Ranveer Singh Saini

Autism Light #426 is Ranveer Singh Saini.

Ranveer Singh Saini is a 14 year old with autism from the city of Gurgaon in India. Ranveer competed in golf in the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles and became the first one from India to win a Gold Medal in the World Games. Ranveer Singh Saini is an Autism Light for the way in which his skill in golf inspires others with autism and for the pride he has brought to the country of India by being their first citizen to win a gold medal in the Special Olympics World Games.

Ranveer Singh Saini becomes the first Indian Golfer to win a gold medal at @SpecialOlympics World Games @LA2015 pic.twitter.com/SodpTDRtfh

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) August 1, 2015

Ranveer began golfing at age 9. Because of his condition of having autism the dynamics of being successful while playing in a formal golf outing (that has many potential distractions around the course) has been a growing experience for him over the years. He has had therapy and special schedules geared toward the skills necessary to compete, so he could showcase his athletic talent. His coach Anitya Chand said:

While he adapted to the game, I took time to understand his special needs and devise different training techniques for him. He is quite an extraordinary child who thinks of golf merely as a game. Instead of getting bogged down by technicalities, he focuses on simply hitting the ball towards the hole. That's how he gradually became consistent with his swings and now he hits ball really well (Hole in One, Indian Express, May 12, 2013).

The following is a news story on Ranveer's golfing when he was 12 years of age.

 
2015 World Games - Special Olympics: Ranveer won a gold medal in the GF Golf-Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play event on July 31, 2015, and in doing so became the first one from India to win a gold medal in the history of the World Games. 21 nations participated in the event in 2015. "Ranveer and his partner Monica Jajoo were nine shots clear of joint second-placed teams from Hong Kong (Tsz Leung Chung/Ka Kit Lam) and Nippon (Takefumi Hiyoshi/Tadatoshi Sakai) (Golfer Ranveer Singh Saini Bags Gold in Special Olympics World Games, NDTV Sports, August 1, 2015)."

The following is a news story from India Progressing about Ranveer Singh Saini's accomplishment of winning the Special Olympics Gold for India.

In response to the achievement, Ranveer's father said, "To all parents of special children, just don't give up, special children are self-sustaining (Golfer Ranveer Singh Saini Bags Gold in Special Olympics World Games, NDTV Sports, August 1, 2015)."

Asia Pacific Special Olympics Golf Masters - 2013: At the age of 12, Ranveer won two gold medals at the Asia Pacific Special Olympics Golf Maters in April, 2013 that was held in Macau.  He won a gold medal in the individual category and a gold medal in the team category. He also won a trophy in the skills competition (Hole in One, Indian Express, May 12, 2013). Ranveer's achievement also made it to the Limca Book of Records, which is the Indian equivalent to the Guiness Book of World Records.

Website: Visit Ranveer's official website at www.ranveersaini.com to learn about his past and future success.

If you would like to read more on Ranveer Singh Saini the following online stories feature his inspirational accomplishment.

• Indian Golfer Ranveer Saini Bags Gold in Special Olympics (The Times of India, August 1, 2015)
• Golfer Ranveer Singh Saini Bags Gold in Special Olympics World Games (NDTV Sports, August 1, 2015)
• Teen with Autism First from India to Win Gold at Special Olympics (Autism Speaks, August 5, 2015) 
• Autism Could Not Stop This 14 Year Old from Becoming a Gold Medalist in the Special Olympics (The Logical Indian, August 1, 2015)
• Hole in One (Indian Express, May 12, 2013)

Special thanks to Ranveer Singh Saini for being an Autism Light. We applaud Ranveer, and indeed his parents and coaches over the years, for this achievement in golf of winning the first Special Olympics Gold Medal from India. This feat has brought autism awareness to India and serves as an inspiration to many that people with autism can potentially do amazing things in the sport of golf.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Molly Pinney

Autism Light #197 is Molly Pinney.

Molly Pinney is a global shining light for autism. She is an ABA therapist in her early 30's who works with children with autism and should be on the list of amazing advocates for autism under age 40 (if there was one). She is also the Founder and CEO of the Global Autism Project and is having an influence on autism around the world.  Molly Pinney is an Autism Light because she knows no borders in her efforts to provide partnerships and communications for the cause of autism.

Molly Pinney founded the Global Autism Project in 2003 while living in Ghana and seeing the profound need for autism education. In Ghana she became known as "the lady who knew what autism was." The Global Autism Project is a 501c3 organization based in New York and has programs in the United States, Ghana, Kenya, India, and Peru. The mission of the Global Autism Project is to foster "a world where people with autism have access to services that enable them to reach their potential (Source)."  In order to help fund the efforts in 2005 she started the organization's signature fundraiser called "Paddles for Autism Awareness." You can read the full story of how Molly Pinney was led to start the Global Autism Project at this link.

Molly Pinney received her B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Neuroscience form Columbia University in 2009. She is a member of several professional associations focusing on autism and behavioral analysis, and serves on the advisory board of the Alzheimer's Action Foundation and City Year New York.

Social Media: You can follow the work of Molly Pinney and the Global Autism Project at the following social media areas.

• Facebook
• Twitter @GlobalAutism

Special thanks to Molly Pinney for being an Autism Light and working so hard to help those with autism around the world. The autism community in Ghana, Peru, India, Kenya, and the United States is blessed by your efforts. In fact, this post holds the distinction of the most international labels of any post on the Autism Light blog to date.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Photo: The photo in this post is used with permission of Ariana Riccio, from the Global Autism Project. 

Smita Awasthi

Autism Light #117 is Smita Awasthi.

Smita Awasthi is from New Mumbai, India. Smita Awasthi is the first Board Certified Behavioral Analyst in India. Smita Awasthi is an Autism Light because of her advocacy to bring ABA treatment to people with autism to the country of India.

Smita Awasthi is a pioneer of ABA in India. She has been an advocate for ABA in India and also is involved in providing training opportunities for those wishing to start ABA in India. According to the Behavior Momentum website, "She is a Full Member of the Association of Behavior Analysis U.S.A." and she is "A peer reviewer on the editorial board of the Mexican Journal of Behavior Analysis."

Smita Awasthi is currently a PhD student at Queen's University in Belfast. She is studying for her PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis.

ABA India: Smita Awasthi is the founder and President of ABA India. ABA India is dedicated to advancing the science and practice of ABA in various areas of Indian society. The ABA India website is at http://aba-india.org/.

Behavior Momentum: Smita Awasthi is also the Chairman and Chief Consultant for Behavior Momentum in India. Behavior Momentum is located in Bengaluru, which is also known as Bengalore, India. Behavior Momentum advances ABA treatment through three locations in India, including Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Delhi. To find out more about Smita Awasthi's biography visit this website at Behavior Momentum.com.

QUART Conference: Smita Awasthi was the keynote speaker at the QUART Conference in November, 2011. The QUART Conference focuses on current research related to autism and is hosted by Queens University.  The QUART Conference describes Smita Awasthi as "an internationally recognized autism expert, therapist, and staff trainer."

Social Media: You can connect with Smita Awasthi and her work at the following social media areas.

• LinkedIn
• Facebook (Behavior Momentum)

Special thanks to Smita Awasthi for being an Autism Light through dedication to the area of ABA in India. For more information on the treatment of ABA therapy at Autism Light you may wish to read the Spotlight Feature that was done on ABA.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.


Photo: The photo in this post is used with the permission of Behavior Momentum.