With the growing focus on inclusive participation and life skills development, young adults from a Centre, which deals with children with neurodevelopmental disorders and delays, recently participated in a structured mock voting intervention.
The exercise is aimed at familiarising them with the electoral process and enhancing their confidence in navigating real-world environments. The initiative underscores the importance of simulation-based learning, particularly for individuals with autism, where a predictable environment enables better understanding, retention and application of real-life scenarios, said experts.
As part of the exercise, Amrit Somani Memorial Centre (ASMC), a nonprofit, curated a simulated polling environment designed to closely mirror an actual voting setup. The space included a dummy ballot box and a make-believe Aadhaar card, while therapists acted as Booth Level Officer (BLO), Election Commission of India representative, and a police officer. This immersive approach enabled participants to experience the step-by-step process of voting within a safe and supportive setting. Therapists also harped on the importance of voting as a civic responsibility.
Participants were guided through identifying party symbols and faces, understanding the sequence of actions involved in casting a vote, and navigating the polling environment. The structured repetition helped reduce anxiety amongst the participants and build confidence in the young adults.
Reflecting on the experience, 22-year-old voter Aryan Lohia, who exercised his vote from Bright Street, Ballygunge, said: “Earlier, when I went to cast my vote, I was nervous. This time, I was prepared, which made me very excited. I was more confident about casting my vote, and I can now do it all by myself.”
Aryan’s mother Anushree Lohia said: “Thanks to ASMC’s mock voting drill, Aryan understood the process and knew exactly what to expect, from waiting patiently in a queue to completing every step on his own. He was calm, confident and even guided his grandmother through it.”
Another 22-year-old, and a first-time voter from New Alipore, sharing her experience said she was excited to cast her first vote. “I know all the steps now, so I was not scared, I felt confident,” she said
Her mother said, “My daughter truly felt like an adult that day. I was nervous because it was her first time voting, but ASMC’s mock voting drill truly made all the difference. She knew exactly how to move from one officer to another, she showed her voter ID, recognised the EVM and cast her vote independently.”
Commenting on the initiative, Namita Somani, founder & trustee, ASME, said: “We work on life skills every day and this was an extension of that. Voting is a real-world skill, and our goal is to prepare individuals to navigate it with confidence.”