ABOUT ME

Quick Links

A Formal Bio. 

Awards & Honors

Conferences & Presentations

Berkeley Highlights

Vanderbilt Highlights

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My Disability.

My name is Hari. I do not have the privilege of choice: 'to disclose' or 'not-to-disclose' my autism disability. My disability is very visible, which means I continue to face a lot of gatekeeping, exclusion & discrimination right at the threshold of any door of opportunity.

I have autism, ADHD, limited spoken communication (the speaking part continues to improve though I primarily use text-speech to communicate), sensory processing issues, OCD, social anxiety, health issues and other challenges that do present significant challenges in my everyday life. My autism can feel like a leaky boat and I'm never sure what kind of day I will wake upto.

My lived experience means that I very motivated and vested in seeking not just explanations but also real solutions and progress that helps ALL autistics.

In my personal life I want to be surrounded by people, who are not paid (support staff) to spend time with me. I ask again - can this be a Possiblity-of-Me?

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Social Media

These are my social media handles. YouTube (@neuroscientist108), X (@harisri108), IG (@harisri108), Threads (@harisri108), Mastadon (@AutisticNeuroscientist), Bluesky (@neuroscientist). And this is a short bio. 

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The Opportunity of Education. 

I am stunned and awed at the opportunity of education and communication that enabled the opportunities my life has seen and moved me towards Hari-As-Possibility.  Access to education did not mean that my disability magically vanished, but it does significantly improve my quality of life and gives my life purpose and meaning.

And getting Honors & Awards at each step. From the 44+ national/state-level creative writing awards, in High School, including a Scholastic National Gold Medal which I received at Carnegie Hall,  to the heap of honors in my undergrad years at UC Berkeley and now multiple fellowships in Grad School at Vanderbilt University. 

I’ve had the opportunity to get to do autism research both at the undergrad and grad level. Sri Sathya Sai Baba had said  "Character is at the end of Education". My takeaway from this is that my education opportunity should be of some use to society. I hope the research I get to do can lead to solutions that can help many in society.  I  hope to redefine the way autism research itself is done so it is more inclusive of the entire spectrum.

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Advocacy

I am active in the autism advocacy space am on the boards / advisory boards / scientific advisory of multiple disability organizations in the policy, law and research space. I have spoken at conferences, and have articles written about me. I also write extensively on issues related to autism and disability; my articles have been published in high impact major media forums. My work has been quoted in research articles, books and used in disability trainings across different campuses. 

I guess I am involved in so many things because I want to approach autism from many angles hoping that this can lead us to better understanding of what involved which in turn will lead us to solutions.  I believe we need both strengths-based-opportunities and also challenges-based-solutions; because many of us autistics desperately need solutions to our challenges in order to be even be able to avail of of opportunities. An important insight is that when you seek solutions for the most marginalized members of a group, the entire community benefits, just like elevators and ramps for wheelchair users, benefits everyone.

Sanathana Dharma philosophy highlights how the purpose of human existence is "SEVA" (helping others). I dare dream I can do just that through my Education (research), Advocacy and Writing.

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Creative Writing, Poetry, Philosophy

I also an avid poet, philosopher, and creative writer with many of my works having won awards and published in numerous places, including anthologies, and have consulted on character development for a  Netflix science themed animated series. 

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Unexpected Patches of Green Grass in my different thornier path. 

My different thornier path is seeing some patches of green grass along the way.

I was one of three young students featured on PRESIDENT BARRACK OBAMA's INSTAGRAM (2nd story) on the 30th anniversary of the ADA. It is an unbelievable HONOR to be mentioned by a President of the United States on social media. It gives great hope and encouragement, especially for someone who is significantly disabled like me - that lives like mine are lives that have worth to society.

Then I got to visit Washington DC to attend events around the 32nd Anniversary of the ADA. I got to meet President Joe Biden at the White House and VP Kamala Harris at the Naval Observatory. What a tremendous tremendous honor it is to get to go to the White House and shake hands with the POTUS.

I got to speak at the UN, just 40 years after my late grandpa did - my late grandma was thrilled! And I got to give a TedX talk. 

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My other interests, my goals and dreams

I do like other fun stuff too. I love to walk and admire the awe of nature. I especially love being around water - waterfalls, the ocean and the beach. I just want to live on the beach and watch the waves all day.


I love music, my fav genre is the Sai-Bhajans followed by Indian Classical music. I also like the Beatles and Bollywood/Tamil songs.


At the end of the day, I want to live a life of meaning and purpose and I would like to live in a body less challenging to navigate.