In a landmark recognition of three decades of advocacy in the field of learning disabilities and inclusive education, Delhi-based expert Rajeev Bhatt has been conferred the National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities 2025 by The Honourable President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu. The award acknowledges his transformative contributions to disability awareness, early intervention, and strength-based education across the country.
Bhatt, regarded as one of India’s most influential voices in neurodiversity, has been instrumental in reshaping how the nation understands autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and learning differences. At a time when misinformation and stigma overshadowed scientific clarity, he became a guidepost for thousands of families, teachers, and community workers seeking reliable knowledge delivered with empathy.
A National Journey Rooted in Awareness and Inclusion
Beginning his mission in the early 1990s, Bhatt travelled extensively across urban, semi-urban, and rural India under the Inclusive India initiative. His work spanned:
awareness and sensitization drives,
parent counselling and guidance programs,
teacher training workshops, and
community outreach in underserved areas.
Crucially, he expanded his work deep into Delhi’s and India’s slum clusters and low-income communities, where awareness about developmental disorders remains scarce. Through structured sessions for parents and local educators, he helped families understand autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and related conditions—often providing the first accurate explanation they had ever received.
Author of Two Groundbreaking Books
Bhatt’s influence extends beyond the field through two widely regarded books:
Decoding Autism, which simplifies complex neurological concepts and offers actionable guidance for families and teachers.
Decoding Dyslexia, considered a definitive resource on identifying and supporting children with dyslexia.
Both titles have become essential reading for professionals and parents alike, bridging the gap between science and practical, everyday understanding.
Adhyayan Inclusive Learning Centre: A Model for India
A major pillar of Bhatt’s legacy is the Adhyayan Inclusive Learning Centre in Delhi, which he founded and continues to lead. The centre is recognized nationally as a benchmark for IEP-driven (Individualized Education Program) learning.
Adhyayan operates on three core principles:
Flexible instruction tailored to each learner,
Emotional and confidence-building mentorship, and
A community culture that celebrates neurodiversity rather than merely accommodating it.
Students at Adhyayan have gone on to build careers in hospitality, culinary arts, digital and graphic design, fine arts, sports, music, fitness, and customer-facing professions—demonstrating what becomes possible when strengths rather than deficits guide learning.
“Destiny is never defined by disability—only by opportunity,” Bhatt often tells students and parents. The centre stands as living proof of that belief.
A Framework That Changed Classrooms Across India
Bhatt’s strength-based, four-part educational framework has influenced schools and learning centres nationwide:
Strength-Oriented Education, beginning with what the child naturally excels at.
Real-World Skill Development, including simulations, culinary tasks, digital tools, and artistic exploration.
Social and Emotional Development, building resilience, communication, and self-regulation.
Livelihood and Career Preparation, offering pathways to vocational skills, industry certifications, and employment.
A Movement, Not Just a Career
Parents describe Bhatt as a “lifeline in moments of confusion.” Teachers call him a “pioneer who brought science and compassion into the same room.” For students, he is simply “Rajeev Sir,” the mentor who helped them believe in themselves again.
The National Award stands as a national endorsement of a movement he helped ignite—one that champions dignity, opportunity, and fear-free futures for every child.
As India moves steadily toward more inclusive educational practices, Rajeev Bhatt’s work continues to serve as both blueprint and inspiration. More than an accolade, the award marks a milestone in the journey of a man who turned awareness into action, science into empathy, and possibility into reality for thousands across the country.