even before graduation, I used to tutor children to earn some pocket money. I noticed that some children learned effortlessly, while others struggled despite their best efforts and the support of their parents and teachers. At that time, I had no idea about disabilities like autism or learning disabilities.
After completing my post-graduation in applied psychology from Delhi University, I became interested in early cognitive stimulation for children aged 0 to 6. I realized that focusing on prevention could yield the best results.
I pursued a Diploma in Special Education (DSEMR) from Delhi, which opened my eyes to the world of disabilities and the challenges faced by families. I also got married to one of my classmates, who is also a rehabilitation psychologist. We both completed a course from NIMH (now NIPID) and felt a strong desire to empower parents to support their children with special needs.
We started small, with just the two of us working as a psychologist and special educator in Bowenpally. It was a challenging journey, but seeing the positive impact on families kept us motivated. Over time, we expanded our services, learned new approaches, and grew our team.
Madhavi Adimulam: I remember when you started, there were very few centers in Hyderabad that focused specifically on Learning Disabilities (LD) and special education.
Dr. Pooja Jha Nair: That’s true. We were pioneers in the field of LD support. My passion was to help school-going children with dyslexia and other learning disabilities thrive in their academic journey.
Madhavi Adimulam: You’ve spoken about your own journey of overcoming challenges and societal expectations. Can you tell us about those early experiences and how they shaped your dedication to helping others, especially those who are often marginalized or misunderstood?
3. A Journey of Resilience and Advocacy
Dr. Pooja Jha Nair: I feel fortunate that I haven't faced significant societal challenges or discrimination. People have generally been receptive to my ideas about supporting children with learning disabilities. I believe in focusing on building a child’s cognitive abilities and independence, rather than just drilling them on spelling or rote memorization.
My biggest struggle has been with infrastructure and financial constraints. We wanted to keep our fees affordable and provide high-quality services, but that’s always a challenge. However, I’ve always believed in karma, and somehow, we’ve managed to find the resources to continue our work. It’s been a beautiful journey, filled with challenges but also with the immense satisfaction of seeing families empowered to support their children.
Madhavi Adimulam: That’s such an inspiring story, Dr. Pooja. It speaks to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of using one’s own experiences to create positive change. You have created TSRS with a unique vision of holistic rehabilitation. Can you tell us more about what that means to you?
4. The Vision of Holistic Rehabilitation
Dr. Pooja Jha Nair: TSRS is my second family. It holds a very special place in my heart. The organization has evolved over time. We started as “Total Solution,” a simple partnership, but about three years ago, we transitioned to a non-profit society model, “Total Solution Rehabilitation Society.” We have a team of dedicated professionals, including parents who have been through the journey themselves and have gone on to pursue their MPhil in Clinical Psychology from NIMH. We’re all RCI-certified and deeply committed to making a difference in the lives of children with special needs.
We believe in a holistic approach to rehabilitation, addressing not just the child’s individual needs, but also supporting the family and the school environment. We conduct home visits, provide family counseling, and work closely with schools to educate teachers and promote inclusion.
We currently have nine centers across the twin cities and run two special schools for children who are not able to cope with the demands of mainstream education.
Madhavi Adimulam: It's wonderful to see how TSRS has grown and expanded its reach over the years. Now, many traditional therapy models focus on addressing specific symptoms or skill deficits. How does a holistic approach differ, and why is it so important for children with autism?
5. The Power of a Holistic Approach to Autism
Dr. Pooja Jha Nair: While I initially focused on learning disabilities, I started working with children with autism around 2015. I realized that there was a need for a more systematic and comprehensive approach to support these children. Our holistic approach differs from traditional models in several ways.
We start with a foundation of play therapy, using simple pairing methods to build a connection with the child. We gradually introduce structured teaching methods, eventually incorporating evidence-based practices like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
But it’s not just about teaching skills in isolation. It’s about understanding the child’s inner world, their social and emotional needs, and their challenges in navigating a world that’s often not designed for their unique way of processing information.
We work on developing "theory of mind" skills, which help children understand the perspectives of others. We teach them how to interpret social cues, engage in conversations, and understand nonverbal communication.
