I experienced this in a beautiful way with the Nayi Disha Resource Centre frontline and helpline team in our recent session. I want to begin by appreciating their brilliance, commitment, and motivation to keep learning and co-creating together.

Prachi your team is MAST!!! The energy, the laughter, the careful listening, and the willingness to experiment with new ways of holding space made it a truly special time.

In our session, we looked at what it means to co-create knowledge with caregivers of neurodivergent children. The heart of this work is not to overwhelm or hurry but to slow down, speak less, and listen more. Even when a parent is in a rush, our role is to hold steady, when we slow down, they too gradually slow down, and a deeper connection becomes possible.

We explored two contrasting ways of communication: the OPEN model and the BANG model.

OPEN means:

* Offer curiosity and always end with a question mark, even if you are sharing information.

* Pick a word or phrase from what the caregiver said and ask them to share more about it.

* Elaborate by asking, not assuming, let them explain what their words mean to them.

* Narrow it down together, especially when many themes come up, so the caregiver feels in control of where to focus.

BANG, on the other hand, is what happens when good intentions land as overwhelm.

* Barraging caregivers with too many solutions or options.

* Assuming feelings without asking.

* Not listening fully or not letting them finish.

* Going too deep too soon or giving too much “gyan.”

We used real-life examples to see how a supportive intention can sometimes become a “bang” on the caregiver, pushing them too fast, too far, or into our world rather than walking with them in theirs.

The key insight was that co-creation of knowledge happens when we resist the urge to drag or hurry, and instead keep the door gently open. It is an invitation to connect, where caregivers can step in at their own pace.

This session reminded me once again that structure matters as much as content. We kept track of time, remembered participant names, balanced seriousness with moments of silliness, and gave time to practice simple but memorable skills. Not too heavy, not too light, just enough so learning stays with us and travels back into the real work we do every day.

My deep appreciation goes to the Nayi Disha team for showing up with such openness and care. You are not just holding helplines, you are holding lives, stories, and hopes. Walking beside caregivers with gentleness and courage is no small act, and the way you continue to learn and reflect together is truly inspiring.

Every open door you hold is a step toward collective healing and support