Disability As Possibility

I was Keynote speaker at the "Improving Opportunities and Outcomes" conf by National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (which is federally funded by the US Dept of Ed to provide support to State Ed and Vocational Rehab for transition age youth.) https://transitionta.org.

Addressed an audience of 338 people from 37 states + DC & Puerto Rico

Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,  Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, SC, Rhode Is, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Virginia, Puerto Rico.  

 

Talk titled 'Disability As Possibility.

 

My talk was  titled Disability As Possibility/ 

 

Lovely summary of what my talk was about. 

 

Hari shares insights gathered through his personal experience of autism and discusses his research on the impact of labeling and expectations on life outcomes for students and youth with disabilities. He challenges professionals, educators, and providers to be game changers - adopting a growth mindset, an emphatic discipline, and an approach of ‘equity of access’ to support and guide students and youth with disabilities to create their own personal agency and long-term quality of life. Through that understanding and ability to see ‘disability as possibility’, opportunities are born from those possibilities so students and youth can take detours, challenge the sinkholes, pave new roads, and persevere.

A bit about me on their website.  https://www.yeslms.com/ntactc-2021-cbvi-hari-srinivasan 

Some Comments in the Zoom Chat

• I was thinking the same thing about "voice" when you started using text to speech. We need to fix this! There should be options for text to speech 
• Great example of how the use of technology allows a person to demonstrate their intellectual disabilities. What would have happened if this opportunity had not been available? 
• Oh wow, congratulations! 
• Belonging!! This is key. 
• https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/2021/02/06/a-boy-like-me/ Link to Hari’s Article ^^^ 
• Even though you have many challenges, you are able to express them so eloquently. 
• If you haven't read Alice's larger work that Hari contributed to, I highly recommend it! #Retweet @Michelle - The Disability Visibility Project  started by Alice Wong is Fantastic https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/ 
• You are brilliant Hari! Thank you for these insights 
• It's so nice to meet you Hari! 
• Interview with Prof Frank Worrell in Grad School of Education &  President -Elect of American Psychological Assn, Daily Californian.https://www.dailycal.org/2021/02/12/frank-worrell/ 
• Great point, Hari!  Let’s change the narrative! 
• Amen---you have hit the nail on the head! 
• I feel overwhelmed thinking about those who don't have the access, ability or opportunity to express themselves as well as you.  Thank you for reminding us to have high expectations and to presume competence-or maybe brilliance! 
• I know that feeling well Anne 
• racism and ableism are intertwined 
• intersectionality is often overlooked 
• Anne, you took the words from my mouth! I was thinking the same thing. If others had access to means to express themselves the way Hari has, imagine the amazing things we would see from our youth with disabilities! Thank you for the inspiration Hari! 
• The pandemic  and recent events have made that divide even greater 
• Hari: brilliance is too big an onus to put on a person, everyone can't be a savant, competence is good start, we all deserve a good quality of life 
• Thank you sorry 
• well said, Hari! 
• Yes Hari! Independence is subjective 
• Great conversations out here today! 
• Yes! 
• Yes, you are right, Hari.  I'll stick with high expectations! 
• I love developmentally all over the place. That is a great explanation! 
• Love this new term, developmentally all-over-the-place! 
• delay does imply that one is always behind - I agree it's another label that works against people 
• Thank you Hari!!! This is Awesome!! 
• This is so Knowledgeable! 
• yes yes yes yes 
• Right on target! 
• Link to Hari’s Keynote, Disability as Possibility: https://youtu.be/HnuzQbLIN6M 
• Wow….This is so powerful! 
• Agreed 
• That's a great observation of special education. Compliance is easier to control, but does not get to the heart of what is needed which can be a little harder to implement. However, it's better for the person in the end. 
• Wow! You are truly amazing. Helping me think about how to understand my son. How to empower him! 
• Especially at you move higher in education. Self-Determination is very important. 
• Thought Provoking 
• Amazing messages! Spot on!!! 
• Thank you for sharing this about Communication, I AGREE with you 100%... 
• YES! I've counseled extensively on learning to say no.  
• This is really good! 
• Any questions for Hari? 
• This is amazing! 
• Is there a way to get a transcript of Hari's presentation? 
• from my friend Jennifer White: Educators need to move from Compliance to Alliance 
• Perfect 
• So powerful! Thank you Hari! 
• THANK YOU 
• This was GREAT and spot on 
• "Challenge the sinkholes!" Love that. 
• Very thought provoking! Thanks Hari 
• Thank you so much! 
• Thank you!!! 
• uniquelyhari.blogspot.com, www.dailycal.org/author/haris, tinyurl.com/108hari 
• Truly inspiring 
• Agree very powerful, thank you! 
• Hari, what advice would you give to this years graduates? 
• That was great, thanks.
•  Thank you, Hari! 
• This was an exceptional presentation 
• Amazing insight about compliance 
• Brillant! 
• Right, @Paula G. 
• So much to think about, thank you Hari! 
• : Incredible insights. I would like to be able to access a recording of this 
• thank you! very thought provoking! 
• thank you 
• Thank you for sharing your experience Hari. 
• Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: @HariSri108 @HariSri108 108Hari 
• I SO enjoyed this, Thank You 
• Thank you, Hari!  Powerful message! 
• This was great,  I enjoyed very much 
• hanks for a great presentation! 
• excellent presentation that was very engaging, informative, and thought provoking 
• I too prefer identity first - it's empowering for me! Thanks Hari 
• Thank you - wonderful - absolutely wonderful to hear you share and very powerful and thought provoking message. 
• My hand is aaised. 
• Thank you for your message Hari.  Very powerful and will make a difference for many people! 
• Thank You Hari!!!! 
• Great presentation\ 
• Thanks For Sharing Hari!!! 
• Great job Hari! 
• I am just completely in awe. Thank you thank you thank you 
• What inspired you to want to persue special education? 
• Excellent Presentation...Thank you Hari! 
• Thank you - this was wonderful! 
• Thank you for sharing! 
• So profound and very inspiring Hari! 
• Great presentation Hari! Thanks for sharing! 
• Very inspiring Hari 
• Inspirational! 
• Thank you, Hari! Great presentation. 
• Can you share how your parents supported you in your journey? 
• Hari, please tell us about your high school years and when you began thinking about and working toward college. 
• Excellent presentation - thank you Hari! 
• thanks 
• Can we give Hari a chance to respond before asking additional questions? 
• Thank you Hari for your honest assessment of the gaps in the profession. 
• Thank you! Your speech was great! 
• Thank you 
• Thank you 
• Thank you Hari! 
• Thank you Hari! 
• Thank you, Hai! This was an amazing presentation! So inspiring. 
• Thank you Hari! 
• Thanks Hari! 
• Thank you