Also focusing on the positive aspects of autism is great for everyone

A message on Functioning Labels from students in my 1:54 Autism Class. 

No such thing as Low Functioning vs High Functioning

Focusing on the positive aspects of autism is great for everyone

Image Credit: Tiffany Brailow, Ren Weber and team

Image Description: Purple background of poster with message that says

Autism Spectrum Disorder Decal

What we learned today

No such thing as Low Functioning vs High Functioning

Focusing on the positive aspects of autism is great for everyone

This semester I'm going to be sharing art made by the Students in my 1:54 Autism DeCal class which reflects something (learned in class or outside) about autism. 

 

Haas Scholars Spring Colloquium

 Got the chance to present my to-date findings at the Haas Scholars Spring Colloquium. 

08:02:53 From Leah Carroll to Everyone:
Goooooooo Hari, you're a rockstar!
08:02:59 From Laura Rambo to Everyone:
You got this Hari!!
08:03:05 From Christian Nixon to Everyone:
go Hari!!
08:03:25 From Eunice Paredes(She/ Her/ Ella) to Everyone:
Go Hari!!!
08:10:33 From Kevin McCarthy to Everyone:
Good stuff
08:11:33 From Laura Rambo to Everyone:
Omg how exciting!!!
08:12:44 From Bob Haas to Everyone:
Hari: Great research. You are Berkeley at its best! So proud that you are a Haas Scholar.
08:14:06 From Eunice Paredes(She/ Her/ Ella) to Everyone:
Wow
08:14:45 From David Yaden to Everyone:
This is fascinating and impressive research. Well-done, Hari!
08:16:44 From Dacher Keltner to Everyone:
you are a brilliant and revolutionary scholar Hari. You inspire.. thank you Haas Fellowship program
08:16:45 From Tonatiuh Beltran to Everyone:
Very informative Hari! And the graphs are super helpful
08:17:43 From Kevin McCarthy to Everyone:
Fascinating, enlightening and helpful
08:17:47 From Kristen Gillespie-Lynch to Everyone:
Really thought provoking and rich findings! And I love how you set up how to interpret the findings beforehand.
08:18:30 From Kevin McCarthy to Everyone:
I would not have learned this otherwise. Thank you, Hari.
08:21:36 From Tonatiuh Beltran to Everyone:
Incredible work 👏🏽
08:22:14 From Laura Rambo to Everyone:
Hari this is incredible!! KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK!
08:22:23 From Rungsiri Upradit to Everyone:
Amazing research!
08:22:34 From Patrick Dwyer (he/him) to Everyone:
Really cool research, Hari! I will look forward to seeing it print. I was particularly impressed that you measured SES and thought to include it as a covariate - so much literature doesn't distinguish effects of being autistic vs. the negative experiences and challenges that autistic people often experience, so it is great you did that. It's also awesome (pun not intended) to finally see some evidence of the hyper-empathy autistics have been talking about for a while. Thanks for this very informative and powerful presentation, Hari!
08:22:36 From Jae Manion (Pronounced Mann) to Everyone:
Per usual, Hari brought it all.
08:22:39 From Johnny Smith to Everyone:
Incredible, indeed! Bravo!!!
08:22:41 From Jonah Lounds (they/them) to Everyone:
Remarkable work Hari!
08:22:52 From Christian Nixon to Everyone:
absolutely outstanding!! amazing job, Hari!
08:22:55 From Steven Kapp to Everyone:
Excellent research Hari!
08:22:56 From Kevin McCarthy to Everyone:
Big facts!
08:22:57 From Bruce Carter to Everyone:
I am truly in AWE!
08:22:58 From Lawrence Fung to Everyone:
Amazing work, Hari!
08:23:03 From Jorge Mancillas to Everyone:
Great work, Hari!
08:23:04 From Tim Vogus to Everyone:
Hari, this work is outstanding. I love how many different explorations you took into the data. You really provide a holistic, nuanced, and rich view of awe. Truly exciting and opens up so many possibilities and new understandings.
08:23:06 From Hector Lopez-Orozco to Everyone:
You never fail to amaze me and be inspiring, Hari!
08:23:06 From Danielle Cosmes to Everyone:
We’re in awe of YOU!!
08:23:09 From Meg Evans to Everyone:
Fascinating work!
08:23:17 From Jennifer Ochoa to Everyone:
Wonderful job Hari!!
