Dr Gayatri Narasimhan

Dr. Gayatri Narasimhan is a special educator, inclusive education specialist, vocational trainer, counselor, and author widely recognized as the founder and managing director of Prakramika Vocational Institute, a social enterprise dedicated to serving the educational and training needs of neurodiverse children and adults.
Dr. Gayatri serves as a director in esteemed organizations such as EmpACT - Emplusive Analytics & Creative Technologies, Emplusive Training Center, and Muditha Kreative Skool. She is a prolific author, having written "INVAS: An Integrated Curriculum for Vocational & Skill-Based Training - A Standard Operating Procedure for NGO & Vocational Units." She has authored her second book “Building Blocks of a Vocational Unit - A PVI Handbook”
Her outstanding contributions to the field have earned her prestigious accolades, including the Seva Ratna Award, the IAF Woman of Excellence Award, the Global Excellence Award, Oman Women Leader Award, and many others. Driven by her passion for empowering individuals with diverse learning needs, Dr. Gayatri continues to make a lasting impact in education and vocational training.
==Early life and education==
Dr. Gayatri was born and raised in Chennai, India. She obtained a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Anna Adarsh College for Women in 1993. Driven by the prospect of early marriage due to her father's illness, Gayatri pursued diverse professional qualifications in software engineering, journalism, and management. She completed a diploma in journalism from Madras University in 1993, a post-graduation in marketing management at Loyola Institute of Business Administration in 1994, and a diploma in software engineering from Aptech Computer Education in 1995. Additionally, she became a certified yoga instructor at the Aandiyappan Yoga Institute.
In 2009, Gayatri's life took a significant turn when her family relocated to Muscat, Oman. Her daughter's volunteer work with a specially-abled classmate ignited her interest in neurodivergent individuals. This led her to pursue a post-graduate degree in psychology from Madurai Kamaraj University and a doctorate in special education from Kanpur University during the years 2016–2021.
She further expanded her expertise through teacher training in specific learning disabilities, behavioral therapy, and sensory therapies for neurodivergent individuals. Seeking continuous improvement, she undertook travel opportunities to gain additional knowledge in areas such as brain gym courses for special needs, handwriting techniques, reflexology, and yoga therapy tailored for individuals with special needs. Gayatri is also a certified "POSH Practitioner" and an 'Internal Committee Specialist' for addressing workplace sexual harassment grievances.
==Career==
===Special Educator===
After obtaining various professional qualifications, Dr. Gayatri began her career as a special educator in a school, where she significantly improved the learning environment for individuals with special needs. Through her work, she gained extensive experience in providing academic, vocational, and physical support to neurodivergent individuals. She held positions as a yoga instructor at CSI Deaf School, special education teacher in CBSE and NIOS schools, a vocational specialist at V-excel Educational Trust, and has volunteered various special schools.
During her tenure, Dr. Gayatri developed a comprehensive framework for inclusive education that provided holistic support to neurodivergent individuals, enabling them to reach their full potential. However, she observed that while some academically trained students continued their education at the college level after completing the 12th grade, others faced challenges and could not pursue further studies.
===Prakramika Vocational Institute (PVI)===
To broaden her impact and reach more children globally, In 2015, she founded Prakramika Vocational Institute (PVI) to cater to the education and training needs of neurodiverse children and adults. PVI offers free, certified vocational training and skill development courses to a broad spectrum of neurodivergent individuals. With over 22 modules and ongoing additions, these courses are delivered online to students worldwide.
PVI goes beyond training by assisting students in finding internships and job opportunities through collaborations with placement firms. The institute also provides strategies for setting up vocational centers and offers training to special educators, teachers, parents, and carers of neurodiverse individuals.
Driven by the goal of inclusion and integration, PVI conducts awareness programs involving industry leaders and government officials. They aim to raise awareness about the importance of including the neurodiverse community in society.
Under the leadership of Dr. Gayatri, PVI has become a beacon of support and empowerment for hundreds of children and young adults with special needs. The institute's dedication to offering quality education as a service and creating a non-judgmental learning environment allows neurodivergent individuals to explore and learn at their own pace.
Dr. Gayatri's vision for PVI extends to providing neurodivergent individuals with the freedom to choose their desired areas of learning, ensuring they lead independent and dignified lives. Through their holistic approach, PVI is making a significant impact on the lives of neurodivergent individuals, promoting their inclusion in the workforce and society as a whole.
===Co-founder & Director===
In addition to her role at Prakramika Vocational Institute (PVI), Dr. Gayatri is the director and co-founder in her daughters' organizations, including EmpACT - Emplusive Analytics & Creative Technologies, Emplusive Training Center, and Muditha Kreative Skool.
===Author===
She is also a published author renowned for her work, "INVAS: An Integrated Curriculum for Vocational & Skill-Based Training - A Standard Operating Procedure for NGO & Vocational Units," released in December 2002. INVAS offers a standardized and measurable curriculum for students, teachers, and stakeholders nationwide. With 13 topics divided into five levels, it aims to achieve educational goals for neurodiverse individuals. Dr. Gayatri envisions INVAS as a tool to empower learners, fostering their confidence, independence, and future success in both personal and professional endeavors.Recently she has authored her second book Building Blocks of a Vocation Unit - A PVI Handbook which shares about workplace inclusion requisites.
==Personal life==
Dr. Gayatri Narasimhan resides in Muscat, Oman. She married her husband, S. Lakshminarasimhan, in 1995, and they have two daughters: Akshaya and Akhila Narasimhan.
==Awards & recognitions==
Dr. Gayatri’s outstanding contributions to the field of special education have earned her numerous prestigious accolades, including
* Seva Ratna Award by Sanjay Sai Seva Organization, International Oman Chapter for service to children with special needs (2018)
* Woman of Excellence Award by Indian Achievers' for outstanding professional achievement and contribution in nation building (2020)
* Global Excellence Award by Samarthya Seva Sansthan (2020)
* Global Principals Award by AKS Education Awards (2020)
* Influential Woman Achiever of India by BizTycoon for inspiring social organization and international NGO work (2021)
* International Icon Award by Uttar Pradesh Book of Records for notable contributions in the field of Special Education (2021)
* India Star Republic Award by India Star Book of Records (2021)
* Oman Woman Leadership Award by World Women Leadership Congress and Awards (2021)
* Promising Start Up Award by Indian Achievers Award (2021)
* Distinguished Educationist Award by AKS Education Awards (2022)
* Excellence in Education Award by Sakal (2022)
==Gallery==
==In the media==
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==References==
==External links==
* Official website
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* Dr Gayatri Narasimhan on YouTube
Category:1973 births
Category:Special education
Category:Indian educators
Category:Author
Category:University of Madras alumni
Category:Madurai Kamaraj University alumni
Category:People from Coimbatore
Category:Indian people