Spain and Portugal a reflection

I have travelled along way from Australia and my trip to Spain and Portugal ends tomorrow when
I head for the United Kingdom via Dusseldorf Germany. I have been very impressed and intrigued with both countries. Despite almost breaking my leg slipping on the hotel bathroom floor in Orporto, I have been pushing myself no stop to see and do as much as I can.

The highlights of Spain have been it's wonderful scenery and architecture. It has a great history and I only learned today and please forgive me if imam wrong that Madrid became the capital in 1561? The previous capital was Toledo and the Arabs were also expelled in this period or perhaps 1492? I have taken in so much information and I keep hearing people speaking like Speedy Gonsalis that I am finding it hard to overcome the culture shock of being Australian.

What has interested me about Spain has been the influence of different inhabitants within it. If you know any Roman history just imagine when the Romans were in Spain! The history of Spain goes something like this
1. Celts 1500BC
2. Iberians?
3. Phoenicians 1150 - 700BC
4. Greeks
5. Carthigians
6. Romans
7. Visigoths
8. Arabs
9. Present times

This information I received when talking with a tour guide provided by Cosmos Tours

People need to come to Spain!

Am I really crazy?

As I journey through Spain and Portugal, I wonder just how much I have achieved. I am in the final leg of my trip and being around people all of the time and pushing myself to be social does come with a price. Some people do understand while others do not. This in itself can make things more difficult but I try my best. A couple of night back I almost broke a bone while in the bathroom. Luckily I was able to break the fall to avoid serious damage. It is really dissapointing how some people never really seem to give a crap if something happens to you. I guess it is part of living in a selfish society?

The trip has been enjoyable so far but as always some people can be real pricks. I try not to let it get to me as much as I used. I am proud of my achievements and I am looking forward to visiting the United Kingdom very shortly and catching up with Chris Mitchell

Traveling overseas

I find traveling overseas a sense of an achievement and it opens your mind to different cultures and thinking. It is not always easy to travel with other people though as they may not always understand when I am not able to converse. I still find myself mostly being on my own with my only means of writing the way to communicate. Added to this is the issue of adjusting to different dietary requirements. The food in Spain seems rather spicy and trying to adjust to this is in itself a bit of a challenge.

Different cultures however can sometimes being more accommodating. Getting myself around can be in itself a very overwhelming task as finding routine is not always possible. I have tried to push myself beyond shutdown barriers and mental overload. I cannot understand why I have doubts in my own ability when I can achieve so much?

Lots to see with an early start

I have been seeing a lot around both Spain and Portugal lately. Portugal and it's capital Lisbon is especially exciting. It is difficult to Spain in terms of its history and culture. Last night I attended a musical which seemed similar to what you would see in Poland. The costumes seemed similar as well as the music. I am off to do some sight seeing today before moving onto Orporto tomorrow.

More updates soon and please be sure to follow me on Facebook

It's onto Portugal

Tomorrow I head to Portugal after finishing up in Seville. Unfortunately I was unable to see the cathedral at Seville due to the fear of being lost. However I did see some of the ancient ruins at Italica which were just as important. As I sit in the hotel lobby and type this post on my iPhone, I have the journey tomorrow to Portugal. I have spoken to some of the other people on the tour from the United States. Both of these young people are from Los Angeles.

Portugal should be an interesting contrast to Spain and I am looking forward to my visit. I saw some flamenco last night and was most impressed. I have also seen some very interesting parts of Spain also. Well it's an early start tomorrow so I will need to sign off for now. Adois

Asking too many questions

It is easy to get fed up with people when they do not think. The main problem with humanity is a clear absence of thinking and opening one´s mind. Whenever I am on tour, I like to ask questions if I need to clear up any aspect of knowledge that I am not aware of.

You see people around standing like Wooden Indians and worrying about self appearance and whether they have a lead over other people in the tour also. If you ask questions, people just either brush you off or wonder why you are talking to them. I cannot understand why people dare not to think when they are somewhere which involved a bit of thought and curiousity.

The world is indeed selfish and everyman after himself. Kids are not allowed to grow up and furthermore people are so weary and unaccepting of others who may be different to them. I have guts and am strong and if not many others want to walk with me that is their problem and not mine.