This holistic approach has been transformative for many children, especially those on the milder end of the autism spectrum. They've learned to make friends, participate in social activities, and even blend seamlessly into mainstream classrooms.
Madhavi Adimulam: That’s so insightful, Dr. Pooja. It makes perfect sense that when we address the whole child—their strengths, their challenges, their environment, their support system—we can create a much more powerful and lasting impact. And that brings us to the crucial role of families.
Help Your Child Thrive
6. Empowering Families: Beyond Individual Therapy
Madhavi Adimulam: Your organization places a strong emphasis on empowering families. Why is that so important, and how does TSRS provide tangible support to families beyond the child’s individual therapy?
Dr. Pooja Jha Nair: Family involvement is absolutely essential! Without family support, rehabilitation becomes much more challenging. The family is the child’s immediate environment, their first social circle. They need to understand the child's needs, provide consistent support, and create a nurturing environment where the child can thrive.
Here are a few ways we support families at TSRS:
- Home-Based Assessments: We conduct our initial assessments in the child’s home environment, with all the adults in the family present. This allows us to observe the child’s behavior in their natural setting and to provide the family with a realistic understanding of the child’s developmental level.
- Regular Reviews and Open Communication: We hold regular review meetings with parents to discuss their challenges, answer their questions, and provide guidance on implementing strategies at home.
- Parent Participation in Therapy: We encourage parents to observe their child’s therapy sessions, to learn the techniques being used, and to understand how to support their child’s progress outside of therapy. This has been transformative for many parents, as they gain confidence in their ability to help their child.
- Transition Sessions at Home: If a child is having difficulty transferring skills learned in therapy to the home environment, we conduct transition sessions at the child’s home, allowing the therapist to model strategies and support the generalization of skills.
Madhavi Adimulam: I completely agree, Dr. Pooja. As a parent myself, I’ve seen how empowering it is to learn the strategies and techniques that can help my child. Parent education and training are vital components of the journey.
Dr. Pooja Jha Nair: Absolutely! And it’s about more than just teaching skills. It's about changing perceptions and creating a more inclusive society where every child has the opportunity to thrive.
7. The Vision of Inclusion
Madhavi Adimulam: You’ve said that your dream is to see every individual fully integrated into their community. What are the biggest obstacles to achieving that vision, and what steps are you taking to create a more inclusive society for children with developmental delays?
Dr. Pooja Jha Nair: This is a complex question. It might sound paradoxical, but I believe one of the biggest obstacles to inclusion is…parents themselves! Many parents of children with special needs, despite facing challenges, are hesitant about group therapy because they fear their child might pick up “bad” behaviors from other children. They prefer one-on-one therapy, which limits their child’s opportunities for social interaction and learning.
We try to address this through online panel discussions and by encouraging parents to ask questions and engage in open conversations. We want them to understand that the benefits of group therapy, such as learning social skills and developing friendships, outweigh the potential risks.
Schools are becoming more inclusive, offering admissions to children with special needs. But often, this comes at the cost of hiring a shadow teacher, which places a significant financial burden on families. Many parents question the value of inclusion, especially when they’re already struggling with the costs of therapy and other support services.
Creating a truly inclusive society requires a multi-pronged approach. We need to change attitudes, educate teachers, advocate for policies that support inclusion, and ensure that families have access to affordable resources. It’s a big dream, and it will require a collective effort to achieve it.
Madhavi Adimulam: It's a challenging goal, but I believe we are moving in the right direction. Parents are becoming more open about their child's disability. They're advocating for their rights and seeking support from schools and other institutions.
Dr. Pooja Jha Nair: That’s true. But there are still systemic barriers that we need to address. For instance, the demand for shadow teachers is increasing, but we lack a standardized training program for these crucial support professionals. We recently partnered with Dr. Andrew Nelson from Autism Speaks to develop a virtual shadow teacher training course. It's a three-month program that equips individuals to support children with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and intellectual disabilities.
We believe that providing specialized training will not only benefit these children but also empower more individuals to enter this field and provide much-needed support.
Madhavi Adimulam: That’s a fantastic initiative, Dr. Pooja! And it addresses a critical need in the field. Now, another area where Total Solutions is making a difference is research.
