About Mini

Mini is a dedicated Relationship Development Intervention (RDI™) Consultant with over a decade of experience in guiding families with children on the Autism Spectrum and other developmental disabilities. Her organization, PlayStreet Specially Abled Educare Trust in Bangalore, India, has been at the forefront of providing innovative services to help these children realize their full potential.

Mini’s areas of expertise include:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorders

  • PDD/NOS

  • ADD/ADHD

  • OCD

  • Asperger’s

  • Depression

  • Developmental Trauma

  • Communication, Attention, Behavioral, and Learning Disorders

She employs a relationship-based, trauma-sensitive, sensory, and motor-backed approach to support individuals, particularly those with Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD. Her methodology integrates:

  • Relationship Development Intervention (RDI™)

  • Theory of Secured Attachment

  • Trauma-Sensitive Practice

Additionally, Mini uses the following approaches:

  • Sensory Motor Approach to Feeding and Speech

  • Alternative and Augmentative Communication

  • Language Stimulation and Development

  • Sensory Integration and Motor Development

  • Rhythm-based Sensory Music and Movement Program


She emphasizes the importance of diet and nutrition in the treatment of these conditions.

Her core work revolves around helping families develop a guiding relationship with their children. This approach fosters:

  • Connection to the Environment

  • Intrinsic Motivation

  • Coregulation as the foundation of mental development


This method stands in contrast to traditional autism interventions that often rely on repetitive drills without presuming competence or fostering self-esteem.

Mini is the Founder and Director of PlayStreet Specially Abled Educare Trust in Bengaluru, India. She is recognized as one of the foremost experts on Autism, employing relationship-based, sensory-motor, and child-centric approaches for intervention. Her goal is not to fix the child’s disability but to enhance the quality of life for children and their families.

As a Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) Consultant, Mini utilizes one of the latest approaches based on cutting-edge neuroscience research for people with Autism. She has developed numerous programs that focus on the sensory, motor, and social wellbeing of children with Autism.

Mini works on ensuring the safety of the nervous system for individuals with trauma and other mental health conditions. As a trauma-sensitive practitioner, she is certified in the Safe and Sound Protocol based on Polyvagal Theory and is an Access Bars Facilitator, providing drug-free treatment for PTSD, depression, and other mental health conditions.

Additionally, Mini is a certified Oral Placement Therapist for Feeding and Speech (Level 2) and a certified Special Educator for Autism, trained in language stimulation techniques, sensory integration, and neuro-developmental therapy (NDT).

EDUCATION

  • INCUBATED FOR WOMEN STARTUP PROGRAM
    NSRCEL, Indian Institute of Management, Bengaluru

  • RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION
    Consultant, RDICONNECT

  • CERTIFICATION ON POLY-VAGAL THEORY AND SAFE AND SOUND PROTOCOL
    https://integratedlistening.com/

  • VESTIBULAR-VISUAL MATTERS – AN INTENSIVE DIVE INTO THE DEVELOPMENT AND INTEGRATION OF THE VESTIBULAR AND VISUAL SYSTEMS
    An 8-week certification with Relationship Matters, 2023

  • EATING AND FEEDING MATTERS – NEUROBIOLOGY OF EATING AND FEEDING
    An 8-week certification with Relationship Matters, 2023

  • SLEEP MATTERS – FROM SCIENCE TO STRATEGIES
    An 8-week certification with Relationship Matters, 2023

  • BECOMING A BEHAVIOURAL DETECTIVE - UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTING COMPLEX BEHAVIOUR
    An 8-week certification with Relationship Matters, 2023

  • TRAUMA-SENSITIVE PRACTICE
    An 8-week certification with Relationship Matters, 2023

  • TREATING MOVEMENT CHALLENGES IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: NDT FOR ASD
    An 8-week certification with Relationship Matters, 2022

  • AUTISM MATTERS – DECODING AUTISM INSIDE OUT
    An 8-week certification with Relationship Matters, 2022

  • NEUROBIOLOGY MATTERS - A Practical Approach to Applying Brain, Body and

    Mind Science to Clinical Practice.

