How KidAble founder Tuhina Agarwal is reshaping child therapy through a neurodiversity-affirming, quality-of-life–first approach in India
When most people think of therapy for children, they imagine a clinical setting, a therapist, a clipboard, perhaps a few toys to lighten the mood. But for Tuhina Agarwal, Founder of KidAble, therapy looks very different. It is colorful, creative, and deeply human. It is about joy, connection, and helping children thrive by building skills, relationships, and meaningful participation in their everyday lives.
At the heart of KidAble’s work lies a simple but powerful belief: therapy should support a person’s quality of life first, not reduce them to a diagnosis.
Tuhina Agarwal brings a deeply academic yet practical lens to her work. She is a Behaviour Specialist with a Master’s degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis from Trinity College Dublin, alongside a strong foundation in psychology from the University of Glasgow and the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.
Over the years, Tuhina worked extensively across Ireland’s education and healthcare systems. Her experience includes supporting children in schools, working with individual families under the Irish Department of Education, and providing services within respite centres and residential settings under the Irish Department of Health. Alongside her professional practice, she has also contributed to academic research, publishing a peer reviewed paper that reflects her commitment to evidence-based and ethical practice.
Yet despite a fulfilling career, something inside her kept nudging for more.
The idea for KidAble did not arrive as a sudden epiphany, but as a growing realization. Tuhina traces the roots of her entrepreneurial journey back to a personal moment far removed from boardrooms and business plans.
“I remember I was in Uganda with one of my best friends,” she recalls. “We were updating each other about our lives in Dublin and London, and once we were done, we started talking about what we actually wanted from life. As I was pouring my heart out, I realised I wanted to create a bigger impact than what I was doing at that time.”
She did not yet know what that impact would look like, only that she wanted to build something of her own.
When she returned to Dublin, Tuhina began writing. She wrote about mental wellbeing, about support systems, and about what a good quality of life should truly mean for children and families. Slowly, those thoughts began to take shape.
“I started thinking up names,” she says. “I asked a friend to rate them, and KidAble won. She even drew the first logo for me.”
A year later, KidAble was no longer just an idea on paper.
Starting KidAble in India was a conscious and intentional decision.
“Moving to India was very deliberate,” Tuhina explains. “I knew I wanted to start something, and that something had to be here.”
For her, India represented both complexity and possibility.
“With its sheer size of challenges, which I like to call opportunities, I wanted to be part of the neurodiversity-affirming movement and change the way we treat and view community participation for neurodiverse people.”
Tuhina’s work is grounded in inclusion beyond therapy rooms. She believes that true support must extend into schools, homes, and communities. Her love for working with children also shapes her approach.
“I am a very energetic person,” she shares. “I like doing things, creating things, engaging through activities. Therapy for me naturally became creative and dynamic, and that applies whether I am working with younger children or older clients.”
KidAble was born out of a fundamental concern with how therapy is often practiced. Tuhina noticed that while behavioural and therapeutic frameworks were originally designed to enhance people’s lives, they were frequently implemented in ways that overlooked lived experience.
“Quality of life often becomes an afterthought,” she explains. “Therapeutic and behavioural principles were built to support people in living meaningful lives, but somewhere along the way, the focus shifted to checklists, compliance, and outcomes that did not always matter to the individual.”
She also observed that complex language and rigid frameworks made therapy feel inaccessible, further reinforcing stigma around mental health.
“I wanted to address this gap,” Tuhina says. “Therapy should be understandable, relevant, and connected to everyday life. It should not feel foreign or intimidating, and it should never feel unnecessary.”
This philosophy became the backbone of KidAble.
KidAble operates using the CHANGE model, a framework designed by Tuhina to help practitioners reflect on and assess how their therapeutic approach impacts a person’s quality of life. The organization also works within a Positive Behaviour Support framework, which has evolved from traditional ABA practices.
Rather than focusing on reducing behaviours in isolation, KidAble emphasizes understanding why behaviours occur and how environments can be adapted to better support individuals.
“When we say therapy is skill building and relationship building,” Tuhina explains, “we mean helping individuals develop functional life skills that support independence, communication, and emotional regulation, while also strengthening their relationships with family, peers, educators, and the wider community.”
In practice, this means therapy supports children in navigating real world situations, building meaningful connections, and participating in environments that matter to them.
“One thing was very clear to me,” she adds. “I needed to shift the focus away from diagnosis and towards the individual’s quality of life.”
One of the most persistent challenges in building KidAble has been assembling the right team.
“A major challenge was finding people who believed in this way of working,” Tuhina admits. “I was not interested in commercialising therapy or pushing for faster outcomes at the cost of values.”
KidAble addresses this through an intentionally thorough hiring process that includes multiple interviews, in depth conversations, and in person meetings. Beyond technical skills, the team looks for alignment in values, communication style, and empathy.
“We believe in training young professionals,” Tuhina says. “We want to shape practitioners who advocate for the field, question existing practices, and show what can be done differently.”
KidAble aims to be a thought leader, not just a service provider.
When asked about major breakthroughs, Tuhina’s answer is refreshingly grounded.
“I do not think there has been one big milestone,” she reflects. “But every time a parent or a child tells us they are coping better or feeling better, I know we are doing something right.”
For KidAble, progress is measured in everyday wins, improved confidence, better communication, and families feeling supported rather than overwhelmed.
Looking ahead, Tuhina has a clear and ambitious vision. Over the next five years, KidAble aims to become a leader in integrating therapeutic approaches within natural environments.
A key part of this plan is the expansion of KidAble’s programs, including STE and CTE, which stand for Schools That Empower and Communities That Empower. These initiatives focus on creating inclusive ecosystems where therapy principles extend into classrooms, homes, and community spaces.
More details about these programs can be found at:
https://kidable.in/programs/
KidAble is also exploring advancements in assistive and supportive technology to enhance access and outcomes for neurodiverse children.
Tuhina’s advice to aspiring founders is both honest and empowering.
“Take that leap,” she says. “Nothing is worse than regret or wanting to turn back time. Even if you fail, you will know what worked and what did not, and that knowledge puts you in a much stronger position.”
She also emphasizes staying rooted in personal values.
“Stay true to your core self. Many people will try to convince you to change your values because their way has worked before. But meaningful change only happens when you do things differently, with the right skills and intentions.”
At its heart, KidAble is not just a therapy centre. It is a movement toward inclusion, dignity, and meaningful participation for neurodiverse individuals. Tuhina Agarwal’s work reminds us that when therapy focuses on relationships, skills, and quality of life, lasting change becomes possible.
Website:https://kidable.in
Programs:https://kidable.in/programs/
LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/tuhina-agarwal
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/kidabletherapycentre
Email:reachout@kidable.in
Follow KidAble’s journey and join the conversation on building more inclusive, empowered communities for neurodiverse children.
I am an entrepreneur, marketer, and mentor with a certification in entrepreneurship from IIT Delhi, one of the most prestigious institutions in India. I have a passion for connecting businesses with their ideal customers, solving real-world problems, and inspiring the next generation of founders.I founded and lead DevoByte, a digital marketing agency that provides a range of services, from SEO a
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