Disability and Poverty
"Disability is both a cause and consequence of poverty.
We're more that 2x likely to live in poverty than non-disabled people"
This is pretty horrifying to read
Tennessee DCS (Department of Children's Services) failed children with disabilities... punishments included placing them in solitary confinement, pepper spraying children while naked, having other kids beat one child and shackling and dragging a child across the floor.
https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/tennessee-dcs-sued-for-abuse-violence-against-children-with-disabilities?utm_source=maropost&utm_medium=email&category=homepage-showcase&utm_campaign=WTVF-Newsletter-Headlines
https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/tennessee-dcs-sued-for-abuse-violence-against-children-with-disabilities?utm_source=maropost&utm_medium=email&category=homepage-showcase&utm_campaign=WTVF-Newsletter-Headlines
A new angle
It was a thought provoking read about an angle that I hadn’t thought of. It is also beautifully written.
https://time.com/6551520/loneliness-autism-essay/
The Access Ramp to Volunteering
From: https://www.dailycal.org/2018/04/05/access-ramp-volunteering
But being differently-abled puts a whole new light on this access. The fact of the matter is that people with disabilities are, more often than not, excluded from the arena of volunteering. Disabled folks are often regarded as the recipients of volunteering rather than the providers of service. In the past, I’ve had myriad high schoolers spend their time with me, helping me through art and dance classes or playing basketball and video games.
Many people traditionally think that volunteering requires social interaction skills and the ability to handle oneself physically well in face-to-face interactions.There are many nuances to volunteering — you may have to travel somewhere, meet people, explain, physically assist and have decent fine motor skills. Given my lack of verbal communication skills and my disorganized body, these requirements seemed like an impossible bar for me to meet.
For the longest time, I wondered if individuals like me would ever get the experience of volunteering. Fortunately for me, I discovered that there are nontraditional ways that one can volunteer — I just needed to not be boxed into the mindset of the traditional skill set. So I drew upon my writing skills as a source of volunteering. During my high school years, I embarked on projects such as image description for Bookshare. Bookshare is a resource that converts textbooks into accessible formats for folks with print disabilities. I was part of the team that created a detailed description of the diagrams in these textbooks so that they too could be included in the audio format. I’ve also done other volunteering tasks, such as translating data-heavy field reports about the plight of the children of migrant brick-kiln workers into web-friendly content for a literary project.
Volunteering in these nontraditional ways made me feel like I too am a contributing and productive member of society, no matter my disability status. I had expected to find more such opportunities when I joined UC Berkeley. After all, UC Berkeley is known for its activism and service organizations, so I assumed that there must be some role for me. A majority of the booths that line Sproul Plaza are aimed at service activity and actively seek student volunteers. I’ve even heard stories of students being overwhelmed by the number of flyers pushed on them as they walk down Sproul. Alas, I usually walk away from Sproul “flyer-less.” Apparently, the outward face of disability does not invite the receipt of flyers. A series of students walking in front of me are handed a flyer. But when I approach, the hand that is raised up to hand out flyers drops down to the side and the student very politely waits for me to walk past. I wonder whether there are subtle behaviors that precede the receipt of a flyer. Perhaps there is a certain level of eye contact, fleeting or otherwise, that takes place before a flyer is handed over. Making eye contact is not something that we autistics are known for.
Likewise, when I walk up to a booth to inquire about volunteer opportunities, I am usually met with bemused or skeptical looks. The presumption is that I would not be able to do it anyway. At the end of the day, it’s not so much the flyer we seek — rather it’s the opportunity to make our small mark on society. I’m still trying to figure out how to get involved in volunteering at UC Berkeley and what my role could be. I am not the ideal person for the “clean-up-the-park” kind of physical volunteering, but there must be existing tasks or potential tasks that do not require body coordination and verbal skills.
In the meantime, I’m trying to get involved in other ways. This semester, for example, I’m writing this column for The Daily Californian. An opinion column in a newspaper publication is not technically “volunteer” work. Nevertheless, I am excited at its reach in raising awareness about issues that differently-abled students like me face on a daily basis. If I have helped contribute toward improving the quality of life of even one other special-needs individual by changing attitudes of people around them, the effort on my part is totally worth it.
To the student handing out flyers on Sproul and manning the booths: Take a chance on the rest of us, even if we don’t fit the typical profile. Presume competence. There is actually a lot of untapped potential and new perspectives that can be gained when the differently-abled like me are involved and included in volunteering efforts too.
Celebrating 25 Years of the Olmstead Decision
Celebrating 25 Years of the Olmstead v. L.C Decision
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the landmark 1999 Olmstead v. L.C. case, a pivotal moment that ignited the de-segregation and de-institutionalization of people with disabilities. This case paved the way for community-based supports and services, transforming the lives of countless individuals.
Two years ago, I had the honor of participating in a White House panel discussion commemorating the Olmstead Act's anniversary. The significance of the Olmstead Act cannot be overstated. Just a few decades ago, individuals with significant disabilities, including "higher-support" autistics, were often placed in institutions, hidden away from society.
Back then, families were still advised to send their autistic children away before they became too attached. Many "higher-support" autistics, unable to advocate for themselves, were at the mercy of "well-meaning" professionals who claimed institutionalization was best.