8. The Role of Research
Madhavi Adimulam: How does your research directly benefit the children and families you serve, and how can parents contribute to advancing knowledge in the field?
Dr. Pooja Jha Nair: We established our research wing in 2018 to evaluate the effectiveness of our interventions and to contribute to the body of knowledge in the field of child development.
Our initial research focused on developing standardized assessment protocols and evaluating the effectiveness of our treatment modules. Currently, we're conducting research on the impact of having a child with autism on a mother’s mental health. We’re also developing tools and resources to help mothers manage their stress and build resilience.
We’ve found that many mothers struggle with time management, anxiety, and guilt. They often feel overwhelmed trying to meet the needs of their child with autism while also juggling their other responsibilities. Our goal is to provide practical support and guidance to help them cope more effectively.
Madhavi Adimulam: That's so valuable, Dr. Pooja. At Ananya, we also recognize the importance of supporting mothers' mental health. We recently hosted an event focusing on this very topic, highlighting Project Rashmi, an initiative by a psychiatrist here in Hyderabad. And a couple of years ago, we developed a scale to measure stress levels in mothers of children with special needs. I’d be happy to share it with you.
Dr. Pooja Jha Nair: I’d love to see it! We’re always looking for new ways to support mothers. And that brings us to another point—making research more accessible to parents. We need to bridge the gap between academic research and practical application.
Madhavi Adimulam: We recently launched a Research Hub on the Ananya website, www.asap.org.in, to do just that. It provides access to the latest research on child development, but it’s written in a way that parents can easily understand. We summarize the key findings, offer actionable takeaways, and make it searchable by condition.
Arya Bharat: That's a fantastic resource, Madhavi. I've had a look at it, and it's truly impressive. It's a curated collection of studies on a variety of developmental conditions, all written in plain language, easy for parents to understand. And it has separate columns outlining actionable steps for parents and therapists. Plus, it's sortable and filterable. If you're looking for the latest research on ADHD, you can filter by that condition and see all the relevant studies in seconds. It's a valuable resource for both parents and professionals in Hyderabad.
Madhavi Adimulam: Thank you, Arya. We put a lot of effort into making it user-friendly and relevant. Now, even with resources like the Research Hub, staying on top of research can feel daunting for parents.
Dr. Pooja Jha Nair: It can. And that’s where parent participation in research becomes crucial. We often find that parents are hesitant to share their experiences or participate in studies.
Madhavi Adimulam: I’ve encountered that as well. Parents might worry about their child’s privacy or the time commitment involved.
Dr. Pooja Jha Nair: It’s important for them to understand that research is conducted ethically, with strict confidentiality guidelines in place. Their child’s name and personal information are always protected. And their participation can make a real difference in advancing our understanding of these conditions and developing better interventions. Even simply answering a questionnaire or sharing their experiences can contribute valuable data.
As Dr. Pramod from Fernandez Hospital once said, “Someone has to dedicate their life to research on autism.” Without research, we won’t find effective treatments or develop new strategies to support these children.
Madhavi Adimulam: Research is the key to unlocking a brighter future for children with autism and other developmental challenges. And parents play a crucial role in that process.
9. Conclusion
Madhavi Adimulam: Dr. Pooja, thank you for sharing your inspiring story and the incredible work you do at Total Solutions. You’re a testament to the power of perseverance and the transformative impact of holistic support.
To learn more about the work of Total Solutions Rehabilitation Society and the services they provide in Hyderabad, visit their website at www.totalsolutionforlearning.com or contact them at +91 88860-08697.
At Ananya Child Development Center, we share that same passion for empowering children and families. We offer a range of services, from developmental assessments to specialized therapies, all focused on helping children with developmental delays thrive. If you’re in the Hyderabad area and searching for support, please visit our website at www.asap.org.in or give us a call at +91 98485 13192. We are here to guide you every step of the way.
Dr. Pooja's journey is a call to action. It challenges us to look beyond labels, to embrace differences, and to create a world where every child, regardless of their challenges, has the opportunity to reach their full potential. It's a reminder that we all have the power to make a difference, to build a more inclusive and compassionate society, one child, one family at a time. Thank you for listening.
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