Indo-Canadian Autism Network International Symposium
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I-CAN Network
Indo Canadian Autism Network
The Indo-Canadian Autism Network (I-CAN) is a collaborative venture between Canadian autism experts and Indian leaders in ASD services and research. The groundwork for this venture began back in 2010 and was spearheaded by Dr. Vikram Dua. In July 2019, along with Dr. Dan Goldowitz and Dr. Lonnie Zwaigenbaum and with support from Divi's Foundation For Gifted Children(DFGC). A venture planning meeting occurred in Hyderabad which paved the way for the I-CAN symposium in 2020.
However, other key Canadian partners have been critical to the I-CAN success. Dr. Jessica Brian and her colleagues, Erin Dowds, and Kate Bernardi, from Holland-Bloorview in Toronto, have brought their Canadian-grown knowledge of the Social ABC’s to I-CAN.
Kavita Kamat, from PosAbilities, in Vancouver has brought expertise in Behavioral Analysis and parent training. As I-CAN grows, clinical expertise will expand to other identified areas of need, such as adults and aging, girls and women, and neurobiological research.
Members
Leads and Member Organizations
I-CAN members from India are from the nation’s leading organizations for autism-related clinical services, research, training, and teaching. There are currently more than a dozen diverse member organizations from across India, and they include grassroot-community agencies, committed NGOs, leaders in evidence-based and innovative community services, along with some of the best Government medical colleges and a national research center.
| Dr Aparna W | Goa Medical College, Goa |
| Dr. Ashok M. V | St. John's Medical College Hospital, Banglore |
| Dr Dedeepya Puskur | Fernandez Child Development Centre, Hyderabad |
| Jo Chopra-McGowan | Latika Roy Memorial Foundation, Dehradun |
| Dr K John Vijay Sagar | National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore |
| Dr Koyeli Sengupta | Ummeed Center, Mumbai |
| Dr Nandini Mundkur | Centre For Child Development and Disabilities, Bangalore |
| Dr Nandita De Souza | Sethu Centre For Child Development, Goa |
| Dr Nidhi Singhal | Action for Autism, New Delhi |
| Nisha Mascarenhas Printer | Fernandez Child Development Centre, Hyderabad |
| Dr Pramod Gaddam | Fernandez Foundation, Hyderabad |
| Dr Sheffali Gulati | All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi |
| Dr SS Meera | National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore |
| Dr Supriya Malik | eMbrace, New Delhi |
Symposium
I-CAN Symposium 2020
The symposium was attended by over 50 delegates (representing over a dozen agencies)
from across India. It laid the foundation for building a strong collaborative network to support children, youth and adults and their families impacted by autism in India by tapping into subject expertise, current research/trends, and a collective understanding of local needs of parents and centers.
Through various small and large group exercises participants explored, identified, and prioritized potential opportunities for collaboration both between Canada and India and between Indian Centers. Key needs for capacity-building in assessment, intervention, and research areas were identified. This was further highlighted during site visits and discussions with the various teams. This created a framework for I-CAN to move forward. As one of the participants eloquently put it “to move forward from I-CAN to WE-ARE (Working Together in Autism Research and Empowerment)” capturing the essence of this collaborative effort.
International Collaboration
2021 and Beyond
The success of this international collaboration is dependent on its sustainability. With that in mind, the I-CAN leads have been in discussions with Divis Foundation for Gifted Children to find an institutional 'home' for I-CAN. This will support its ability to leverage academic and clinical expertise, continue to prioritize strategic goals of network and work with our partners to identify potential resources to support this ambitious agenda, which promises to advance ASD innovation and care. In view of this, Fernandez Child Development Center (FCDC) has set up the I-CAN hub.