Mentions
Got a mention in the comments in an article around Elon Musk.......
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/elon-musk-autism-aspergers-b1847069.html
Raghavan Thatha online
SpectrumAtCal Spring 2021 Towards Belonging
These have to be the coolest T-Shirts
Belonging Week
#WhyIAdvocate
April 9th - Cross Cultural Panel
How is autism represented in different cultures?
What are some highlights and barriers of autism advocacy in different countries?
What could we do to support?
....
We are amazingly honored to welcome panelists who are coming from different cultural backgrounds and doing autism advocacy works at different places of the world! Even more, many of them are actually on the autism spectrum themselves, or parents of autistics.
- Igor Pereira (on the spectrum): lawyer organizing autism movement in Brazil
- Irma Aguilar-Deflin (on the spectrum): advocate from Mexico City
- Dr. Shari D Rosen (parent): founder of the first special education center in Shanghai
Event Time: April 9th (Friday), 6-7:30 Pacific Time
Register now to hear about their experiences and international perspectives!!: tinyurl.com/cross-cultural-panel
Fireside Chats
FiresideChat#1
FiresideChat#2
FiresideChat#3 - Autism in the Media
Dont Cant Wont - Masking Camouflaging
Don't Can't Won't - Masking Camouflaging
Autistics engage in Masking
Autistics engage in Camouflaging
Attempts at passing muster, appear more "normal", make eye contact
........Effortful
........All verily exhausting
........ Very very exhausting
Contributors to Autistic Burnout.
Meltdowns and Autistic Burnout
Burnout, Burnout.
BUT, NonSpeaking Autistics
... Don't possibly Mask
... Can't possibly Camouflage
Why it is quite certain that Nonspeakers
....Won't experience Burnout.
ONLY Meltdowns, but NOT Burnout!
They don't, they can't, they won't
Déjà vu
...Don't
...Can't
...Won't
...Not Possible, No agency!!
Sorrowful words oft heard before
Ableist terminology. Disappointing!!
Reality!!
We struggle as all autistics do
Attempts at masking and camouflaging
Sometimes it works, we pass muster
Fly under the radar is often the goal.
Sprinkle on apraxia and comorbidities
the result
....variable & unreliable steering controls.
The body, a car with a loose steering wheel
unpredictable in the way it will go.
Effort required multiplied, magnified.
Autistic Burnout
Burnout Burnout Burnout
Burnout Burnout
Burnout
Related Posts
Masking & Camouflaging.
https://uniquelyhari.blogspot.com/2021/09/cm.html
Triple Bind and Masking in Autistic Females
https://uniquelyhari.blogspot.com/2021/04/triple-bind-masking.html
Masking as an evolutionary advantage
https://uniquelyhari.blogspot.com/2020/04/masking-as-evolutionary-advantage.html
CAT-Q measure to measure camouflaging in autistic females.
https://uniquelyhari.blogspot.com/2021/04/cat-q-measure-to-measure-camouflaging.html
Dont Cant Wont - Masking Camouflaging
https://uniquelyhari.blogspot.com/2021/05/dcw.html
Disability Studies Scholars
Why do Disability Studies scholars want to use such complex, almost convoluted language when the same ideas and issues could've been distilled into less complex language?
Surely less complex formal language can be equally as powerful in its informational, argumentation and persuasive capability and in getting the point across successfully; without becoming "less scholarly".
I'm taking not one but two Disability Studies classes at U C Berkeley this semester, and while I love the lectures and discussion during class delivered by the outstanding professors here, my take on some of the "scholarly" readings are quite another thing.
In a recent reading it took many many pages before to express a simple idea. It was like going through layers of camouflage to get to that idea; jargon-ny language being the camouflage.
There are actually some very good ideas and thoughts, that make us think, reflect, think of the interconnectedness of disability justice, climate justice, animal rights, marginalization, accessibility, stigma, discrimination etc.
But these all can be unearthed only after you strip off these veneers of other language which almost get in the way. You are left with a partial feeling of annoyance, impatience and exhaustion, when your mind should be fully engrossed over the thoughts presented in these readings.
The irony: Disability Studies talks the talk about accessibility and limited-spoons in the disability community. They need to walk the walk by showing and demonstrating how scholarly language itself (including their own) can/should be accessible.
irony is that many of these reading underline societal inaccessibility as a fundamental issue. Yet these very disability study readings are the very picture of inaccessibility.
