News of the Month May 2025

Voices of Change: Top Disability & Neurodiversity News of the month May 2025

At 1SpecialPlace, we’re committed to bringing you the most impactful updates from around the world that highlight the progress, challenges, and triumphs in the areas of neurodiversity, speech and language therapy, hearing health, and disability inclusion.

This May 2025 edition of News of the Month brings together inspiring real-life stories—from Phoebe Gates’ revelation about her father Bill Gates having Asperger’s, to teens with Down syndrome and autism breaking records and launching brands, to advancements in dementia care and cochlear implants. These stories reflect a powerful truth: when support meets potential, incredible transformations happen.

Bill Gates Has Asperger Syndrome, His Daughter Phoebe Reveals

Phoebe Gates, the daughter of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, has disclosed that her father has Asperger's syndrome, a condition that falls under the umbrella of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this week's 'Call Her Daddy' podcast, the 22-year-old recalled how she used to bring her boyfriends home to see her father, describing it as "terrifying for the guy." My dad is rather socially uncomfortable, thus I find it humorous.

He has Asperger's syndrome, as he has previously said. "I think it's hilarious," Phoebe said to host Alex Cooper.

During her appearance on "Call Her Daddy," she also discussed her partner, Arthur Donald, who is the 26-year-old grandson of former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney.

Read this news by ndtv

From Lemonade Stands to Lip Balms: How This Teen With Down Syndrome Became a ‘CEO’ at 19

Aryta Persaud’s journey as a mother began with love and uncertainty when her daughter Anasuya (Anu) was born with Down Syndrome in 2006. Faced with questions about Anu’s future, Aryta and her husband sought support and found hope in the stories of other families. They focused on building Anu’s life one skill at a time—through yoga, inclusive schooling, and daily perseverance. Despite academic challenges, Anu’s steady effort never faltered. During the pandemic, she discovered her passion and turned it into a thriving lipstick business, Lovebird by Anu, proving that with love, support, and patience, possibilities are endless.

Read this news by thebetterindia

Enabled, Women-Led, Autism Therapy Model: A Glimpse Into One Of World’s Most Complete Autism Care System

India's AI-powered, women-led, globally accessible autism treatment paradigm, The Rise of Pinnacle Blooms Network, is currently being researched and duplicated on other continents. From the kitchen came the aroma of boiling rice. Off in the distance, a temple bell rung.When Anjali, a 4-year-old girl with motionless eyes and a world hidden inside her, sat cross-legged on the ground outside her house, the sun had just started to rise over a little village close to Miryalaguda. Sushmita, her mother, lovingly laid the laminated mango flashcard in her lap. It was discolored, fingerprinted, and had curled corners from weeks of use. They had sat here for months. The same card. The same quiet. However, that morning was unique.

Read this news by zeenews

Trichy Teen with autism scores big in class 12 shines in tamil

The Class 12 results provided more than simply grades for 17-year-old Ajay J, an autistic student at Srirangam Government Boys' School; they brought affirmation. Ajay outperformed his previous academic record, placing third in his school in Tamil, a subject he had previously found difficult, with a score of 423 out of 500 (85%).Ajay, who was excused from one language test due to special education regulations, wrote five subjects and performed exceptionally well in Tamil and practicals, earning scores of 97 and 96, respectively. He said, "The results have eased many of our anxieties," according to his father, T Jawaharlal Nehru.

He has started writing his own story as a result of this. We hope his life is just like any other adolescent's. His parents claimed that Ajay's developing interest in Tamil during the previous two years was what gave the accomplishment greater significance.

Read this news by timesofindia

Heavy metal's exposure linked to autism in children: Study

Children who are exposed to lead from imported toys and cadmium from cigarette smoke may develop autism. According to a study conducted at AIIMS, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who were 3–12 years old had higher blood levels of mercury, chromium, manganese, lead, and selenium than children who were growing normally at the same age.

A gluten-free diet may help reduce symptoms like hyperactivity, focus issues, and sleep disturbances, according to more studies. ASD is a neuro-developmental disorder characterized by repetitive, restricted behavioral patterns. Communication and social contact are extremely challenging for kids with ASD.

Read this news by health.economictimes.indiatimes

Asian Paints and Start India Launch Project Udaan to Support Neurodivergent Children in Vadodara

Project Udaan was started at the Arpan Charitable Trust in Vadodara by Asian Paints and the Start India Foundation. The project seeks to establish a sensory-friendly, inclusive learning environment for kids with neurodivergent disorders like Down syndrome, autism, and cerebral palsy.

Through Project Udaan, the school's façade and interiors are transformed into engaging, sensory-rich areas that encourage self-expression, self-regulation, and engagement. The project transforms commonplace spaces into encouraging and exciting settings by utilizing textures, colors, and surfaces from Asian Paints' product line. The school's façade is now decorated with a butterfly mural, which represents change and development.

Read this news by thecsruniverse

Blur India partners with Zainika Jagasia for new perfume launch

Beauty label Blur India has launched a new fragrance collection, ‘Smells Like Breakfast in Bed’, in collaboration with Zainika Jagasia, a creator and activist with Down syndrome. Moving away from conventional brand ambassadors, Blur India has positioned Jagasia as the face of the campaign across its website, social media, and marketing platforms.

The brand’s latest collection follows the release of its solid perfumes, which sold out shortly after launch, the brand announced in a press release. Blur India describes the new line as a nostalgic ode to comfort and indulgence, drawing inspiration from breakfast desserts. Each scent comes in a dessert-themed bottle with a matching charm and is priced from Rs 333.

