The journey of Communication DEALL began on November 1st, 2000, driven by a deep sense of urgency and the sheer determination to make a difference. At that time, the world was witnessing an alarming rise in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), yet there was a significant lack of structured, effective interventions. Faced with this overwhelming challenge, Dr. Prathibha Karanth, a passionate Speech Language Pathologist, knew something had to change. It was not just a professional challenge, but a personal mission to create a solution. Despite the odds, with no clear model to follow, she set out to build a comprehensive, holistic program—one that could transform lives and empower children with ASD to lead fulfilling, integrated lives.

Dr. Prathibha Karanth’s professional journey in understanding and dealing with neurogenic communication disorders began with her work with aphasics at NIMHANS, a pivotal experience that shaped her understanding of the neural basis of communication. It was here that she discovered the wider implications of the lack of /or disordered communication on one’s overall well-being. Her work with aphasics—individuals with language and communication disorders subsequent to a cerebral injury; made it clear that language and communication are not isolated skills but deeply interconnected with the broader well -being of the individual, be it a child or an adult. This insight led her to believe that intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities needed to be holistic, addressing not just language, but the entire spectrum of developmental needs.

What  drove Dr. Prathibha Karanth to take action for children with ASD, was the urgent and persistent requests from parents. As more and more families reached out to her, seeking help and support for their children, she could not ignore their calls. The overwhelming demand for a structured, evidence-based program for children with ASD became impossible to overlook. It was these pleas from parents, coupled with her deep expertise and experience, that pushed her to create Communication DEALL—a program that would not only provide early intervention but also enable children to be integrated into mainstream education and society.

In 2000,  Dr. Prathibha Karanth refocused her efforts, drawing on her years of clinical experience to develop a program that was ahead of its time—one that embraced a holistic developmental approach to autism intervention. She was pioneering a path that, nearly two decades later, the world would come to recognize as essential. Today, the research and methods she advocated for, are at the forefront of global autism intervention practices, aligning with findings that have only just caught up to the vision she set in motion 25 years ago. Her foresight was not merely a professional achievement—it was a commitment to a belief in every child's potential and the unwavering conviction that the right approach could change their world.

With grit and determination, Dr. Prathibha Karanth built Communication DEALL from the ground up, assembling an interdisciplinary approach at a time when such integration was unheard of. Every step was met with obstacles, yet each challenge fueled a greater resolve to press forward. The program, designed for children with ASD and other neurodevelopmental disabilities, began with nothing but a vision—and slowly, it started to show real promise. Over time, that promise blossomed into success as children began to flourish and integrate into mainstream schools, defying expectations and proving that change was not only possible but within reach.

As the program grew, so did the requests for help—from parents desperate for support, from professionals eager to learn, and from peers who believed in the mission. But the road wasn’t easy. It required not just hard work, but the raising of funds, rallying support from fellow professionals, and tirelessly advocating for a cause that many didn’t yet fully understand. Every phase was a test of resilience, but the belief in the children and families Dr. Prathibha Karanth served kept pushing her forward.

With each success, the dream expanded: to create a network of affiliates who could replicate the Communication DEALL model and reach even more children. What started as a solitary mission to help a few children in Bangalore became a movement, a collective effort that continues to inspire and empower others to build their own centers and spread this life-changing approach. Today, we are not just a program but a community—united by the conviction that every child deserves the opportunity to be understood, supported, and integrated into society.