This is not a critique on other disciplines, that is a whole other discussion, but specifically disability studies.
The other question is, Does it not take extra spoons to strip off all those additional veeners to get to the gist of what the author is saying, for a "limited-spoons" disability population.
For those unfamiliar with the idea of spoons or spoon theory, its the idea that all of us have only so much bandwidth/spoons in one day. Every task takes some level of time and effort. When u are disabled, your bandwidth shrinks even more as some/much of the time is taken up by disability related challenges. You have to weigh in on where your spoons are best spent so you can carry onto successfully navigating another day.
The point: Disability Studies scholars in particular need to lead by example to demonstrate what accessibility can look like in their own work.
And I'm taking not 1 but 2 disabilities studies class this sem.
As much as I love the lectures and discussion in class taught by some amazing faculty, some of the readings are quite another issue. In one recent reading it took over many many pages to explain one simple idea. All the while I was distracted, mentally jumping impatiently, almost a little annoyed, with a, What are you trying to say? & Just get to the point please."
Cal is Number 4 again
As for the top five public universities, after UC Berkeley and UCLA, the University of Michigan ranked 18th, the University of Washington 24th and UC San Diego at 27th.
Three other UC campuses made the top 50: UC Davis placed 34th, UC Santa Barbara 43rd and UC Irvine 45th.These latest rankings by the U.K.-based rankings firm evaluated 350 research universities in 49 states.
New York state had 74 universities in the rankings. California was the next best performing with 38.
QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) specializes in the analysis of higher education institutions."
Agency
Agency
Who got to decide? Who is first in Line?
Who has agency, sovereignty?
Is it human entities?
Is it all humans, or just some humans entitled to treaties?
Who got to decide? Who is first in line?
Who has agency?
Is it nonhuman entities?
Is it all nonhuman entities, or just when it suits our needs?
Who got to decide? Who is first in line?
Why the disconnect?
Earth sentient or not, is deeply intertwined.
Species and land, inextricably linked are we.
Temporal, spatial, transcend the literal sense.
Treaties don’t belong to just humankind.
Symbiotic agency abound all around.
Nature weeps - we term it climate change.
A delta change that multiplies every day.
Weep, bemoan and cry.
Live with us, not over us. Listen to us.
“Nothing about us without us,” a déjà vu plea.
Harmony, concur side by side.
Humans are but another carbon-based entity.
Phi Beta Kappa
Just now figured out why there was a fourth greek alphabet - UC Berkeley's is the first (alpha) chapter in California. Initial initiates were literally tested for their proficiency in Greek and Latin. LOL
PBK is as old as the US, founded in 1776 for literary pursuit and philosophical debate. Only 10% of US colleges have PBK chapters and only 10% of those get "elected" into PBK. Apparently you are "elected," into the society, not selected.
Coolest of all - Started as a "secret society" - with secret symbols, secret hand gestures & all - How about that!
Caveat - only males initially in this secret society (all these secret societies seem to be very male oriented)
Good news - UC Berkeley chapter started in 1898, by which time students of all sexes allowed. No longer secret, I guess!!
I got an invitation to join the UC Berkeley Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, a very prestigious academic honor society pbk.org & pbk.berkeley.edu
As the email invite said on Mar 5 state:
Disability As Possibility
Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, SC, Rhode Is, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Virginia, Puerto Rico.
A bit about me on their website. https://www.yeslms.com/ntactc-2021-cbvi-hari-srinivasan
Some Comments in the Zoom Chat
- I was thinking the same thing about "voice" when you started using text to speech. We need to fix this! There should be options for text to speech
- Great example of how the use of technology allows a person to demonstrate their intellectual disabilities. What would have happened if this opportunity had not been available?
- Oh wow, congratulations!
- Belonging!! This is key.
- https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/2021/02/06/a-boy-like-me/ Link to Hari’s Article ^^^
- Even though you have many challenges, you are able to express them so eloquently.
- If you haven't read Alice's larger work that Hari contributed to, I highly recommend it! #Retweet @Michelle - The Disability Visibility Project started by Alice Wong is Fantastic https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/
- You are brilliant Hari! Thank you for these insights
- It's so nice to meet you Hari!
- Interview with Prof Frank Worrell in Grad School of Education & President -Elect of American Psychological Assn, Daily Californian.https://www.dailycal.org/2021/02/12/frank-worrell/
- Great point, Hari! Let’s change the narrative!