08:23:21 From Simran Kaur to Everyone:
Amazing Hari!!!!
08:23:27 From Seungwon Lee to Everyone:
So well organized and impactful!!! You’re AWEsome
08:23:34 From Leah Carroll to Everyone:
Hari you're making me cry.
08:23:37 From Laura Rambo to Everyone:
Same here
08:23:45 From Eunice Paredes(She/ Her/ Ella) to Everyone:
BRAVOOOOO!!!!!!!
08:23:46 From Kevin McCarthy to Everyone:
You have a bright future ahead of you, Hari
08:23:51 From Dacher Keltner to Everyone:
what a privilege to be your collaborator Hari. I am in awe
08:23:53 From Violet Henderson to Everyone:
Aware Hari
08:24:00 From Laura Rambo to Everyone:
We love you Hari!
08:24:04 From Violet Henderson to Everyone:
Awesome!!!
08:24:05 From karen nakamura to Everyone:
Incredible talk, thanks Hari
08:24:06 From Tonatiuh Beltran to Everyone:
❤️❤️❤️👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
08:24:09 From Matthew Vilnit to Everyone:
Does an individuals experience of awe change over time?
08:24:34 From Tyler Shores @University of Cambridge to Everyone:
What a wonderful presentation. Bravo Hari! Can't wait to see what you do in the future.
08:24:39 From Susan Daniels to Everyone:
Congratulations, Hari! Excellent work!
08:24:46 From Tory Benson to Everyone:
Amazing work Hari!! Can’t wait to follow the rest of your research :’)
08:24:57 From Mary Kelsey to Everyone:
Can you give an example of a “small dose of awe” that would be helpful to those with autism?
08:25:42 From karen nakamura to Everyone:
Question: Given that most autistics are raised by non-autistic parents who are not aware of the internal world of autistic and how best to connect with it, and the discrimination that autistics experience; if autistics were raised in a pro-autistic environment what findings do you think would change most in your study?
08:26:13 From Christine Mullarkey to Everyone:
Feel send a longer answer by email - If "small doses" of awe may be most appropriate, how would you go about selecting the experience to get the right "amount of awe" for the individual. Being conscientious to avoid potential harm for overwhelm, but wanting to get enough awe for the benefits.
08:26:21 From Carissa Cascio to Everyone:
Fascinating work, Hari! I’m curious if you have hypotheses about why autistics’ experience of awe seems less tied to physiological sensations than non-autistics?
08:26:28 From Pushpa Raghavan to Everyone:
Hi Hari , Grandma from chennai all the best to you
08:26:35 From Leah Carroll to Everyone:
Can you say more about which emotions autistics feel more intensely, and which they feel less intensely? Are there patterns in what types of emotions are experienced in different ways?
08:27:00 From Leah Carroll to Everyone:
Welcome to Hari's Grandma, logging in from India!!!
08:27:05 From Debra Kraus to Everyone:
I'm in AWE of your beautiful soul and spirit. Thank you for sharing your work today. Congratulations!!!
08:27:25 From Keivan Stassun 
Hari, incredible!!
08:27:26 From Lawrence Fung to Everyone:
Hari, this is spectacular research! It will be wonderful if this research can extend the existing domains included Research Domain Criteria in NIMH. Thoughts?
08:27:51 From Matt Stahl to Everyone:
those characteristics of awe you named at the start exactly characterize my experience of being included in this conference as an alumnus. Thank you!
08:28:18 From Heather Yaden to Everyone:
Thank you for the invite, Hari and congrats to all the amazing Haas Scholars!! ((:

Inspiration Porn

Inspiration porn was coined by disabled comedian Maysoon Zayid and popularized by the disabled activist Stella Young in her Ted Talk. (I had initially thought it was coined by Stella Young, just due to the popularity of her Ted Talk, till I was corrected by disability activity Rebecca Cockley who knew both people)

Inspiration porn is a term used to describe the objectification of the disabled, where they are depicted as heroic or inspirational solely because of their disability. This type of portrayal often reinforces negative stereotypes and promotes ableism, which is discrimination against the disabled and gate-keeps actual solutions. 

