Livelihood and Meaningful Engagement @ASWB - Skill development and livelihood training project initiated by Autism Society West Bengal under CSR initiative by Voith Paper Technology Ltd started in 2022. The project aimed to provide skill training for individuals with Autism and engage them in livelihood and meaningful engagement.
With this project, Autism Society West Bengal has started a small baking unit, print
studio and making hand-crafted products.

Baking Unit - Autism Society West Bengal runs a special school - ‘Dikshan’ and a pre-vocational unit - ‘Aarohan’. The trainees of Aarohan have been trained in making bags, jewelry, notebooks, and complimentary cards. In order to expand our pre-vocational unit to a vocational skill-building unit we achieved the support of Voith Paper Technology and started a Baking unit.
Now, three trainees bake 60 cookies & 60 cupcakes twice a week. They take orders for birthday cakes, cupcakes and cookies. The trainees also participate in exhibitions where these items are sold. Amitrajit Biswas, one of the trainees said ‘It feels good when people say the cookies taste great'. The trainees feel happy and content when they get feedback and make it a point to do better in the next turn. With their enthusiasm and zeal to get better, we are planning to introduce new items.

Print Studio - Students of Dikshan and trainees from Aarohan are excellent at art work. Some of the trainees at Aarohan are veteran artists and have had exhibitions at reputed art galleries in Kolkata and Delhi like - ITC Sonar, Victoria Memorial Hall, Indian Habitat Centre etc. The artworks were widely appreciated and sold.

Autism Society West Bengal also organizes an annual art exhibition - ‘A - Shadharan’to showcase their artwork at different art galleries - Gaganendra,Indian Museum, Kolkata Book Fair,Asiatic Society etc. The idea of Print studio came from the fact that their artworks were highly appreciated as they are unique pieces of art. The print studio makes printed cups,t-shirts,kurtas as well as decoupage coasters and printed coasters with artworks done by students of Dikshan and trainees of Aarohan. The printed items are showcased at different exhibitions and get sold. Recently during Autism Pride Day celebration, the trainees received a token of appreciation as their artworks got printed on t- shirts and got sold.

Hand crafted products - The trainees also make jute bags,paper bags, jewelry. The hand crafted products are sold through Bengal Home Industries and  exhibitions.
The project aims to teach skills which will help or support individuals with Autism to secure employment, whether it be full-time, customized, supported or through meaningful engagement. Autism is a lifelong condition only with the right support can help an individual to lead an independent dignified life.