ASA Press Release

https://autismsociety.org/press-release-autism-society-of-america-is-calling-on-congress-to-address-national-issues-facing-the-autism-community/

 I get quoted in this press release.

The Autism Society of America is taking direct action at a national level on multiple priority issues that impact Autistic individuals. In particular, the organization is highlighting the importance of passing legislation that provides additional funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) and addressing employment disparities. This includes the Better Care Better Jobs Act and the HCBS Access Act.

“The current system of supports and services are set up such that there can be a sudden stop in services for the most absurd of reasons. Such policies need to change,” states Hari Srinivasan, an Autistic student at Vanderbilt, and member of the Autism Society’s Council of Autistic Advisors. “I find myself in this strange situation where the PhD stipend makes me ineligible for SSI, which in turn is linked to all state-funded disability supports and disability health insurance that I have relied on all my life. My significant Autism challenges and required supports, did not magically go away in graduate school. It is like a financial penalty on the disabled person to want to aspire for higher education and the pursuit of the American Dream.”

I want to relate this back to what the late Judy Heumann said in her 2019 interview with me for the Daily Cal [post on unedited longer interview], [Daily Cal article]

"There is currently a huge legislative disincentive for people with more significant disabilities who depend on services — such as Medi-Cal health insurance, Social Security and personal attendant services — from being productively employed. She does not want to hear stories similar to that of her friend who had to turn down a job she was well qualified for because of the fear of losing these crucial services. She would also like to see legislative policy changes so that employers see disability as just another diversity category." - Daily Cal 11/26/19

Empathy is the fuel that powers kindness

Towards a more Humane Society. Contemplation, one line a day. This month Empathy

 

Benzodiazepines and Barbiturates

Benzodiazepines

In class today, we studied pharmacology of GABA-A receptors, specifically Benzodiazepine's. Of personal interest as I've been on lorazepam (fast acting for agitation, mood swings) and clonazepam (longer lasting). Unfortunately the body develops a tolerance and these don't work anymore.

Nashville next stop in Senseless School Shootings

This time a young white 28 year old female ex-student, walked into an elementary school with assault weapons and just shot 6 people, 3 staff and 3 kids aged 8-9. What a horrible tragedy.   

Why is the US the ONLY country in the world where young kids are getting shot in their own schools every few months? That too with assault weapons. 

This does not make sense. I wonder at the need to even own assault weapons when you live in a city. A gun makes remote sense maybe if you were living in the midst of the woods with a grizzly bear or packs or wolves on the loose. 

Just last week our professor had mentioned how suicide rates dramatically increased amongst women who's partner/boyfriend owned a gun. Why is there such an obsessive need to hand out guns to just about anyone so easily in this country. 

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, located just 4 miles from the school was where all the children were sent - already dead on arrival. How does a hospital emotionally prep for "emergencies" like this?

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/03/31/1167375561/nashville-school-shooting-vanderbilt-hospital