Long live Autism get used to it as more and more adults and people are getting diagnosed with it and the world will have to wake up and accept that Autistic people have the same rights and privileges also.

Traveling abroad

As I travel through Spain and when I am overseas, I tend to find myself free of conformity. However I sometimes feel drained when I am around people for long periods. Regular people seem to think that being on your own is somehow abnormal and they sometimes seem to feel it necessary that you may require company. This is not always the case. I don't need and often find it draining being around someone all the time. It feels like my brain is running at 8000 volts instead of 240.

Yesterday I was somewhat annoyed when confronting an elderly Dutch couple in a cafe. As I spoke a bit to them and mentioned where I was from, being Australia. The lady rejected my business card saying " I don't want it!". I felt like saying typical Dutch arrogance etc but I tried to think that some people are not always diplomatic.

I have been in touch with Autismo Spain and I hope to meet with them in Madrid if at all possible. I am currently unwinding in the hotel at Fuengirola before the tour hits the road again tomorrow. I have spoken to some friends and family on skype. Tomorrow I head to Gibraltar and Portugal. For now it is just updates on my iPhone

The history of Spain

Yesterday I visited the Alhambra. As I wandered through this historical place I observed the freezes and inscriptions on the walls. I also observed the distinct arch found in many Islamic buildings. The gardens were extremely colorful as the Arab people not all came from the desert regions and made use of the water from around the Alhambra as a means of creativity. Today I am going to see if I can do a bit of a cruise of the Mediteranean as I have a day to relax at Fuengirola-Malaga. I can hear the English blackbird again and the sound of the waves from the Mediteranean as they lap up on the beach. Last night I had an optional dinner nearby in the mountains and met some of the other people on my tour. They are from Romania, Phillipines and the other couple from Darwin, Australia.

I am about to have breakfast and just chill out for a bit. I will then head to Gilbeatar and then onto Portugal. Lisbon is supposed to be very hilly. Am seeing some exciting places.

Trip so far in Spain

After some traveling I finally made it to Madrid. I arrived into Dubai from Brisbane and Singapore. Dubai is a big place and it makes Las Vegas seem small. It was not easy finding my way around Dubai Airport and trying to find terminal 120 to Madrid was no easy task. After some searching I finally arrived into Dubai and was amazed with the service of Emirates airline. Below me I could see Turkey and other parts of Europe. I saw Toledo today and am now in Granada typing up my blog on my iPhone. The trip is interesting so far and I am contemplating Morocco. Just relaxing at present

Journey overseas

It feels good to have finally finished work and to have a long needed break. Writing a book and continually trying to raise awareness of the Autism Spectrum is in itself is very demanding. Not only do I raise awareness but other organisations needs special mention in the hard work which they also carry out.

On Monday morning I leave for Spain via Singapore and Dubai. I am looking forward to the Cosmos Tour which I am doing and should you be interested you can click on the title of this post for more information. As an Aspie traveling is always a great adventure as it well and truly gets me out of my comfort zone. I can see other cultures and also learn more about them and the many attractions and history which they offer. I have learned some Spanish but not well enough to speak it fluently. I am looking forward to seeing the Flamenco, the traditions, the historical sites and the people. All in all it will be exciting.

My focus will not be so much on Autism Spectrum awareness but more so a change from the status Quo. I will also be visiting Portugal. I will be taking notes of my entire trip.

After I have completed my trip in Spain and Portugal, I then fly onto England. I will be visiting friend and fellow Aspie Chris Mitchell. I will be observing the work Chris is doing in Autism Works, spending some time with Chris' family and then taking a trip to Edinburgh and Rothbury. My trip to England will coincide with my original trip to England in May 2001. In the last week of my trip I will be visiting Ireland. I will be driving around Ireland and meeting with another Aspie Stephen Hughes who lives in Ireland. Stephen will be showing me around his hometown of Belfast.

All in all I am looking for to my trip. I will try and keep everyone informed with any updates mainly via computers in hotels and of course my Iphone. I may also be using Skype to contact family and friends back home.

I wish you adios from Australia and please visit my Facebook page via my website http://www.garryburge.com for photo updates.

I will also be raising awareness of my book but not so much as a priority but more so when I visit the UK.

You're the one with a problem

I am sick and tired of hearing and reading posts or comments from people about a cure for Autism. Yesterday I spoke with a good friend and fellow Aspie about the lack of acceptance and understanding of Autism in the older generations. I have had to endure so much crap in my life that it just makes me laugh and think how shallow people really are!

