In pictures: The Astor’s inclusive kitchen creates space for neurodiverse learners

The Astor Hotel, in collaboration with Dwish, hosted an inclusive culinary workshop on April 16 for neurodiverse individuals aged nine to 29. The event, held in the hotel’s kitchen, aimed to create a welcoming space for participants to explore basic cooking skills at their own pace

Guided by Vinay Joshi, the food and beverage manager, and executive chef Azad Arif, the workshop introduced participants to simple culinary tasks in a sensory-considerate and structured setting. Attendees had the opportunity to interact with ingredients, observe demonstrations, and try their hand at different techniques, supported by caregivers, facilitators and staff

The session was organised by Raktima Ghosh, a parent advocate and travel vlogger, and Sumitra Paul Bakshi, founder of Dwish, an initiative focussed on inclusive learning. Both are parents of neurodiverse individuals and have been working to create more accessible and supportive spaces across different areas of learning

April marks Autism Awareness Month, and the workshop served as part of a broader effort to include neurodiverse individuals in community programming without singling them out or overemphasising difference

Amit Kobat, general manager of The Astor Kolkata, said: ‘This workshop was a step towards making our space more inclusive. We’re learning how to support different needs and hope to continue developing more accessible experiences’