Read this news by fashionnetwork

NIHL becomes a leading cause of acquired auditory damage

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) has emerged as a leading, yet fully preventable, cause of acquired auditory damage. While occasional loud noise may appear harmless, continuous or intense exposure can lead to a range of short and long-term health effects, say experts at the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) in Mysuru.

NIHL is permanent, resulting from sustained exposure to high-decibel environments. Globally, it is the second most common type of acquired hearing loss after age-related hearing loss, technically termed as “Presbycusis”.

Read this news by thehindu

These Students Faced Blindness, Acid Attacks & Hearing Loss But Still Succeeded In CBSE Board Exams

After being blinded by an acid assault, a girl learned using audiobooks. To get into JEE Mains, a teenager lip-read every class. All of the Class 10 exams were written by hand by a youngster with quadriparesis. Not only did these five CBSE kids pass their board examinations, but they also conquered obstacles that no classroom can teach.

He learned to lip-read at a young age after being diagnosed with hearing loss as a newborn. He was always in the first row in school, paying close attention to everything that was said. When language hurdles made school more difficult, his mother tutored him in arithmetic and English at home. He only had his books and the conviction that he would succeed if he persevered; he had no coaching sessions or special assistance.

Atharva passed JEE Mains with a Class 12 mark of 75.4%. With the goal of pursuing a career in artificial intelligence, he is currently aiming for JEE Advanced. He is evidence that amazing things may occur when learning is guided by willpower.

Read this news by thebetterindia

WHO Warning: 2.5 Billion People At Risk Of Hearing Loss By 2050

Nearly a quarter of the world's population may experience hearing issues within the next 25 years, according to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report. According to the report, around 4.3 crore of the 160 million persons who now live with hearing loss require ongoing rehabilitation. By 2050, this figure is predicted to have risen gradually to 250 crore.

Even though aging is still the main cause of hearing loss, young people are being greatly impacted by lifestyle choices such extended exposure to loud music, traffic, and urban noise. Although this disorder is scientifically referred to as age-related hearing loss or presbycusis, doctors think early prevention is possible.

Read this news by news18

As Ibrahim Ali Khan opens up about jaundice-induced speech impairment since birth, doctors share early warning signs

In an interview with GQ India on May 12, Ibrahim Ali Khan, who debuted as an actor in March 2025 with Nadaaniyan, talked about how he "struggled with his speech because of a hearing disability since birth." Ibrahim, the son of stars Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, talked about his own experience with jaundice-induced speech impairment and how he had to spend a lot of time working with therapists and speech coaches to get better at speaking.

Ibrahim's remarks regarding his speech impediment

I experienced severe jaundice shortly after my birth, which directly affected my brainstem," stated Ibrahim Ali Khan. I eventually lost a significant portion of my hearing, which affected my ability to speak. Since I was a young child, I have had to put a lot of effort into improving my speech with coaches and therapists. I'm still putting a lot of effort into it, so it's not flawless.

Read this news by hindustantimes

Sales Tax Inspector regains hearing after thirty years with cochlear implant at government hospital

Following a rare and difficult procedure at the ENT department of Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), a 35-year-old sales tax inspector from Bhandara can now hear after nearly 30 long years. The department is the state's top referral center for cochlear implants and is reportedly the only government medical college to have successfully performed the procedure on an elderly adult.

This is also the most expensive implant ever placed in a patient at a government medical college, costing Rs19 lakh. Because of the ENT department's stellar record under Dr. Jeevan Vedi, patient Sheetal Lonare chose IGGMCH over a private hospital and paid for the expensive gadget out of her savings. "The majority of the 115 cochlear implants we have done have been on children enrolled in government programs. This 116th was exceptional since the patient was older, uninsured, and the implant cost was the highest for the first time. Surgery and hospital fees were minimal because it was a government facility, according to Dr. Vedi, an ENT professor and cochlear implant specialist.

Read this news by timesofindia

Dementia India Alliance to host ‘Thinkathon’ for caregivers, innovators on Nov 30  

The "Dementia Tech Thinkathon 2024: Tech Innovations for Dementia" is being held on November 30 at the JN Tata Auditorium, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), as part of the international conference, DEMCON'24, by the Dementia India Alliance (DIA), a non-governmental organization devoted to improving dementia care. 'Reaching the Unreached in Dementia Care' is this year's topic, and it attempts to fill important gaps in dementia care, diagnosis, research, and awareness.

It is anticipated that 800 delegates, including medical professionals, caregivers, legislators, business executives, and researchers, will attend the conference, which is being organized in partnership with the Department of Health and Family Welfare (Karnataka), Nimhans, Centre for Brain Research, CommonAge, and Ramaiah Hospitals.

Read this news by deccanherald

First blood test for Alzheimer's in US from June, starting at 50 hospitals

The first blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease will be available from late June in the US following regulatory clearance for its use last week, according to the Japanese company behind the innovation.

The test will initially be available at about 50 American research institutes and hospitals that specialize in Alzheimer’s disease, Goki Ishikawa, head of Fujirebio Diagnostics Inc. that developed the test, said in an interview Tuesday. The company, a unit of Japan’s H.U. Group Holdings Inc., is also partnering with bigger rivals like Beckman Coulter Inc. to help develop and manufacture their products, he said.

Read this news by business standard

As we wrap up the highlights of May 2025, one theme rings clear—awareness and acceptance are growing, and with them, opportunities for people of all abilities. Whether it's a government hospital making cochlear implants accessible, a beauty brand embracing a creator with Down syndrome, or a school transforming into a sensory-friendly haven, the world is slowly shifting toward inclusion. At 1SpecialPlace, we believe in empowering individuals through accessible and inclusive therapy—and these stories reinforce our mission. Let’s continue to celebrate progress, spread awareness, and support every journey—because every milestone matters.