For instance, a common example of inspiration porn is when a disabled person  is depicted as "overcoming" their disability and achieving success or accomplishing one specific task, which is then celebrated as an extraordinary achievement. Even mere academic success can be seen as "extraordinary" and makes the newspapers, when the equivalent would have been a non-event for a non-disabled peer. 

This type of portrayal can be problematic because it reinforces the notion that the disabled should be judged solely based on their ability to conform to able-bodied standards by becoming "super heroes."

Objectification, where the disabled are often seen as objects of pity, is also used as self-motivation by the non-disabled, who may view the contrast between their own lives and those of the disabled as a source of inspiration and motivation. This is very self-serving and primarily benefits the non-disabled. The object of pity (the disabled) is going to feel worse, while the 'pitier,' can walk away feeling inspired. 

Moreover, inspiration porn often fails to acknowledge the systemic barriers and discrimination faced by the disabled.  By presenting the occasional story of "inspirational porn," it can justify the societal indifference in creating actual solutions for the disabled. What each such "inspiration porn' story seems to suggest is that if that disabled person could achieve success, then all other disabled must be able to do magically do so as well; without additional supports, thus reducing societal guilt at its lack of action.

Therefore, it's important to recognize and challenge the harmful effects of inspiration porn and work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society and where solutions are being worked towards.
This requires acknowledging and addressing the systemic barriers and discrimination and on working towards real solutions, rather than relying on objectifying and dehumanizing portrayals of people with disabilities for motivation or inspiration.

Neuronal pruning

Neuronal pruning is a natural process during brain development where excess neurons and synaptic connections are eliminated to improve the efficiency of neural circuits. In the context of autism, including regressive autism, altered neuronal pruning has been proposed as a potential contributing factor.

Neuronal Pruning in Autism

1. Hypothesis of Altered Pruning: Some researchers suggest that abnormalities in the neuronal pruning process may contribute to the development of autism. Specifically, it has been hypothesized that either excessive pruning (leading to a loss of necessary neural connections) or insufficient pruning (resulting in too many synapses) could disrupt normal brain function and development (Tang et al., 2014).

2. Evidence from Neuroimaging and Postmortem Studies: Studies using neuroimaging techniques, such as MRI, have observed differences in brain structure and connectivity in individuals with autism. Some findings suggest an overabundance of synaptic connections in certain brain regions, which could be indicative of reduced synaptic pruning (Varghese et al., 2017). Postmortem studies have also reported similar findings, suggesting that reduced pruning may contribute to the atypical brain connectivity seen in autism.

3. Genetic and Molecular Factors: Genetic studies have identified mutations in genes involved in synaptic function and pruning, which may contribute to autism. For instance, mutations in genes like MECP2, SHANK3, and PTEN have been associated with disrupted synaptic pruning and have been linked to autism spectrum disorders (Penzes et al., 2011).

4. Role in Regressive Autism: In regressive autism, where children lose previously acquired skills, disrupted pruning may play a role in the sudden decline of cognitive and social abilities. The exact mechanisms are still under investigation, but it is possible that abnormal pruning could interfere with the stabilization of neural circuits involved in language, social interaction, and behavior.

Citations

• Tang, G., et al. (2014). Loss of mTOR-dependent macroautophagy causes autistic-like synaptic pruning deficits. Neuron, 83(5), 1131-1143.
• Varghese, M., et al. (2017). Autism spectrum disorder: neuropathology and animal models. Acta Neuropathologica, 134(4), 537-566.
• Penzes, P., et al. (2011). Dendritic spine pathology in neuropsychiatric disorders. Nature Neuroscience, 14(3), 285-293.

100 years of Berkeley Psychology

 I get to speak at this faculty studded event. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjl1PouQ-cc

I start at 1:14:08

I get quoted in Spanish

Another first. 

I get quoted in Spanish

The Big Game

Kinda thrilled to see 2 Big Game wins (Stanford/Cal friendly rivalry) during my time here at Cal. 

