Uniquely Hari: Spectrum At Cal 10th 5K Run

Spectrum At Cal 10th 5K Run

The speech I gave at the Spectrum At Cal event today

Hi everyone. My name is Hari Srinivasan.

Welcome to our in person 5 K run. We are so happy to be back, after the two years of uncertainty, that the pandemic had forced on us. I’m a senior here at Berkeley. I also teach a class on autism here at Berkeley.

I've been part of this amazing Spectrum At Cal for most of my time here and had the privilege of being president of this wonderful student organization, last year. Spectrum at Cal provided a community for me during my time here at Berkeley. Spectrum at Cal not only does autism outreach, both within and outside the campus, but also all manner of volunteering activities, and fundraising, which go right back to community organizations, that support individuals on the spectrum. Our organization has grown so much even during the time I've been a Berkeley. If you are a local organization interested in partnering with us, please do reach out to us. Let's make change happen.

I'm super thrilled to have spent my undergraduate years at Berkeley, which is really the birthplace of the disability rights movement. We boast of the first ever disabled students program, with other universities in the country and across the world, learning from us. It did start off for physical disabilities, but grew to include all manner of disabilities.

Today, Autism, is one of the fastest growing neurodevelopmental disabilities. Autism in all its forms, has a voice and we want to make it heard. Did you know my friend David, and I are the first, and only two non speaking autistic students to be admitted to Berkeley. It goes to show that autism too, is a diversity category, with the wide range of neurodiverse minds, that come with it. Autism is not a one size fits all disability, so we need to be flexible, and open minded to accommodate everyone, even the most marginalized amongst us.

What you're hearing, is my text to speech voice, as I am a minimally speaking autistic. I need to use alternative technology for most conversations, as I can only speak a few basic words. Technology is not perfect, and not always intuitive to use, but it helps me get by. It is unfortunate that, society has somehow conflated cognition with the ability to be able to use your mouth muscles to talk. Which is just an ill logical idea, and rather ridiculous really.

As a result, we nonspeaking autistics are generally not thought to be, worthy of education, let alone college. We face tremendous gatekeeping of opportunities in all manner of areas, all our lives. Everyone deserves the same opportunity of education, inclusion, and belonging.

Every life has worth. I repeat, every life deserves worth.

I've personally very proud of the t-shirt, that Spectrum designed last year, which I am wearing. We all belong. We all belong. You belong and I belong. And belonging is an idea, I'm very passionate about.

There is a big difference in the idea of awareness, acceptance, inclusion and belonging. Awareness is passive, which leads to some sort of acceptance, or what I like to think of as, tolerance of our presence.
Inclusion for most part means, being allowed to exist in the same space as our non disabled peers. It's like sitting in the same classroom, as your non disabled peers, but both of you are on parallel tracks that never intersect.

But Belonging is really the key, where you feel you are a part of a community.When your life is seen as having worth. Where you belong, and I too belong.

Only with more exposure to all manner of autistics, will there be a change in mindsets, and greater belonging. It can be a win-win for all.

The diversity of autism, is like a cocoon, that morphs into all sorts of unexpected colorful butterflies. If you notice our logo is a butterfly. The butterfly effect, says a small local change, can lead to profound, and complex changes around the world. The two butterflies intertwine, and spread out their wings. That is what you are all doing here today by participating. You are all part of the butterfly effect, that will change the way autism is perceived, understood, and accepted. And how we can all belong. If there is just one thing you got out of what I said today, go home with the idea of promoting belonging.

Welcome again to Spectrum at Cal's, 5K run.

A big shout out to my fellow spectrum members and to all the amazing volunteers, who have helped put this wonderful event together.

Have fun everyone.

Thank you.

https://youtu.be/MRGc4GMbXqs