HZ Womenpreneur Award: Meet Nita Diwan, Founder Of UNMISH, Transforming Lives Of Those With Special Needs

Nita Diwan’s Journey As A Changemaker

Talking about her journey Nita Diwan said, “Unmish started with a simple yet powerful idea—every child, regardless of their abilities, deserves a chance to thrive. As the mother of a son with multiple conditions, I still recall the profound joy I felt when I heard Nikunj say his first word “Mumma” after 11 long years. It reinforced my belief that, with determination and hard work, anything is achievable.”

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“We began with one child - my son in 2009 as a therapy unit. My journey as a changemaker started from the time I decided to overcome the stereotypical perceptions, my decision to go against what others said, disagreeing with what others thought and my choice to stay determined towards my own vision which was not much desired by most back then. I tried to create a space where children with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and developmental delays could receive holistic support,” added Nita.

About UNMISH

"Unmish" a Sanskrit word meaning “a bird before flight” symbolises the organisation's mission to help individuals realise their full potential. Incepted in 2009, by Mrs Nita Diwan, Unmish is a nonprofit organisation. It offers a school for children and adults, vocational training, a therapy unit and a sports academy for special needs individuals to achieve self-development. Our aim is to mainstream children aged from 7 days to 30 years, to make them capable as per their abilities to foster independence. Through awareness campaigns, skill training programs for teachers and parents, and rehab clinics in rural and urban areas, Unmish advocates acceptance of disability in the larger society. By fostering inclusion in education, employment, and daily life, Unmish reshapes the narrative around neurodiversity in India.

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Unmish envisions a world where everyone, regardless of their abilities, soars to new heights of achievement and independence. With time, Unmish evolved into a multiservice centre offering Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy to improve motor skills and independence, Speech Therapy and Sensory Integration to enhance communication, Creative Arts Therapy including music, dance, and movement to foster self-expression, Parental Guidance Programs to equip families with the tools to support their children. One of Unmish’s landmark initiatives was Poornam 2024. With each passing year, Unmish continued to expand its outreach, embracing newer therapeutic approaches and digital initiatives. Its legacy was not just in the services it provided but also in the mindsets it transformed, encouraging society to see ability beyond disability.

Challenges Faced

Sharing about the challenges Nita said, making people aware of the importance of inclusivity regarding raising the awareness and stigma about developmental disabilities and breaking the societal stigma surrounding special needs education. As a non-profit, organisation securing consistent funding for resources, therapies, and infrastructure remained a major hurdle along recruiting and retaining skilled therapists, special educators, and support staff was difficult due to the expertise required along with continuous training and professional development.

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She added that creating a safe, inclusive, and well-equipped learning environment required significant investment ensuring physical accessibility for students with mobility challenges added to infrastructural costs. Educating and involving parents in their child’s development was crucial but I sometimes faced resistance.

According to Nita, overcoming cultural misconceptions about disabilities requires persistent community outreach. Preparing students for independent living and employment remained to be a challenge due to limited inclusive opportunities. Advocating for workplace inclusion and vocational opportunities for neurodivergent individuals was a conscious and continuous effort. Expanding services while maintaining quality and personalization was also a logistical and financial challenge reaching underserved communities and providing affordable therapy still remains a priority.

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A Message For The Upcoming Changemakers

Nita shares a message for future changemakers: “A changemaker is someone who does not accept norms of the society. Anything which is living or non-living, humans, animals, environment, heritage, preservation, culture, everything needs an evolution. It can only happen if someone identifies, addresses and accepts to work towards its change. It is perfectly okay to not accept and go with the flow. You will get a lot of opposition, diverse conditions and hurdles. Stay focused towards your belief as the change is bound to happen. Loads of hugs and wishes to all of you out there trying to bring about that change. Go ahead with your madness just like me and make the most of it. All the best. To bring about that impact!”

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Image Courtesy: LinkedIn/Instagram