    An 8-week certification with Relationship Matters, 2022

  • EARLY YEARS EDUCATION

    The Teachers Foundation, 2019

  • ORAL PLACEMENT THERAPY (LEVEL 2)

    COURSE 1: THREE PART PROGRAM, Talk Tools, 2014

    COURSE 2: ORAL PLACEMENT THERAPY – ASSESSMENT AND PROGRAM

    PLAN DEVELOPMENT, Talk Tools, August 2016

    COURSE 3: A SENSORY MOTOR APPROACH TO FEEDING & SPEECH, Talk

    Tools, January 2017

    COURSE 4: A SENSORY MOTOR APPROACH TO APRAXIA OF SPEECH AND

    RELATED MOTOR SPEECH DISORDERS

    Talk Tools, 2017

  • THE SENSORY INTEGRATION PERSPECTIVE – COURSE 1 OF THE SENSORY

    INTEGRATION PROGRAM

    Dr. Erna Blanche, University of California, Hyderabad, 2016

  • IRLEN SYNDROME AWARENESS WORKSHOP

    Tehnaz Ragi, Bangalore, 2016

  • 2-DAY WORKSHOP ON CREATIVE MOVEMENT THERAPY

    CMTAI, November 2015

  • FINDING THE MISSING PIECES OF THE AUTISM PUZZLE

    Dr. Steve Gutstein (Founder- Relationship Development Intervention), Bangalore, 2015

  • 4-DAY WORKSHOP ON DECODING AUTISM FROM INSIDE OUT

    Kim Barthel, September 2015

  • SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDERS: INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE

    SENSORY BEHAVIOUR AND FUNCTION

    Loganathan Guruswamy, Bangalore, 2013

  • DIPLOMA IN SPECIAL EDUCATION - AUTISM

    KPAMRC, BANGALORE, 2010-11

  • SOFTWARE ENGINEER

    January 1999 - November 2008

  • MASTER OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS, 1999

  • BACHELOR OF MATHAMATICS, 1996

          Delhi University

EXPERTISE

Founder of PlayStreet: Established a centre in 2012 in Bangalore dedicated to empowering children with Autism and other developmental differences through innovative, child-centred programs.

Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) Consultant: Empowering families to support the development of children with Autism by addressing core deficits and re-establishing the “Guiding Relationship”.

Coregulation Coach: Teaching strategies to parents and caregivers for fostering emotional regulation, intrinsic motivation and calming interactions and communication with children, offering a fresh perspective on “Behaviours”.

Trauma-Sensitive Practitioner: Offering compassionate care tailored to children with Autism who may have experienced trauma, creating a safe and nurturing environment.

Apraxia/Dyspraxia Champion: Bringing awareness, support, and understanding of dyspraxia to improve the lives of those affected by the condition through eclectic strategies and programs.

Oral Placement Therapy (OPT) and Feeding Therapist: Addressing oral-motor and feeding challenges to improve eating, speech, and overall oral health in children.

Sensory-Motor & NDT Ally: Trained in integrating sensory and motor-based approaches and neuro-developmental therapy to help children regulate, engage, and thrive. Uses the power of touch.

AAC Mentor: Supporting the transition to and effective use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to unlock a child’s voice and potential.

Language Stimulation Expert: Combining movement-based therapy and language stimulation techniques to enhance developmental progress and communication.

SPEAKER ON INVITATION

  • ADVANCED SPEECH THERAPY AND IMPORTANCE OF EARLY MOTOR FOUNDATION IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

    Every month for families enrolled for functional medicine treatment with Functional Medicine Clinic

  • THE IMPACT OF COREGULATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM

    Indian Association of Functional Medicine Conference (IAFMCON 2022), December 2022

  • PANELIST: NEW APPROACH TO ADDRESS AUTISM

    Indian Association of Functional Medicine Conference (IAFMCON 2022), December 2022

  • STRATEGIES TO TEACH SWIMMING TO KIDS WITH AUTISM

    Splash kids amaze staff, Singapore April 2018

  • PRACTICE ON INCLUSION FOR MAINSTREAM TEACHERS

    Presented on mindful guidance on developing dynamic intelligence in the classroom, October 2017

  • DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES

    Jain University, August 2017

  • SCHOOLS THAT CARE – A 3-DAY WORKSHOP BY “THE TEACHERS FOUNDATION” ON SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

    Inclusion of disabilities in classroom using relationship-based approaches, July 2017

  • INTRODUCTION TO RDI & PLAYTALK

    Play Studio Singapore, March 2017

  • ROLE OF PSCYCHOLOGISTS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES HAVING CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

    Christ College, March 2017

  • PLAYTALK – A COMPREHENSIVE AAC PROGRAM

    Hope – The Early Intervention Centre, January 2017