Frist Center for Autism and Innovation Special Lecture: Exploring Autism Traits and Addressing their Challenges and Strengths: Excerpts from research in India and the USA
Tuesday, December 10, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
6 Magnolia Circle and online
Co-sponsored by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center.
Presented by Santoshi Halder, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Education, University of Calcutta, India; Fulbright Scholar in Residence (S-I-R) at Bluefield State University, West Virginia
The prevalence of Autism across the globe is extremely high and unprecedentedly increasing all over the world over the years. Apart from the actual increase the reasons partially might be due to improved awareness, changes in diagnostic criteria, and better data collection methods. A substantial number of individuals grappling with the challenges associated with the condition underscores the urgency to provide adequate support and resources. Hence, there is a pertinent need for a deeper understanding of autistic traits. Parents, teachers, and professionals working with children, adolescents, or adults with autism face struggles due to the wide range of the inter and or intra-extreme spectrum of difference that each displays. Apart from the unique challenges that autistic individuals face on a day-to-day basis the strengths associated as established through research cannot be refuted altogether. However, these calls for ameliorating personalized approaches and strategies. The presenter would share excerpts from her research findings conducted in India and the USA from diverse two countries adding valuable information to the global body of literature and knowledge for understanding Autistic traits, strengths, and challenges. The findings have important implications for further research and future directions for navigating or ameliorating a supportive environment for extracting the inherent potentialities of autistic individuals and enhancing their participation, inclusion, and overall quality of life.
About the Speaker:
Prof. Santoshi Halder, Ph.D.
Fulbright Scholar in Residence (S-I-R), USA
Email: santoshi_halder@yahoo.com/ shedu@caluniv.ac.in
Santoshi Halder, Ph.D., is currently a Fulbright Scholar in Residence (S-I-R) at Bluefield State University, West Virginia, USA. She is a Professor at the Department of Education, University of Calcutta, India since 2002. She is a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst (BACB, USA) and has a Special Educator license (Rehabilitation Council of India, RCI). She is awarded the prestigious ‘Extraordinary Professorship’ by the University of Pretoria, South Africa (2023) She has been the recipient of various competitive prestigious International awards; Short-visit, Ludwigsburg University of Education, Germany (2024), Hungarian ICM Erasmus, (2022-2025), Hungarian State bilateral Awardee (2022-23), Shastri-Indo-Canadian Fellow (2020-22), Fulbright Academic and Professional Excellence fellow, USA (2020), Rockefeller Fellow, Italy (2019), Japan Society for Promotion of Science/ JSPS Fellow, (2019), Endeavour Australia-India Education Research Fellow and Honorary Fellow at Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC), La Trobe University, Australia (2015-2016), Endeavour Awards Ambassador (2018) and Fulbright Nehru Senior Research Fellow, USA (2011–2012). She was the recipient of the Governor’s Medal (West Bengal, India) in 2001 for her contribution to the community as a National Cadet Corps (NCC). She has edited & or authored six international books on Inclusion and Technology (Springer, Palgrave Macmillan, and Routledge). She is Associate Editor for many journals such as Journal of Disability and Impairment, International Fulbright Chronicle, Indonesian Journal of Disability Studies, and Asian Journal of Inclusive Education etc. Her research interests include the inclusion of marginalized communities and people. Her goal is to identify the secluded communities and find strategic pathways facilitating their inherent strengths.