Though a parent body SOPAN has a number of professionals from different fields who play a significant role in its projects.

• Ms. Shanti Ekambaram, is the Patron of SOPAN. She is a chartered accountant by profession, and Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. An innate concern and personal commitment to welfare activities motivated Shanti to get involved with SOPAN. Through her professional skills and corporate status she has made significant contributions in SOPAN’s growth process.
  
  

• Dr. Rubina Lal, parent of a young woman with autism, is a professional in the field of special education. She has nearly 25 years of experience in teaching children and young adults with autism and mental retardation. She is a senior faculty member at the Dept. of Special Education, SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai. Dr. Lal has conducted several training programs in ASD for parents and professionals.She is a member of the Expert Committees for Autism set up by The National Trust and The Rehabilitation Council of India (statutory bodies under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India). Dr. Lal is the recipient of the Fulbright Senior Research Fellowship (2003-04) for a Post-Doctoral research in autism. In India,
  Dr. Lal is acknowledged for introducing the Makaton Language Program, a system of alternative & augmentative communication (AAC). She is a member, Board of Directors, International Society for Alternative & Augmentative Society (ISAAC), Canada. She has conducted several research studies on autism and AAC to her credit.

• Meeta Bali, is a special educator with over 10 years of experience in working with children with autism and other disabilities. She has a post-graduate degree in special education. Ms. Bali is the Principal of Samarpan Centre for Autism Spectrum Disorders, an intervention and training center run by SOPAN. Research is an area of her interest. She is involved in conducting autism specific researches. A reputed ASD professional, Ms. Bali is frequently invited as a guest speaker at various human resource development programs. She has been actively involved in parents' and professionals' training programs in autism organized by SOPAN, and has been a resource person at several Continued Rehabilitation Education Programs sponsored by the Rehabilitation Council of India, New Delhi.
  
  
  

• Ms. Shubhangi Auluck, a senior speech & language therapist, is an adviser to Samarpan Centre. She has worked with children with mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders that cause deficits in communication skills. Ms. Auluck is also a qualified AAC specialist.
  
  

• Mr. Zubin Batliwala, is a chartered accountant by profession. A parent of a child with autism, he is deeply committed to the cause of children with ASD.