Started in 2018, The Canbridge Academy trains young adults with autism to be future-ready. A bridge between school and adulthood, we build life skills by providing multiple areas of engagement to help trainees identify areas they would like to pursue.
Our team is a rich mix of experienced and young professionals and volunteers in the field of special education, arts-based practices and community development work.
Constantly pushing the envelope, the team is defined by striving for giving the best to the trainees.
OUR TRUSTEES
Our trustees play a hands-on role, steering the programme and the organisation.
When not facilitating sessions, you will find them on a call, discussing ways to enrich the programme.
Co - Director & Founder
Kavitha Krishnamoorthy
Kavitha Krishnamoorthy
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A parent to a teenager with autism, Kavitha Krishnamoorthy is a dreamer-doer, constantly imagining possibilities for young people with autism. With over 3 decades of working in social development, she believes that change is a slow dance and is possible only with a collective effort. A certified Arts-based Therapist, she brings to CanBridge her unfailing enthusiasm, energy and optimism along with her professional skills as a change-maker.
Sharada Rajaram
Sharada Rajaram
Co - Director & Founder
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A qualified Company Secretary by training, Sharada Rajaram found her calling as a special educator. She brings with her 20 years of experience in educating children and young adults with autism. She is driven by her conviction that every individual can learn, provided they are taught right. Her innate compassion makes her the go-to person for parents. Shaping CanBridge as an institution is an expression of her steadfast commitment to creating a bright future for youngsters with autism.
OUR FACULTY
“Let’s make it happen, somehow”
That seems the credo that drives our faculty. Nothing is impossible for this dedicated team.
Vaishnavi Selvaraj
Programme Manager,
Life skills training
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Vaishnavi has been working with children and adolescents with autism for over 15 years. She easily builds a deep rapport with the students and is driven by her faith and belief in their potential. A Bachelor’s in Psychology, she is also a trained yoga teacher. A team player, she is extremely dependable, courageous and always willing to take on higher responsibilities.
Pavithra Balajee
Consultant, Communication
and Music
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Pavithra Balajee wears many hats. A professional singer, she anchors the Music Facilitation programme at CanBridge, enabling our youngsters truly ‘find their voice’. She also steers the Communication programme, working to ensure that every opportunity to build communication is optimised. Alongwith a background in psychology, Pavithra brings to her role her innate sensitivity and compassion.
Ashvin K
Manager, Living and
Employment Support
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Ashvin with his youthful energy is always ready to try anything new. A B.Com graduate, currently pursuing his MSW, he is a buddy to our youngsters, helping them navigate uncertain terrains. He brings a fresh perspective to most discussions, in his own quiet way. He is dependable and committed to meeting every new challenge.
OUR CONSULTANTS
Beena Mohan
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Beena Mohan is a certified special educator (RCI) with over 20 years of experience in special education working with children, adolescents and young adults through organisations such as We CAN Resource Centre for Autism, Chennai; MIRRA, Chennai etc. She is a certified counsellor in Mental Health (Ummeed CDC), Mumbai. She uses the ideas and practices of narrative therapy in counselling neurodiverse people and/or their families.She serves on the Board of Action For Autism (AFA), a leading autism services and advocacy organisation. At CanBridge, she counsels our trainees, helping them navigate difficult areas of their lives. When not doing all of the above, she loves shaking a leg to Bollywood tunes and binge watching TV shows.
Kamala Murali
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Kamala Murali is a textile designer based in Chennai. Her brand, kambli, designs modern, minimal textiles using remnant fabrics, and offers one-of-a-kind quilts, cushions and more. Kamala is single handedly responsible for converting all the outcomes of our trainees’ artworks into unique pieces - bead jewellery and home decor; paper products such as envelopes and photo frames; and tablemats, runners and key hooks from woven fabric.
Rahul Manoj
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Rahul Manoj is a filmmaker and founder of Rewrite Studios, a storytelling-driven production house based in Chennai. His work spans documentaries, commercials, and live events—including A Palette of Emotions. At CanBridge, he facilitates photography and guides the youngsters through quiet visual walks, helping them discover stories through the lens.
Sathya Ganapathi
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Sathya Ganapathi is a multidisciplinary artist and designer who explores creativity through various mediums and styles. She holds a degree in Fine Arts and is trained in Ikebana, Korean language, Folk Painting and Calligraphy. She practices art as a therapeutic form and an expressive medium. At CanBridge, she facilitates visual arts and works to enable students find their own, unique style.
OUR VOLUNTEERS
Aparna Anand
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Aparna has been an active yoga practitioner for the past 15 years. She is a qualified yoga therapist in the tradition of Sri Krishnamachariar, with 6 years of teaching experience. Her chanting is a huge hit with our students.
Sathya Ganapathi
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Sathya Ganapathi is a yoga therapist and an active yoga practitioner. She brings her innate creativity, sense of calm and playfulness to her sessions making them a joy for the students.
OUR COLLABORATORS
Enriching our programme - collaborations with other organisations
Uncle Sam’s Kitchen
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A premier and immensely popular catering service, Uncle Sam’s Kitchen (USK) was the first to open their doors to internship opportunities for our youngsters, enabling them make the transition from a training environment in CanBridge to a professional kitchen environment. While two of our youngsters work in a part-time capacity, chopping vegetables; three are currently interning and learning the ropes. What has stood out in this collaboration is how wholeheartedly our youngsters have been absorbed into USK and how everyone from the top management to the folks in the kitchen make them feel at home. Inclusion at its best!
Restore
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A non-profit organic food store, Restore holds a farmers’ market twice a week. One of our young adults interns at this market, helping sort vegetables and carrying them in baskets to be placed on the tables from where consumers buy them. The young intern loves movement which he gets enough and more of at Restore - moving around, carrying baskets of vegetables and swinging in his break time. The youthful vibe at Restore, music available on demand and the warm, welcoming smiles of everyone around makes our intern go back, week after week. Inclusion rocks at Restore!
Aarohi
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A retro music band performing South Indian and Bollywood music, Aarohi curates Anmol Ratan, an online, annual offering showcasing the musical talent of autistic individuals. This is a much looked forward to event among the autism community, with participants growing each year across cities such as Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Coimbatore and Hyderabad. The show is eclectic and open to all forms of music, vocal or instrumental. This, along with its unique format of presenting pre-recorded videos, makes it very autism-friendly.
Monali and friends
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Monali and friends bring the Christmas cheer to our doorstep every year unfailingly, with uplifting, heartwarming melodies. An eclectic mix of songs, in different languages, some known, some new; some to listen to, some to sing along - all add to the magic of every event. For us, Christmas is not Christmas unless Monali and her friends come in to regale us!
