Anita Thapliyal Sharma: A mother’s struggle to a mission for Inclusive education
Anita Thapliyal Sharma: A mother’s struggle to a mission for Inclusive education
Dehradun, Nov 5
Anita Thapliyal Sharma, an autism educator, inclusive education advocate, visual curriculum developer and social entrepreneur, will be conferred with the ‘Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman 2026’ for her pioneering contribution to the field of inclusive education. The award will be presented at a state-level function here on November 6 as part of the statehood anniversary celebrations.
Her work spans more than two decades across the United States and India. A mother of two sons on the autism spectrum, Sharma’s commitment to education stems from her personal understanding of the challenges faced by children whose learning needs are not adequately addressed by conventional teaching methods. What began as a mother’s search for better educational opportunities for her children gradually evolved into a wider mission to help children learn, communicate and participate in society with dignity.
After spending nearly three decades in the United States, Sharma returned to her roots in Uttarakhand to bring her knowledge, experience and resources to her home state. Her journey of reverse migration reflects her determination to develop accessible educational support systems for children with special learning needs, their families and teachers.
As Founder and Director of Shine Avi Publication Pvt. Ltd., she has developed more than 150 visual learning books and educational resources focusing on language processing, comprehension, reasoning, inferencing, sequencing and social communication. Drawing upon her practical experience, these resources provide educators and families with structured and accessible teaching methods to address diverse learning requirements.
As Operations Head of Myra Care Foundation, Dehradun, she is also involved in developing and implementing holistic programmes for children on the autism spectrum. These programmes combine individualised educational support, communication development and practical learning, with particular emphasis on recognising and nurturing each child’s individual strengths and needs.
Through the Shine Avi Inclusive Education Mission 2030, Sharma advocates early identification of learning gaps, strengthening teachers’ capacities, adapting classroom practices and providing resource-room support. She also stresses the need to equip B.Ed. students and prospective teachers with practical skills and strategies to address diverse learning needs before they enter classrooms.
Her contribution lies in translating a mother’s personal experience into educational resources, teacher training and institution-building. Beginning in Uttarakhand, she is seeking to build a more inclusive educational environment in which every child is understood, every teacher is adequately equipped and every learner gets an opportunity to realise their potential.