And it was a resounding win too with 2 records. 

https://calbears.com/news/2021/11/20/football-big-plays-big-game-victory.aspx?elqTrackId=8135B60DE80209DEEC904F61895A0E08&elq=a3b378a9e45b4ab5b4afa198e0de1db7&elqaid=67&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=4

Supports, Skills & Society - Integral Adult Autism Conference

Keynote at this conference. 

https://integralautism.org/presenters

 

Why Inspiration Porn is Harmful

PlainSpeak. In Plain Language for Lay Reader

Inspiration porn is a term used to describe when disabled people are shown as being super inspirational just for doing everyday things because they have a disability. This kind of portrayal often makes it seem like being disabled automatically makes someone a hero, which isn't fair or accurate.

A common example of inspiration porn might be a story about a disabled person graduating from school, which gets a lot of attention because people see it as overcoming something amazing. But the truth is, disabled people face many challenges, and they don't want to be celebrated just for doing what others do—they want to be seen as people first.

This kind of portrayal can be harmful because it often ignores the real issues disabled people face, like lack of access to education, jobs, or even basic facilities. It also makes it seem like if one disabled person can succeed, then others should be able to do the same without help, which isn't true or fair.

Inspiration porn can make people without disabilities feel good about themselves, but it doesn't help disabled people. It actually hurts them because it reduces their experiences to feel-good stories, instead of recognizing the real barriers they face and the real solutions they need.

To really help, we need to stop looking at disabled people as just sources of inspiration and start seeing them as individuals who deserve equal opportunities and respect. This means working on real changes in society, like better accessibility and fighting against discrimination, so everyone can live their lives fully and fairly.

UC Berkeley Diversity Academy 2021

A opportunity to present to faculty from an undergraduate student perspective. 

 

Lucid Dreaming

Lucid Dreaming is a state during REM sleep where individuals become aware they are dreaming and can often exert control over the dream environment. Research suggests a possible connection between autism and lucid dreaming, with autistics potentially experiencing lucid dreams more frequently, possibly due to differences in sensory and cognitive processing. [Read in more detail]

PlainSpeak. Lucid Dreaming is when you're dreaming and realize it, sometimes even changing what happens in the dream. Autistic individuals might have lucid dreams more often, possibly because they notice details more easily, but more research is needed to understand why this happens. [Read in more detail]

Campus Change Maker

 This is so cool. Thank you UC Berkeley. 

Subject: Bringing Disability Awareness & Visibility to the Plaza and Change Maker of The Week

Bringing Disability Awareness & Visibility to Sproul Plaza!

Visit our table on Sproul Plaza today from 9 to noon to connect with student groups and campus resources including: The Disabled Students Commission, Berkeley Disabled Students Group (BDS), Spectrum at Cal, OCD at Cal, CAPS, RSF, DSP, and the DCC!


As part of Disability Awareness Month celebrations, we are uplifting the work and stories of a series of Change Makers from the Disability Community. This week, we are highlighting the contributions of Hari Srinivasan. Undergraduate student, instructor of the Autism DeCal, and journalist at the Daily Cal.


Image Description: A photo of Hari standing on a bridge on UC Berkeley's campus. Text reads: Hari Srinivasan. Undergraduate student and instructor. There is a quote from Hari next to it that reads, "I want you to think of disability as possibility too. Only when you think of possibility can the door of opportunity be opened."

Recruiting autistic participants for Research Study

Please participate if you are above age 18, autistic and live in the US. 

Scan for the consent form (takes 1 minute to complete)

Recruiting Autistic participants for a research study on autism (by an autistic for autistics)

Title: The Autistic Experience of Awe: Can Awe Become a Tool in the Autistic Coping Toolbox?

You are invited to participate if you

1._Identify as autistic (or have an autism diagnosis)

2. Above age 18 and live in the USA

If you would like to participate, please fill out the consent form. https://tinyurl.com/aweconsent

The study will be in english, completely online and takes approximately an hour. It will involve written narratives and multichoice type questions on emotions.

There is no direct benefit to you from this study. However I hope to find broader applications for the autistic community.

For any questions, please contact the student researcher, Hari Srinivasan harisri@berkeley.edu

For more on the study: https://hsp.berkeley.edu/scholars/hari-srinivasan/