I used to have to endure all the crap of people's ignorance and their methods of "tribalisation" in that if I did not conform to their standards that I had something seriously wrong with me. I remember constant annoyance at people trying to figure out why I was different and constantly question my sexuality. The thing which I found offensive was that people did not ask questions but kept on trying to poke and prod as to why I was not interested in the opposite sex and whether or not I was or was not a virgin up until 36 years of age! I mean who really cares? I mean is it some sort of Guinness Records World Book record to know or not to know? People just seem so shallow but when it comes to reality most people shirk it and prefer to resort to measures to fulfill their insecurities. Not all but some.

There seems to be some view that if you are different and you think outside the question that you are to be avoided at all costs. Furthermore you are seen as abnormal. The truth of the matter is that I do not want to be squeezed into society's mold. Conformity is so boring. Perhaps you may want to see the movie "Metropolis" where people are regulated and work within a boring conformity model?

Narrow mindedness and fiercely conservative people really need at times a brain transplant. They need to understand and accept that not everyone wants to get married or fit into society's boring mold. Thinking outside the square is awesome and if people don't like or accept me for instance well I think, sod them! There the ones with the problem, not me. I do not see myself as perfect but I darn well admire my strengths and endurance for the crap I have had to suffer over the years. Having to put up with it has meant I have had to rely on fortitude and courage. I am also tired of people's pathetic excuses or means of deception for really being to gutless or honest to inform me of the truth. Politeness can be more offensive I believe to an Aspie than being upfront with them even if this can sometimes make us feel a bit uncomfortable. I also think Autism came out of the recent Australian Federal Budget very poorly. I think it will take several generations until Australia and the rest of the world wake up to Autism. Governments will soon have to recognise that it exists. In the meantime I am not giving up and those of you who think that Aspies need to be forced into society's mold then you have another thing coming.

Does Autism Define Me?

I sometimes get asked the question. Does Autism define you? In response to such a question I am confident in saying that it does. I have tried in the past to overcome how it effects me and to try and change. This has left me feeling depressed and unhappy with myself and who I am as a person.

I find that people around me have more of an issue with me being Aspie than myself. Some people can be incredibly rude and think me stupid. No matter how hard and ignorant these people may be you know that telling them you have Autism is just a waste of time. I would be laughed at and ridiculed. Furthermore the haunting memories of being bullied again seem like a real possibility.

I cannot help the way I think and act. Trying to change a person with Autism to confirm is like trying to get an emu to fly. It is impossible unless some evolutionary measure can be implemented.

I believe all I can do is to keep writing. Keep getting my message out there until the majority of people understand. Abraham Lincoln said "God must have loved the common people, he made so many of them". This is true but there are other sectors of people within the community that can be encouraged to understand. Time is needed.

The biggest problem at present is the lack of services and support for adults on the Autism Spectrum and governments willing to do none to assist with the problem. Hopefully things will change. I know that I will continue as best I can to get the message out there and if people don't want to listen then that is their problem and not mine. I will keep writing until they do. I intend to also self publish other books and no longer hear from certain snobs calling me a write and not an author as in the case of the British National Library.

Relating to other people the challenges and difficulties

Living with Autism can often be both challenging and rewarding. However, it can be difficult at times for other people to exactly understand how it effects you. One of the areas I have struggled the most with is making friends. People often find that I am too intense or that I seem to intentionally want to be different from them. Both of the above mentioned can be serious areas of difficulty.

I find relationships too difficult. I constantly feel confused by the barriers which distinguish a relationship from a platonic friendship. It seems to me that there is a process involved that I am either unable to acquire or that I find perhaps too overwhelming. Trying to look or feel it a reality just seems impossible.

I cannot understand why people cannot relate to me. I don't see myself as a bad person and I do have my standards. I guess it is mainly due to the fact that I have an impairment in my social skills and means of communicating. Put simply what the non Autistic population take for granted I seem to struggle with. Of course this effects me in terms of forming friendships and entering a relationship. There just seems to be a myriad of non verbal messages and visual queues that I seem unable to read and process.

