We believe autistic people have the right to autonomy, self-determination, dignity, equality, accessibility and meaningful participation in all aspects of life. AGS 2026 brings together autistic people, families, professionals, researchers, educators, healthcare providers, policymakers, civil society and communities to ensure that lived experience informs research, practice and policy, and that autistic voices are central to decisions affecting their lives.
Building on the experience of Kolkata, AGS 2026 looks towards India, the Global South and the wider international community. Our aim is to advance inclusive, accessible, affordable, culturally relevant and sustainable approaches that uphold the rights of autistic people and enable them to live, learn, communicate, work, participate and belong on an equal basis with others.
Our Journey
Autism Global Summit 2026 India is the culmination of a three-year autism movement that began in Kolkata in 2024. What started as a small gathering of parents has evolved into a growing platform connecting autistic people, families, professionals, educators, healthcare providers, advocates and policymakers.
It Began With 80 Parents
Autism Dialogues was the beginning. Dr Rudrajit Sinha and Nilanjana Rambothu organised a small seminar in Kolkata attended by more than 80 parents. The meeting created a space for families to speak openly about the challenges they faced—and about the future they wanted for their children. Dr Amrita Panda, Sumitra Paul Bakshi and Chaitali Gami subsequently joined the effort, forming the core group that went on to create the first Autism Convention Kolkata.
From Dialogue to Convention
The 1st Autism Convention Kolkata brought the emerging autism community together at an unprecedented scale. More than 1,000 parents from India and neighbouring countries participated. The Convention focused on six practical pillars affecting the lives of autistic people and their families:
It established a new kind of autism conversation-one grounded in the real socioeconomic and lifelong challenges faced by families.
Keeping the Conversation Alive
Following the success of the first Convention, Re!magine Autism was launched by Dr Amrita Panda and Dr Rudrajit Sinha. The initiative created monthly parent dialogues across Kolkata and West Bengal, addressing subjects that are often difficult to discuss but essential to family life-including financial planning, parental mental health, sexuality and gender, profound autism and lifelong support. The movement was no longer confined to an annual gathering. The conversation was becoming continuous.
Taking Autism to the Streets
The First Autism Ride for Freedom took the movement beyond conference halls and into the streets. Led by Dr Rudrajit Sinha, Dr Amrita Panda and Nilanjana Rambothu, approximately 50 bikers from across Bengal came together on Independence Day to carry the message of autism awareness, acceptance, inclusion and freedom into the wider community.
Bigger. Broader. More Inclusive.
The 2nd Autism Convention Kolkata surpassed the first in participation and scale, expanding from two days to three. The programme introduced a National CRE event for professionals and Anuronon (Echo), a socio-cultural programme that brought together eight special schools. The Convention was no longer simply an annual event—it was becoming an ecosystem for learning, community and action.
From Awareness to Systems Change
The Autism Friendly City Initiative (AFCI) was launched by Dr Amrita Panda and Dr Rudrajit Sinha. AFCI aims to bring autistic people, families, citizens and institutions together to build cities that are inclusive, accessible and responsive to autistic needs. Its work extends across health, education, policing, transport, municipalities and other public systems, while placing autistic voices and lived experience at the centre of training and policy development. The movement was beginning to move from awareness to systems change.
From Kolkata to the World
Autism Global Summit 2026 India marks the next chapter. Led by Dr Rudrajit Sinha, Dr Amrita Panda and Dr Parimal Bera, AGS 2026 brings together the experience and learning of the past three years onto a four-day international platform, 18-21 November 2026. The Summit expands the conversation:
Our Core Philosophy
AGS 2026 is built on a simple premise: Autism policy must begin with lived experience. We address autism across the whole life course beyond diagnosis and intervention.
The Path of Impact
The journey from Autism Dialogues to AGS 2026 represents a continuous evolution designed to create sustainable, rights-based approaches.
Autism Convention - 2024
Re!magine Autism - 2025
Autism Friendly City Initiative - 2026
Kolkata Declaration - 2027
AGS 2026 seeks to take this journey further-creating practical, inclusive and rights-based approaches that can be relevant not only to India, but to the Global South and the wider international autism community.