Uniquely Hari: Conference

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TedX Talk

I will be in a TedX talk on April 20.

https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/56378

PD Soros Fall Conference

A memorable, emotional and absolutely enjoyable Fall Conference in New York last week with an amazing group of fellow students.

US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy (alum of the very first batch) was the keynote speaker. What a moving and brilliant keynote on the increasing loneliness in the US and the importance of social connection.

Some remarkable team building exercises, interesting outings, topped off with a deep dive interview by a 2022 fellow with the 94 year old (and going strong) Daisy Soros during the closing session.

And happy 25 years to PD Soros Fellowship.

A poem written for Daisy Soros and presented at the closing event.

Background Introduction

This poem, "Aria of Aspirations," is an operatic ode dedicated to Daisy Soros and the late Paul Soros. Intermingled within this lyrical tapestry are cultural foreign language phrases contributed by the 2022 Fellows, epitomizing our global community bound together by shared dreams, aspirations and values. We celebrate individual stories, individual abilities and disabilities, while acknowledging the collective. The verses resonate with the unity, mentorship, and deep bonds fostered over the past year, all set against the backdrop of Verdi — a notable favorite of Daisy’s along with a nod to Daisy's cherished song, "La Vie en Rose" by Edith Piaf.

Of course, the poem is more inspired by the essence of the flow of a Verdi opera rather than a strict structural representation of one. For instance, the introduction with the dawn’s first light sets the stage much like an overture or prelude. The subsequent verses describe various scenes, reminiscent of arias and ensemble pieces in an opera. As we traverse from one stanza to the next, we also journey through the cultural and operatic art forms reflecting the diversity and richness of each of the 2022 Fellow’s countries of origin. Only the heritage countries of the 2022 Fellows are referenced. The climax builds around the lines that reference Daisy. The poem ends on an appreciative note, reflective of a finale or closing chorus in an opera. The use of musical metaphors is a depiction of our journey, growth and appreciation, reminiscent of the ebb and flow one might find in an opera.

Above all, this poem stands as a testament to Daisy and Paul's enduring legacy and their unwavering belief in the transformative power of investing in people, us New Americans.

Aria of Aspirations

In the powerful embrace of dawn's first light,

An aria begins, echoing the night.

Like Verdi's voices, in a crescendo bold,

Daisy, with Paul, your legacy retold.

From the depths of memory, notes we chose,

World painted in hues of La vie en rose.

An inspiring community, dreams taking flight,

Believing in the power of the New American right.

Andante tales from Nigeria's Ewi pride,

Bharatanatyam in India, vivace stride.

Syria's dancers, in Sufi whirling, they soar,

Calypso rhythms, Grenada's lively lore.

Germany's Deutsche Oper, largo and deep,

Polish opera's passion, allegro sweep.

Staccato tales of Russkaya, tales so vast,

Makossa beats in Cameroon, from the past.

Nanguan melodies in Taiwan, gentle and fine,

Mariachi strums, Mexico's vivacious line.

Zemer Ivri from Israel, tunes that enthrall,

Pakistan's Qawwali, a resonant call.

El Salvador's Cumbia, rhythm and song,

Congo's Soukous, where dance moves prolong.

Chinese opera's mask, legends of yore.

Vietnam's Ca trù, a haunting encore.

Romania's Doina, a melancholic strain.

England's classic ballads, tales that remain,

Uganda's Ndere, in rhythmic dance they weave,

Canada's vast beauty, where the maple leaves believe.

In unity, beyond borders, we soar,

Embracing abilities and disabilities, our spirit does roar.

For in this fellowship, we truly see,

The strength of inclusion, setting hearts free.

Daisy, our fellowship’s deepam, light,

Paul, in dolce memory, makes the night bright.

Apurbo, wonderful, with 2.5 decades decree,

Your combined legacies, a grand opera’s spree.

Cuando la oportunidad no te llama,

construye una puerta, is your panorama.

For every dream, an aria of our own.

In this vast libretto, aspirations grown.

Qui cherche trouve, in tales that we’ve planned.

Contrapunto contrasts, hand in hand

Yaar, friend, Fellows forge unyielding bonds,

Guided by mentorship, on which our growth dawns.

Al-nas lba'adah, together we stand,

With each note played, by your visionary hand.

In Verdi's coda, strong and profound,

Daisy, your strength and resilience resound

A reflection of past, largo’s embrace,

A celebration of futures, in allegro’s chase.

For in this grand opera, one thing is clear,

Through music and dreams, you've drawn us near.

A family, a friendship, presto and planned,

You invest in people, on this vast vast land.

With each passing year, our ensemble does grow,

In the name of love, letting dreams flow.

Classic and visionary, an aria’s play,

Daisy Soros, to you and Paul, our gratitude we convey.

For in every note, in each melody's strand,

Is the touch of your hearts, the warmth of your hand

Foreign Language Translations

Al-nas lba'adah (arabic): people are there to support each other

Apurbo (bengali): Wonderful /amazing

Cuando la oportunidad no te llama, construye una puerta (spanish): When opportunity doesn't knock, build a door

Deepam (tamil): Light

Qui cherche trouve (french): Who seeks, finds

Yaar (hindi): Friend

ITAKOM

Some nice comments about my talk "Redefine The Table" at the @ITAKOM conference

And again, the solution is system change. Individual approaches for the people who need it more, which means centering the most disenfranchised ND people... This benefits everyone.