- Amen---you have hit the nail on the head!
- I feel overwhelmed thinking about those who don't have the access, ability or opportunity to express themselves as well as you. Thank you for reminding us to have high expectations and to presume competence-or maybe brilliance!
- I know that feeling well Anne
- racism and ableism are intertwined
- intersectionality is often overlooked
- Anne, you took the words from my mouth! I was thinking the same thing. If others had access to means to express themselves the way Hari has, imagine the amazing things we would see from our youth with disabilities! Thank you for the inspiration Hari!
- The pandemic and recent events have made that divide even greater
- Hari: brilliance is too big an onus to put on a person, everyone can't be a savant, competence is good start, we all deserve a good quality of life
- Thank you sorry
- well said, Hari!
- Yes Hari! Independence is subjective
- Great conversations out here today!
- Yes!
- Yes, you are right, Hari. I'll stick with high expectations!
- I love developmentally all over the place. That is a great explanation!
- Love this new term, developmentally all-over-the-place!
- delay does imply that one is always behind - I agree it's another label that works against people
- Thank you Hari!!! This is Awesome!!
- This is so Knowledgeable!
- yes yes yes yes
- Right on target!
- Link to Hari’s Keynote, Disability as Possibility: https://youtu.be/HnuzQbLIN6M
- Wow….This is so powerful!
- Agreed
- That's a great observation of special education. Compliance is easier to control, but does not get to the heart of what is needed which can be a little harder to implement. However, it's better for the person in the end.
- Wow! You are truly amazing. Helping me think about how to understand my son. How to empower him!
- Especially at you move higher in education. Self-Determination is very important.
- Thought Provoking
- Amazing messages! Spot on!!!
- Thank you for sharing this about Communication, I AGREE with you 100%...
- YES! I've counseled extensively on learning to say no.
- This is really good!
- Any questions for Hari?
- This is amazing!
- Is there a way to get a transcript of Hari's presentation?
- from my friend Jennifer White: Educators need to move from Compliance to Alliance
- Perfect
- So powerful! Thank you Hari!
- THANK YOU
- This was GREAT and spot on
- "Challenge the sinkholes!" Love that.
- Very thought provoking! Thanks Hari
- Thank you so much!
- Thank you!!!
- uniquelyhari.blogspot.com, www.dailycal.org/author/haris, tinyurl.com/108hari
- Truly inspiring
- Agree very powerful, thank you!
- Hari, what advice would you give to this years graduates?
- That was great, thanks.
- Thank you, Hari!
- This was an exceptional presentation
- Amazing insight about compliance
- Brillant!
- Right, @Paula G.
- So much to think about, thank you Hari!
- : Incredible insights. I would like to be able to access a recording of this
- thank you! very thought provoking!
- thank you
- Thank you for sharing your experience Hari.
- Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: @HariSri108 @HariSri108 108Hari
- I SO enjoyed this, Thank You
- Thank you, Hari! Powerful message!
- This was great, I enjoyed very much
- hanks for a great presentation!
- excellent presentation that was very engaging, informative, and thought provoking
- I too prefer identity first - it's empowering for me! Thanks Hari
- Thank you - wonderful - absolutely wonderful to hear you share and very powerful and thought provoking message.
- My hand is aaised.
- Thank you for your message Hari. Very powerful and will make a difference for many people!
- Thank You Hari!!!!
- Great presentation\
- Thanks For Sharing Hari!!!
- Great job Hari!
- I am just completely in awe. Thank you thank you thank you
- What inspired you to want to persue special education?
- Excellent Presentation...Thank you Hari!
- Thank you - this was wonderful!
- Thank you for sharing!
- So profound and very inspiring Hari!
- Great presentation Hari! Thanks for sharing!
- Very inspiring Hari
- Inspirational!
- Thank you, Hari! Great presentation.
- Can you share how your parents supported you in your journey?
- Hari, please tell us about your high school years and when you began thinking about and working toward college.
- Excellent presentation - thank you Hari!
- thanks
- Can we give Hari a chance to respond before asking additional questions?
- Thank you Hari for your honest assessment of the gaps in the profession.
- Thank you! Your speech was great!
- Thank you
- Thank you
- Thank you Hari!
- Thank you Hari!
- Thank you, Hai! This was an amazing presentation! So inspiring.
- Thank you Hari!
- Thanks Hari!
- Thank you