Youth-led nonprofit, Humanities in Focus, not only brings a voice to the autistic community, but also inclusivity and friendships. Their mission admirably creates an opportunity to educate others on autism and the importance of respect and normalcy.
Humanities in Focus was first established in January 2024 by a group of high school students after witnessing the mistreatment of autistic students at their schools. The directors include Amiya Khosla as founder and social media director (junior at California High School), Renushree Mandala as founder and engineering director (freshman at Mission San Jose High School), Danya Sri Anantha Prakash as founder and volunteer coordinator (junior at California High School), and Bhavishya Thirumalesh as founder and event management director (freshman at Mission San Jose High School).
The nonprofit was officially registered in September 2024, and the team dove straight to work. “We began by directly talking to our classmates and peers by letting them know that we’re starting an organization,” says Mandala. “We further explained our cause to spread awareness and educate others on its importance.” Social media became crucial in spreading awareness campaigns based on their belief that youth best know and impact other youth.
Bringing understanding is one of Humanities in Focus’ primary goals. Often, autism is stigmatized and stereotyped. “The real issue is perception,” says Mandala. “Children with autism are often misunderstood as incapable or strange, when in reality they’re smart, kind and fascinating once you get to know them. People make assumptions and miss the opportunity to truly understand and connect with these amazing kids.”
With these conversations, Humanities in Focus aims to help both autistic kids and their family members feel less judged and isolated. “We really prioritize building one-on-one connections with these kids,” Thirumalesh says. “A lot of other organizations just provide financial support, but we actually want to be socially available to these kids and build a supportive community based on that.”
This mindset led to local craft events such as cookie decorating in the park, where the directors and volunteers gathered to chat and generally have fun with autistic kids. Humanities in Focus has also participated in large-scale events with the Morgan Autism Center (MAC), one of the largest autism schools in the Bay Area. The team helped at MAC’s annual gala, “Starry Starry Night,” which raised $400,000 for school renovations and support systems.
“Who we partner and fundraise with really matters,” Prakash says, “so we do our research and make sure that the place we’re fundraising with is important to the autistic community.”
The nonprofit also started a podcast called “Beyond the Diagnosis,” where autism specialists and parents of children with autism share their experiences and knowledge. “With Spotify and YouTube, so many people listen to podcasts now,” Khosla says. “We wanted to create a bigger platform to connect on a more personal level.” Episodes have covered a wide range of issues, each focused on navigating life beyond the diagnosis.
“We’ve invited mothers who have faced lawsuits, specialists, doctors and mainly parents,” says Prakash. “Through the podcast, we’ve been able to learn with it as well. For example, to attend a school that specializes in autism, you need to get approval from the district, but it’s a difficult process. As a podcast host, these types of stories opened my eyes to the advocacy that it takes caregivers to be able to have the necessary tools for their children available.”
Children with autism are often misunderstood as incapable or strange, when in reality they’re smart, kind and fascinating once you get to know them
– Renushree Mandala
Volunteer opportunities are always available in Humanities in Focus. Each member is carefully selected, as Khosla explains, “We want to make sure they really do care about our cause and are truly qualified, so we interview them on a personal level.” Currently, Humanities in Focus has other chapters in Texas and India. Down the line, they hope to expand globally.
Nonprofits like Humanities in Focus are paving the way for a brighter future. “Even though it sounds cliché, the youth are the future,” says Thirumalesh. “It’s really important to initiate change from the roots and share our ideas and values with each other, so we can hope for a better world.”
As for how to treat those within the autistic community, Prakash reminds, “Autism isn’t something to fear or fix. It’s just a different way of experiencing the world around us.”
To learn more about Humanities in Focus, please visit linktr.ee/humanitiesinfocus1.
