Autism Club Ernakulam’s desktop calendar for 2026 celebrates creativity of individuals on the spectrum

The pages of the Autism Club, Ernakulam, calendar for 2026, are the kind that would make one smile. January has a rhinoceros, whose dots have been connected by Liera Correya, 12, who is on the autism spectrum. The connect-the-dots rhino has a blue rhino-shaped outline. While March’s squirrel has all the dots neatly connected by Abhishek Ramakrishnan, 25. Twenty-three-year-old Vaishnav Kuttikat’s crab for July is neat as well — the dots connect and are shaded with green and pink lines. The calendar is the work of 19 children and young people who are on the spectrum. 

“Autism is a spectrum, each child is different. Every year we bring out a calendar showcasing the art work of the more talented among the children. This year, however, Albert Nishal Correya, Leira’s father, put forth a suggestion that why not let all the children create, according to their abilities. Rather than pick the more talented ones, let us acknowledge the talent in each children and include all kinds of ‘dot joining’,” says Deepthi Mathews, who is also a member of the Autism Club. 

Autism Club Ernakulam’s desktop calendar
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The idea took root there and grew with Albert providing the dotted pages for the children. “Albert told us to let the children be led by their creativity. We were not to guide them in any way, it was to be all the work for the children,” Deepthi says. While 12 children and individuals ‘drew’ the pictures, seven others contributed with the writing — dates, days and months.

A page from the Autism Club calendar
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Several sheets were handed to them to ‘create the artwork’ that would become the calendar. Deepthi says how the parents loved the idea, it was validation of the creativity of the children. Some of it was messy initially but over a few tries the children found their way around it. Deepthi’s son, Sam Varghese rewrote the numbers of the dots because he found the font size was too small. “It was not about the perfect or the best or the most talented, it was acknowledgement that each child is different and uniquely talented,” she adds.  

Another initiative, supported by the Autism Club is, Ausome Bites, a bakery project which aims to empower and provide vocational skills to people with autism. The new calendar is also aimed at acknowledging and encouraging the individuals irrespective of the ‘level’ of their talent and skills. 

For details about, and to order, the calendar, contact 9447028367