Neurotransmitters Flow in this Autism Mind

NSF Grad Research Fellowship History

Some interesting history about the NSF Graduate Research fellowship award that I just got.

I did not know this was the oldest award.

From their website

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program is the country's oldest fellowship program directly supporting graduate students in STEM fields. Since 1952, NSF has selected more than 46,500 students to receive graduate research fellowships, out of more than 500,000 applicants. Forty of the GRFs have gone on to become Nobel laureates, and more than 440 have become members of the National Academy of Sciences.

The GRFP has a long history of investing in students with demonstrated potential for significant achievements in science and engineering. The investments have paid off well: Among more than 200 Nobel laureates who have had NSF support, 40 were selected as Graduate Research Fellows. GRFs are also well-represented among government leaders, business executives, writers, and members of the National Academy of Sciences--from Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, to Freakonomics co-author Steven Levitt.

Awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Thrilled at the news.

More pats of encouragement.

Got awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.

April 04, 2024

Dear Hari Srinivasan:

Congratulations! You have been selected to receive a 2024 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship...

NSF publishes the names of Fellowship Offers at https://www.research.gov/grfp/. ...

Being chosen as a NSF Graduate Research Fellow is a significant national accomplishment and places you among an elite group of Fellows, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in STEM or STEM education. We wish you similar success in your graduate studies and continued progress toward your aspirations throughout your career.

Yours sincerely,
Jacqueline Huntoon, PhD
Division Director
Division of Graduate Education

Keynote at Duke ACE

An HONEST and POWERFUL talk I've heard in a long time.

Hari Srinivasan's presentation "Redefine the Table" for the Duke Center for Autism & Brain Development / Duke Autism Center of Excellence, called for a paradigm shift!

"Only when you think [of] possibility, can the door of opportunity open."

What's wrong:

- Inequity of access to support and resources
- Systemic discrimination (!!) and low expectations in education
- Industries that exploit autism solely for massive profits and lack accountability (!!)
- Limited scope of autism research
- Language divide within the community

What needs to change:

1) Develop solutions for the most marginalized
2) Combat discrimination and raise expectations in education
3) Create affordable, accessible therapies focused on progress, not profit
4) Expand research to include diverse autistic individuals
5) Foster acceptance of both person-first and identity-first language

https://www.dailycal.org/2018/03/15/first-transitions

Solutions, not more autism days

Duke ACE Keynote

Neurodiversity Inspired Science and Engineering Fellow Hari Srinivasan will speak at the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development Autism Seminar Series on April 3rd at 4:00 pm ET, virtually on Zoom. Hari will deliver the Autism Acceptance Month Keynote Entitled "Autism Acceptance Month Keynote: 'Redefine the Table'." Registration is available at the following link: https://ow.ly/r5l150QOpai

Understanding Hostile Attribution Bias in Autism

in PlanSpeak Plain Language for Lay Reader

Hostile Attribution Bias is when someone thinks others are being mean or hostile, even when their actions are unclear or accidental. For example, if a person with this bias gets accidentally bumped into, they might believe it was done on purpose. This can lead to more misunderstandings because they react as if they are being threatened.

Hostile Attribution Bias and Autism.

But because autistic people often struggle with social cues and communication, it's possible they might also experience this bias.

Studies have found that autistics are more likely to see ambiguous situations as hostile compared to non-autistics. This can lead to higher levels of social anxiety and problematic behaviors like aggression or self-injury.

The Role of Society However, this bias in autistic people might not just be due to their difficulty with social cues. It can also come from a lifetime of facing social stigma, exclusion, and misunderstanding. When someone is repeatedly treated negatively, they can become more sensitive to potential threats. They lose trust that others will treat them well. This sensitivity means they might see even innocent actions as harmful.

Challenges Faced by Autistics. Autistics often face unique social challenges and stigma, which can make interpreting social cues even harder. They are frequently misunderstood and rejected. This is even worse for those with more noticeable behaviors or communication issues. From a young age, they might be placed in educational systems with low expectations, reinforcing a belief that they can't succeed. The very people (professional/educators) put in place to support them can often end up limiting opportunities and discriminating againsst them. This cycle of negative experiences can make them more likely to develop hostile attribution bias.

Impact on Mental Health. The combination of social difficulties inherent in autism and external societal stigma can create a strong foundation for developing hostile attribution bias. This not only affects their social interactions but also adds to their mental health struggles.

--------------------

Read more on Hostile Attribution Bias: [Version for Scientific/Academic Audience], [PlainSpeak for the Lay Reader], [A Simple Definition]

Related Posts on [Neuroception], [Negative Attribution Bias]

Easter Egg Hunt

With grad students, easter egg hunt at Sevier Park

April events

My events this April include

Keynote at Duke's ACE event (Apr 3)
TedX talk (Apr 20)
Two Panels Mar 27 (Mary Ann Libert) & Apr 17 (Lancet).

Keynote at Duke ACE Autism Seminar Series

Public Voices Fellowship Year One

Introducing the inaugural collection of op-eds penned by the 2023 cohort of Public Voices Fellows, a partnership between The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans and The OpEd Project. Representing a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, and expertise, these twenty Paul & Daisy Soros Fellows were chosen from a competitive pool of over 60 applicants, all alumni of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships. Throughout the year, these writers received unparalleled support, honed their leadership skills, and deepened their understanding of how to shape public discourse. The op-eds presented here reflect their dedication to influencing not only their respective fields but also the broader conversations shaping our society. Dive into this compilation to explore thought-provoking perspectives from the first year of the Public Voices Fellowship program

https://www.pdsoros.org/news-events/public-voices-fellowships-year-one-s-successes

Positive Psychology and Autism

I was part of a roundtable discussion on Positive Psychology & Autism, with Dr Dan Tomasulo, Dr Jodie Wilson, Dr Sara Woods and Dr Tayyab Rashid. Hosted by Mary Ann Liebert and Proof Positive. Discussion resulted in an journal article in the peer-reviewed journal, Autism in Adulthood.

And here is the final journal article: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/aut.2024.38246.pw

Citation:

APA

Wright, P., Moseley, R., Tomasulo, D., Srinivasan, H., Wilson, J., Woods, S., & Rashid, T. (2024). Integrating Positive Psychology and Autism: A Roundtable. Autism in Adulthood.

Chicago

Wright, Patricia, Rachel Moseley, Dan Tomasulo, Hari Srinivasan, Jodie Wilson, Sara Woods, and Tayyab Rashid. "Integrating Positive Psychology and Autism: A Roundtable." Autism in Adulthood (2024).

Harvard

Wright, P., Moseley, R., Tomasulo, D., Srinivasan, H., Wilson, J., Woods, S. and Rashid, T., 2024. Integrating Positive Psychology and Autism: A Roundtable. Autism in Adulthood.

Vancouver

Wright P, Moseley R, Tomasulo D, Srinivasan H, Wilson J, Woods S, Rashid T. Integrating Positive Psychology and Autism: A Roundtable. Autism in Adulthood. 2024 Aug 14

Cognitive Theories and Sensorimotor Explanations for Autism

While no single theory or idea fully explains all aspects of autism, each attempts to provide insights into different cognitive, sensory or behavioral characteristics associated with autism or the history behind why things could be the way they are. Here are some of the theories, ideas and issues. they can also be found in posts in the following hashtags [#sensorimotor] [#AutismTheories]