Obituary

As a neurodivergent and fiercely independent person living in a world that mostly values conformity, Anjali’s life was an ongoing crusade for acceptance and inclusion. She showed us the powerful impact of a nurturing environment at home, within institutions and in the community in promoting self-determination, by harnessing the unique and innate strengths in each of us. She was an ardent cheerleader for children and believed in the transformational power of love and kindness to build a better world for everyone.

Anjali was delighted that her maternal aunt Nandita deSouza is the founder Director and Developmental Pediatrician at the Sethu Centre for Child Development & Family Guidance, a non-profit organization instituted in 2005 in Goa, India to provide care for children with disabilities. She regularly shared mental health resources and donated books about disability to the Sethu library. She was a pillar of Sethu’s bridge to hope and understanding.

Sethu’s vision is an inclusive world that nurtures and celebrates every child and its mission is to be a centre of excellence in child development, family centred care and inclusion through interdisciplinary services, training, advocacy and research. You can find out more about Sethu’s work here Sethu | Child Development and Family Guidance

Sethu is building a ‘state of the heart’ centre to address the needs of thousands of children who are cared for by the multidisciplinary team. In lieu of flowers, Anjali’s family requests that donations are made to the new Sethu building project, so that children with disabilities and their families in India have access to high quality family centred, strengths-based and neurodiversity affirming care.

If you would like to make a donation to Sethu’s cause, please fill in the Donor Information Form using this link Donor Information Form

You can donate to Sethu online via the Arpan Foundation, a 501(C)3 charity registered in the US, ensuring that the money reaches Sethu smoothly. These donations are tax deductible. Use this link Donate to Sethu @Arpan Foundation USA and select ‘Sethu’ from the dropdown menu on the Donate tab

We thank you for joining hands with Anjali in supporting a cause that was very close to her heart