When exposed to the non Autistic World I often feel like I am entering a war zone at times. There are hidden mines that exist but I have to be careful not to walk over them. If I do I may upset someone or do something that may cause me strife. For instance, I find hierarchy maddening. Recently I worked on a public holiday. I submitted the necessary over time claim form but being anxious about when this form would be lodged and processed, I found myself frustrated as the form did not seem to be in the payroll department concerned after contacting them. I think why does this procedure and why can't it be lodged as with leave applications which can be done electronically? There is no choice but to just put up with an archaic bureaucratic system.

I am speaking as a man with Asperger Syndrome from my own experience here. I find the biggest stumbling block I have is finding an NT woman who will give me the time to be understood and accepted by her. This seems almost impossible and I find myself slowly retreating into the reality of being solitary. There seems to be less pressures in this sense as I don't have to deal with the emotional roller coaster.

I am tired also of people who are envious of me. If you read my blog posts and especially my books, you would begin to understand the struggles I endured in my own life. Rather than judge before you understand, why don't you read what I have to say? Why don't you also see the movie "Adam" as you may be able to relate to this? I hope things will soon change but for now it is just a matter of getting the message out there!

Connecting With God An Autistic Perspective

As an adult on the Autism Spectrum I often wonder if there is a God or perhaps God has a plan for me which is to educate the world more about Autism. I find myself often frustrated in wondering or not whether God is listening or providing me with the heavenly path to enlighten the world at large?
As a Christian, I find myself drawn to inspiring people whom I feel have more or less a positive charge of energy in them. These people have helped me to live my life and to understand better the world around me. Perhaps God brings people into a person’s life for a greater awareness and understanding of his enlightening energy.
There are several factors that draw me towards my own faith. One of these factors have been moments in my life which have had ‘divine intervention’ in them. These I cannot explain but they have left me baffled and wondering how it was possible for them to happen. In 2005 for instance, I remember being on the North Island of New Zealand. It was just outside of Rotorua that I by chance bumped into the manager of the employment agency where I was recently employed after many years of battling and search to find a job. I saw him from a distance but could not begin to fathom that in this freakish encounter that it would be him. He could not explain the brief encounter also. Was it the hand of God? Perhaps when or if I stand before God this question and some other divine interventions may be explained.
In 2008 while on Facebook I came into contact with a female on the Autism Spectrum living in the United States of America. She had been through a broken marriage and also a series of disastrous relationships. Both she and I contacted each other by Skype and by Facebook to eventually meet in September 2008. We were in each other’s company for 14 days and what is hard to explain is that both our needs were met. I was able to provide her with hope that meeting a decent guy was possible and she was able to provide me with love and support to help me overcome some of the difficulties of defining or more so proving my evolution into manhood. As the immigration process did not work and we thought that God would bring us together. Sadly this did not happen but in a positive sense, my meeting with this female concerned helped her to move on in her life and now enter a successful marriage. I was also able to connect her with friends and assist her with support. We have both since moved on and like many others have become one of the sad statistics of a hierarchical immigration process which works against those most vulnerable.
Do you ever meet people who provide a positive energy? Have you ever wondered if certain people have a heavenly aura around them? I have known people like this and perhaps it may be something that is part of God’s plan. I feel in my own life that God wants me to do the advocacy work I do. Sometimes when I write I feel it is not me that is actually writing and the words seem to flow out of me like water out of a fountain. I cannot explain this but I just learn to accept and deal with it as best I can. I feel that God wants me to better inform the world about Autism so that people around me can better understand. I remember a scene from the movie “The Poseidon Adventure” to when Reverend Scott who was played by Gene Hackman encouraged cynical people to go with him as he knew the way to survival. In his own words he said “Look the sea is going to keep pouring in and we are going to sink deeper, but at least it’s a chance. If you stay here you will certainly die”. Despite the words of Reverend Scott the cynical people cried out “You don’t know what you’re talking about”. As an explosion occurred in the ship suddenly a mass panic climbed the “Tree of Life” being a Christmas tree with their efforts failing.
For all of us we may not see the path ahead and we may choose to ignore it. It is only in time of crisis that such a path may become clearer and people start to question the world around them.
I do not compare myself to Jesus but I do believe that God does exist despite some people who don’t or may not choose to believe. Believing in God can offer the path to prosperity but a person has to find their own path. This can take time and perhaps further time.
I will now leave you with the scene from the movie “The Poseidon Adventure” starring Gene Hackman

My Autism Advocacy Update

I am really pleased with the way my book has been selling. It is incredible to think that within the last month over 40 books have been sold. This includes both the book launch which was well attended and through sales from my own website and Asperger Services Australia.