Supports, Skills & Society - Integral Adult Autism Conference

Keynote at this conference.

https://integralautism.org/presenters

Master of Ceremonies at ASAN Gala 2021

Join us for a special virtual edition of our annual celebration and fundraising event from Wednesday, November 17th through Friday, November 19th. We’re so excited to share the gala with disability community members and allies from across the country and around the world, who usually wouldn’t be able to attend in-person.

We’re happy to announce that Hari Srinivasan will be our Master of Ceremonies!

Image description: A young Indian American man in his 20s with black hair under a white baseball cap. He is wearing jeans and a long sleeved gray shirt that says California Golden Bears. He is standing next to a stone railing.

Hari Srinivasan is a minimally-speaking autistic student at UC Berkeley. He is on ASAN’s Board of Directors and a 2019 alumnus of our Autism Campus Inclusion program! At UC Berkeley, Hari is a student journalist for the Daily Californian, student instructor for a class on autism, research assistant at the UC Berkeley Psychology and Disability Labs, and was the first nonspeaking president of the student group, Autism:Spectrum At Cal. As a Haas Scholar, he is doing research on how autistic people experience awe. Hari was recently selected to serve on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, which advises federal policy and priorities around autism. We are so grateful for Hari’s dedicated advocacy!

Hari hopes to bring attention to issues which impact disabled people in myriad areas and across the lifespan. He also wants to emphasize the urgency to include and address the issues faced by the more marginalized groups and higher support needs within the autism and larger disability community, including their mental, physical healthcare needs and comorbidities. When the voices of select groups get left out of the conversation, it negatively impacts their access to spaces, resources, funding, policy and quality of life.

We are full of autistic awe that Hari will host our annual gala and hope that you can come celebrate with us!

Gala tickets are donate-what-you-can, but no donation will be required to attend our virtual gala events. Proceeds will support our advocacy work and programs for the coming year, and allow us to continue working to empower disabled people across the country. If you’re able, please consider donating to support our work. If you are not able to donate, no worries -- we’re just happy to have you celebrating with us!

Honorees and other programming will be announced in the coming weeks.

You can RSVP to our Facebook event and invite your friends! We’re excited to celebrate together.

Together We Can Learn Conference

I was Keynote Speaker

https://familiestogetherinc.org/2021twcl/#hari

Autism Society Virginia - Summer Speaker Series

Speaking at Autism Society Virginia, Summer Speaker Series on Aug 5

Recording on their website at

Building a Bridge to the Future

I was keynote speaker at Missouri State 2021 Transition Training Institute

https://dese.mo.gov/special-education/effective-practices/postsecondary-transition

https://www.eventsquid.com/event.cfm?id=12567

List of all Speakers: https://www.eventsquid.com/event.cfm?id=12567

Advocacy Day for Access and Independence

Event by ABLE-South Carolina

Recording at https://youtu.be/O4sd30F_9bk I'm on at 2:16:51

Event Site: https://unlockingbarriers-sc.org/?fbclid=IwAR19-TeohFuvq2rnxLdCVObxGe1l8l5doQ0WT4s-upGSbSuf1cC-C_hCmb4#:~:text=Save%20the%20date%20for%20April,responsible%20as%20the%20pandemic%20continues

Empowering a Future

I was the keynote speaker at the ABLE - South Carolina, a Center for Independent Living at their Annual conference. www.able-sc.org

Empowering a Future is a professional development opportunity for educators and service providers working with youth with disabilities who are transitioning to adulthood. This year’s conference will include all the exciting sessions you’re used to – but in a user-friendly online format! Want to learn how to motivate and empower your students? It’s time to leave the deficits-based approaches behind and focus on new strategies to build strong, successful self-advocates. Session content will highlight virtual service delivery, supported decision-making, pre-employment transition services, youth leadership, and much more. This event is made possible through a partnership with Able South Carolina, South Carolina Department of Education, and Transition Alliance of South Carolina (TASC).

Link to any potential recording will be posted if available.

Keynote - Empowering a Future

I was keynote speaker at Able-SC's Transition Conference

Empowering a Future is a professional development opportunity for educators and service providers working with youth with disabilities who are transitioning to adulthood. This year's conference will include all the exciting sessions you're used to - but in a user-friendly online format! Want to learn how to motivate and empower your students? It's time to leave the deficits-based approaches behind and focus on new strategies to build strong, successful self-advocates. Session content will highlight virtual service delivery, supported decision-making, pre-employment transition services, youth leadership, and much more.

“Being branded low [functioning] sets you up for low educational expectations, low societal expectations and gatekeeping from the get go, it sets you up for lifelong failure. No one willingly labels themselves as low, it is others doing so.”

We are so excited for Hari Srinivasan to be our keynote speaker at Empowering a Future 2021! Teachers, service providers and counselors: learn directly from an autistic student and disability scholar about how to empower students with disabilities. Tickets: bit.ly/eaf2021