Excerpts from the Foreword, I got to co-write with the legendary Dr Temple Grandin.
Role of Media in fostering inclusivity
Thoughts on the role of editors, journalists, publishers on fostering broader societal inclusivity
1. Irresponsible reporting: I absolutely am irritated by articles that to try to stir up old controversies or conspiracy theories trying to malign/discredit the most marginalized autistics, while pretending to be their champion. Its hypocritical and magazines should not be printing this stuff. In what way is this helping us. It's such a total waste of airtime, because the eye on the ball should move forward, towards progress and solutions so the marginalized can move forward.
2. Understanding 'Evidence-Based' in the context of Autism Heterogeneity: Blindly reporting that something is evidence based for autism is not helpful because practitioners and educators literally take that at face value, and do a blanket application for ALL of autism. In reality evidence based only applies to a small profile (discussed in my recent Time magazine article), which means Evidence Based Interventions have to be taken with spoonfuls of salt for the rest of autism.
Ergo, if "evidence based" does not work for an autistic, it's not the fault of the autistic for not progressing, it's a failure of research that has not found solutions for them.
Because the consequence for the autistic who does not improve with this evidence based stuff is extreme. They are basically written off and kept in special programs and group homes. And then we complain that this group is eating up resources and asking for attention.
3. Media needs to call out the Utter Lack of Action: An example is that GI issues were being discussed when I was diagnosed two and half decades ago. Earlier this year, there was an article which made it seem linking GI and autism was a brand new discovery. The sad part is that because there has been no movement in finding explanations and solutions on this front for two and half decades, it looks like it's a brand new issue when it's not.
4. Including a call to action. One magazine told me that I should not be including a call to action. Which kind of seemed counterintuitive because then these disability stories primarily become objects of pity and sympathy or inspiration porn. While this may increase readership, they don’t do anything to help us. We want the story to generate action because action is the actual impact.
"Dr. Grandin and I were shaped by different worlds—she grew up in a time when autism was little known and with zero communities. I grew up in an era where autism increasingly became an everyday word. Despite progress, our knowledge of autism remains incomplete. Solutions must span the entire spectrum and lifespan. " - Hari Srinivasan
I got to co-write the Foreword for this book with Dr Temple Grandin.
Autism for Dummies
"I’m awestruck to co-author the foreword with Dr. Temple Grandin, a trailblazer who shattered expectations and paved the way for many, including myself. Now, on my PhD journey in Neuroscience, I’m walking a path that once felt unimaginable—it’s surreal." - Hari Srinivasan
Book release is May 6 and is available online or at your favorite bookstore.
An endless cycle of labels in autism
Targeted interventions for autism don't need creation of more new labels.
The issues that need help, were present there before the label creation and still exist years after the label.
In another 5-10 years, another new catchy trademarked label will appear
My Ted X talk titled "Pebbles in the Pond of Change
Hari Srinivasan, shares a powerful message about the power of small actions in creating ever-widening ripples in the pond of change. Drawing from personal experiences and the legacy of disability rights leaders, he redefines progress as a journey that starts with simple, accessible steps. His inspiring message encourages everyone to identify and act on their own "small pebbles" to drive societal transformation.
Who Autism Research Leaves Out
If genuine progress in autism research and the development of real solutions are to be achieved, we must expand the zone of the researchable autistic.
-Hari Srinivasan, Time
My other list of Publications: https://uniquelyhari.blogspot.com/p/published-work.html
How Reasonable are Reasonable Accommodations at Work
Adopting universal design principles—proactively considering diverse needs—would reduce reliance on individualized accommodations and benefit all employees.
2025 Career Luminary Award
Yes. I got one of those glass triangles on the table. Solid and heavy.
Super cool to get an Impact Award.
Special shoutout to Keivan Stassun & Tim Vogus for recruiting me to Vanderbilt University in the first place, to be able to contribute to IMPACT here.
Established in 2024, these awards recognize the essential contributors to student career growth across eleven categories for faculty, staff, alums, parents, employer partners, and students.
Dear Hari Srinivasan,
Congratulations! You are a 2025 recipient of the Career Luminary Award.
Your outstanding contributions to career empowerment within our university community have not gone unnoticed, and we are thrilled to honor your dedication and excellence. These awards are incredibly special,
Career Luminary Award (Current PhD Student): This award celebrates a graduate student who has shown exceptional dedication to career development within their academic program and has made a significant impact on career-related initiatives.
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