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.
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.
Starting off Disability Awareness Month with my TedX talk
https://www.
Got a nice package in the mail with this note, as I head into the next Duke ACE meeting.
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Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuazLmv7hFo
I was spotlighted along with some rather kind words by an org today on social media
"So proud of Hari Srinivasan for his singular voice of insight, wisdom, advocacy, and activism, and for the distinction he brings to himself and everyone with whom he is associated. The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation | Vanderbilt University is honored to count Hari among its distinguished Fellows and it is awesome to imagine what the future holds for this inspiring young thought leader."
Some amazing gracious words about me from Prof Keivan Staussun of Vanderbilt University and Director of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt. Thank you Keivan, and I had never quite though of myself as a "thought leader."
Applications are now open for the next cohort for INSAR's ARC.
The INSAR Autistic Researchers Committee (ARC) was launched in 2020 as a dedicated space within the society to serve the growing demographic of autistic autism researchers. This body, composed of autistic researchers across multiple career stages, serves to advance the interests of autistic researchers within INSAR and advocate for adequate inclusion of this group across all INSAR programs.
The aims of the Autistic Researchers Committee are as follows:
"This virtual session is a critical element of Disrupting Ableism and Advancing STEM: Cultivating Accessible Educational Pathways and Spaces, the fourth event in the five-part Disrupting Ableism and Advancing STEM conversation series. Overall, this event in the series will focus on the important role of education in preparing students with disabilities as they enter the STEM ecosystem. Discussions will focus on the need to challenge assumptions about who can learn and succeed in STEM and the need to make direct changes to policies and practices to facilitate positive educational experiences for students. Examples will include asset based approaches to learning in classrooms, laboratories, online, and in the field.
Got a nice feedback email today.
"My name is ____ and I work at a medical university in a northern town in ___Ontario Canada. I saw your presentation today on cultivating accessible educational pathways and spaces. I was completely blown away by your presentation. What you have accomplished is incredibly impressive. I not only applaud you but the professors who went out of their way to make labs accessible for you. I think as a medical school, we are behind the ball so to speak with regards to accommodating the needs of those with different abilities....... This entire series has been fascinating to me. Thank you for sharing."
I truly believe that there is a biological basis to all this SIB, aggression and other behaviors. There also seems to be confusion that such behaviors are seen only to those with low IQ or lesser speaking ability or whether you have access to communication. I know an equal number of autistics, considered "moderate" or "high" in childhood who reach exactly the same place by early/late teen-hood; tossed between psychiatric facilities or stuck at home with their families. Most are heavily medicated with pharma cocktails that don't seem to work at all for autistic physiology.
Let me give you an example of 2 peers that I know - one sits in the corner all day and is regarded as a model student by that Adult Day Program. The other peer is at home with his aging parents as no day program will take him - "too much behaviors." And he is just one of the many dozens I personally know and grew up with in this scenario.
In a recent twitter post an adult autistic pointed to lack of numbers of such adults as evidence that they don't exist - and since she herself had started to talk at only at age 3 after therapy; it must mean that ALL autistics must have regained speaking ability and inclusion sometime in childhood.