As a child, I didn't fully grasp what institutions were, my only reference being brief scenes from the movie Rain Man. It wasn't until college, during my Disability Studies courses with Professor Victor Pineda, that I truly understood the horrors of institutionalization. On the first day of class, we watched the documentary Lives Worth Living, which highlighted the disability rights movement. One of the most shocking segments featured Willowbrook, an institution in New York where children with disabilities lived in appalling conditions. The doctors at Willowbrook were so alarmed that they invited reporter Geraldo Rivera to expose the situation, shocking the world.
I used to think my low-expectation special education classrooms were degrading enough, but the thought of living in such inhumane institutions is truly chilling. The 2020 documentary Crip Camp mentions a camper from Willowbrook who would overeat to the point of sickness because he never got enough food there.
This history underscores the profound significance of the Olmstead Act for people like me. While we have made significant strides in disability rights, there is still much work to be done. I am deeply grateful to the disability rights icons who have paved the way, making it possible for many of us to enjoy the freedoms we often take for granted.
Though challenges remain, we continue to move forward, inspired by the resilience and determination of those who fought for our rights. Here's to 25 years of progress and many more to come.
Monotropism and Special Interests
Monotropism and special interests are related but distinct concepts within the context of autism. Both terms describe how autistic individuals often engage deeply with specific areas of interest, but they highlight different aspects of this behavior.
Monotropism is a cognitive model suggesting that autistic individuals tend to focus their attention narrowly on a few interests at a time, rather than distributing their attention more broadly like neurotypical individuals. This intense concentration can lead to deep expertise and enjoyment in specific areas but can also result in difficulties when needing to shift attention to other tasks or interests. Monotropism explains why some autistics may excel in areas they are passionate about but struggle with activities that do not engage their focused interests.
Special Interests, on the other hand, refer to the specific subjects or activities that capture the intense focus and enthusiasm of autistics. These interests are often lifelong passions and can be a source of comfort, identity, and competence. While special interests can be a positive aspect of an autistic person's life, they may also be misunderstood or undervalued by others who do not recognize their significance.
Neurocognitive explanations for both concepts suggest that these intense focuses are not just behavioral quirks but are deeply rooted in the way autistic brains process information. Monotropism posits that autistics allocate their cognitive resources in a way that heavily favors their areas of interest, which can lead to challenges in adapting to less engaging tasks or environments.
Understanding both monotropism and special interests can help in creating supportive environments that recognize and build upon the strengths of autistic individuals while also providing strategies to manage and accommodate their cognitive styles
Monotropism is a cognitive model suggesting that autistic individuals tend to focus their attention narrowly on a few interests at a time, rather than distributing their attention more broadly like neurotypical individuals. This intense concentration can lead to deep expertise and enjoyment in specific areas but can also result in difficulties when needing to shift attention to other tasks or interests. Monotropism explains why some autistics may excel in areas they are passionate about but struggle with activities that do not engage their focused interests.
Special Interests, on the other hand, refer to the specific subjects or activities that capture the intense focus and enthusiasm of autistics. These interests are often lifelong passions and can be a source of comfort, identity, and competence. While special interests can be a positive aspect of an autistic person's life, they may also be misunderstood or undervalued by others who do not recognize their significance.
Neurocognitive explanations for both concepts suggest that these intense focuses are not just behavioral quirks but are deeply rooted in the way autistic brains process information. Monotropism posits that autistics allocate their cognitive resources in a way that heavily favors their areas of interest, which can lead to challenges in adapting to less engaging tasks or environments.
Understanding both monotropism and special interests can help in creating supportive environments that recognize and build upon the strengths of autistic individuals while also providing strategies to manage and accommodate their cognitive styles
AANHPI Panel
Recording at https://ambivco.com/#aanhpi-autism-selfadvocacy
@JennyMaiPhanPhD is moderating the #AANHPI panel of neurodivergent self-advocates.
@HariSri108
, we look forward to learn about your innovative projects. #AANHPIHeritageMonth #AsianAmerican #Neurodiversity #ASD #DisabilityTwitter
What a surprise! I was not expecting
@hariSri108
to be at this panel. #AANHPIHeritageMonth #neurodiversity #AANHPI #asianamerican
NSFGRPF in the News
Been 2 months since award. But still good to see article.
https://www.miragenews.com/34-vanderbilt-students-alumni-earn-2024-nsf-1257672/
A total of 34 Vanderbilt University alumni, students and incoming students have been named National Science Foundation graduate research fellows for 2024.The prestigious fellowship program assists exceptional graduate students pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees across various fields, including science, technology, engineering, mathematics, STEM education and social sciences supported by NSF. Since its inception in 1952, the NSF GRFP has been a cornerstone of support for graduate students, providing financial aid through a $37,000 annual stipend and a $16,000 allowance for educational expenses, along with opportunities for professional growth and international research endeavors.
Vanderbilt's 2024 NSF GRFP Scholars:
......
Hari Srinivasan, Class of 2027, life sciences - neurosciences
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The rigorous application process demands thoroughness and collaboration with students' advisors, as students craft persuasive personal statements and research proposals. For the 2024 cycle, there were 2,037 fellowship offers in total, which is 518 less than the 2023 cycle. Additionally, in the 2024 cycle there were 1716 honorable mentions, 915 more than in the 2023 cycle.
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