The Lotus Team

Nandini Santhanam
Founder Director

Full Timer

I believe that the children with autism are her to lead humanity into co-creating The New Earth.

I , through my silent work with the children have come to hold the space for the evolution that is in process. I believe that autism is highest form of individualisation and that is the doorway to finding coherence in community whose members are whole and complete in themselves.

And so the process continues!
U Vijaykanth
Co-founder

Full Timer
Pradeep Thirunavukarasu
Sports and Fitness Coordinator

Full Timer

I am an engineering graduate, certified fitness trainer and a post-graduate diploma holder in Autism. I am passionate about Autism and Sports. My dream is to take the children with Autism to Paralympics. 
K Kesavaperumal
Sports and Fitness Trainer

Full Timer

I am a graduate in Corporate Secretaryship. However my passion is sports. I have pursued sports ever since I can remember. I have represented my school in many games such as throw ball and table tennis. At my collegiate level I have represented my college for kho-kho and beach frisbee.

At Lotus, I teach and play all sports activities that are a part of the school curriculum. Also I assist the children in fitness activities. Apart from that I engage with Art and Craft activities.

I feel really blessed to work with the children and staff at Lotus because I am treated like a family member. The children call me ANNA and so I am so happy to be with them guiding and playing with them all day.
S Lakshmi
Senior Special Educator

Full Timer

I love children and that is why I am here at Lotus. I have a post-graduate diploma in Special Education and I am also a trained ECG Technician. I have over 16 years experience in working with people with Autism. I am particularly inclined to engage with the young ones and the adolescent/ young adult girl children with Autism.
R Kalpana
Helper

Full Timer

I am working in Lotus since the beginning of Lotus. I am a trained care giver for the terminally ill and geriatric people. I feel very happy to be with the children with Autism.
V Achamma
Helper

Full Timer

I am happy to be with the children at Lotus.
Aparna Ravichander
Communication Therapist

Part Timer

I have a Masters Degree in Master of Social Work and a Diploma in Special Education. I am working as a Special Education Teacher in Abacus Montessori School for the past 13 years working with many children with Learning Difficulties and Autism. I am a Communication Therapist at The Lotus Foundation. I specialize in Facilitated Communication. I am a keen learner of Telepathic Communication as taught by the children themselves.
Anita Mahesh
Special Educator

Part Timer

I am Anita Mahesh. I was introduced to the world of Autism by my son Adish who is 25 yrs old now. I am associated with The Lotus Foundation since the beginning of the organization from 2009. I qualified myself with a Diploma in Special Education (Autism). I follow my passion in engaging with the children doing various activities. I do weaving, arts, cooking, computer typing and more as the need arises.
The pure love of the children I receive there is overwhelming and gives a deeper meaning to my life .
A Brush With Art
Art as Therapy Program

Part Timers

We are a trio of passionate art facilitators for children with Autism. Our program A Brush With Art is designed to nurture the expression of the natural artist in children and young adults with special needs.
Allowing total engagement with a range of mediums and techniques, in a non directed, process oriented manner.

Left to Right
Priya Badri, Jyotsna Srinivasan and Mala Chinnappa
Chitra Kannan
Senior Special Educator

Part Timer

I became a special educator because of my daughter Shubhasri. I believe that a teacher should be a good balance between fire and ice. Sometimes strict and mostly allowing. Both are necessary for shaping the children under our care and also ourselves. I try to embody what I believe in my work with the children.

T Jayashri
Independent Typing Facilitator

Part Timer

I am T Jayashri, mother of Jayaram, who is an adult with Autism. For the past 3 years I have had the privilege of working part-time at The Lotus Foundation Centre, where I assist the children to develop independent typing skill. This helps in enhancing their communication skills.
It gives me great pleasure and satisfaction to see the children improve with this and various other activities at The Lotus Foundation.
S Lalitha
Music Teacher

Part Timer and Skype Teacher

I am Lalitha Sivaganesan. I am the mother of Autist Om Namaschivayam. He is my inspiration. I live in London and periodically visit Chennai which is my hometown. Certified in Carnatic Music - Vocal - 1991 from Music College, Govt of Tamil Nadu, Chennai. Qualified in Lower Grade - Carnatic Music - Vocal - 1999, Dept of Education, Govt of Tamil Nadu. Experienced music teacher for more than two decades. Specialised in teaching children with special needs. I engage with them musically through social media. The sessions are very much enriching for me and for the children. The different tones and scales that I guide them to touch, facilitates wholesome integration of their body, mind, and soul. I am happy to be a part of the Lotus Faculty Team.
S Mallika
Music Teacher

Part Timer

I am passionate about music and singing. I started learning music to sing for my son Gokul. Gokul is a 35 year old young man with Autism and is passionate about music himself. I love to sing with the children at Lotus and am quite moved by the love I receive from them.
Meera Balachander
Sewing Specialist and Music Teacher

Part Timer

Meera is the mother of 44 year old Autist Krishna. She inspires many mothers to believe in their children by her sheer presence. She brings the triad of ideas of being The Margabandhu (Co-traveler), The Margadarshi (Seer) and The Margasahayam (Support) for many mothers. Her love for the children she works with is pure and unconditional.
She sews with the children on a manual sewing machine with foot pedals. This is a forgotten art form revived by her along with the children. She also composes music along with Krishna and sings it along with the children at Lotus.
Salini Jayakar
Nature Lover and Teacher

Part Timer

A True teacher is the learner. Everything even Mountains, rivers , plants and trees -should be your teacher. My inspiration is also my son Mukund who is a young man on the spectrum. He is a nature lover and has taught me to connect deeply to nature and to be happy even if there is chaos around me. My biggest qualification is my love for children, to have fun with them and to retain the child in me always.
Shanthini Mohan
Weaving Teacher

Part Timer

I was introduced to the divine world of Autism and Autists through my son Amrut now aged 15 years. He taught me that silence can transform lives. I love my time with all the divine souls at Lotus.
R Venkatasalam
Senior OCCUPATIONAL Therapist

Part timer and Consultant

I started practice in the year 2003. I am a Masters degree holder with Neurology specialization MOT(Neurology). I also hold many certificates and diplomas in SI Therapy through university of Southern California and ABA Practices. I am also a qualified therapist for Therapeutic Listening Program, PIATSM practitioner and Play Therapy.
I am associated with the organization since its inception in 2009. I am deeply moved by the love and freedom that is not only given to the children but also to the staff members to follow their individual passions.