Amongst the purchasers have been lawyers, doctors, Autism Associations, family, friends and work colleagues. It is truly incredible and I have received very positive feedback concerning my book.

What pleases me most is that the two doctors whom I have sold the book to are both young and starting out in their medical careers. One doctor who I am good friends with has asked me to visit hospitals with him to talk about Autism from an adult perspective. This will be happening when he is next in Brisbane. The other doctor resides in Melbourne and I hope to be making contact with him in the not too distant future. What is also important is that an Aspie is studying medicine to become a doctor very shortly and this is also great and exciting news.

As I am soon to embark on my trip overseas which starts on Monday 16th May, I will try and have some books on me. However I am more than likely to have my business card. Some books may need to be mailed to England so that when I arrive there I can help to distribute these where necessary and also help friend and fellow Chris Mitchell wherever possible within Autism Works.

I have more books that I would like to write but for now I am looking forward to my upcoming trip. I am contacting a friend who is studying Theology to find out if he is interested in a presentation at his church "Connecting with God from an Autistic Perspective". I hope to discuss the format of this with him very shortly.

My speech at Book Look on Saturday 7th May 2011

Book Launch Speech
It is with pleasure that I welcome you all here today to my book launch of “I Want To Work An Asperger Story”. Special thanks go to Asperger Services Australia for organising and hosting this event and especially Stefanie Evans as secretary of Asperger Services Australia for her commitment and hard work. Organising this book launch and helping to circulate my book into the wider community is no easy task and Stefanie I really thank you for this. I also need to acknowledge Dr Tony Attwood for writing the Foreword to this book. Dr Attwood diagnosed me with Asperger Syndrome in 1998 and I am indeed fortunate to still keep in touch with him and know that he is helping persons with Autism like myself to be better understood within the community.
Writing a book is something that most of us may never think about, some of us may only dream of and others to put in the back of our minds, or to those of us who are prepared to do all the hard work and hope that something can eventually be published. I am indeed fortunate to have got this far and to stand before you this morning. The work which went into this book took time and dedication and the work of my father, Tony who greatly assisted me in getting the first manuscript ready to send onto the editor at Schuurs Publishers. Despite the work and effort and the checking of manuscript, and after the book was edited professionally by Julie through Schuurs Publishers and a final proofread. We only had to wait for Dr Tony Attwood’s Foreword to complete the publication for the book to be finally self published. When you visit a library or a bookshop, have you ever wondered why books are important? I see them as encapsulating memories of both the past and present. Without individual stories or the hand of authors and writers, our world would be a boring place. I have often wondered while working in a library why a book is so important. I see a book as thoughts captured in pages and stored in what I call the crypts of time. You may not understand what I mean but what I am trying to say is that despite the years, the very words composed by the author are still intact. I have always liked The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam as it applies to all of us as our lives move forward and we are unable to change the past, so we need to treasure it.
 
The moving finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy piety nor wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a line,
Nor all thy tears wash out a word of it.

Writing a book to me is not about fame or prestige but better summed up in the words of British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli who said ‘the best way to become acquainted with a subject is to write about it”. For me this subject is my own experiences of having Asperger Syndrome. For a long time I kept back tears of frustration and humiliation and it was only until recently in the past 8 months that I decided to let it all pour out of me. As I sat in front of the computer, I found my fingers tapping away on the keyboard, my painful memories awakened to form the words which you can read about in my book before you today. This I did in only a week’s time writing 40 000 words. I felt I needed to tell the story of how I was told I was an academic failure, how I would not get far in life, and how a hierarchical school system determined that according to their rules and regulations I would not go far in life. Not only did this make my years in school especially high school seem like war service, but I had the added burden of enduring bullying and confront teachers who questioned my so called lack of intelligence. Therefore the future remains one in which I like the words of Martin Luther King who said “I have a Dream”.
Although my book focuses on some of my unhappy periods during school, and in finding employment, it does highlight what I believe to be the difficulties confronting adults on the Autism Spectrum. Not only are we exposed to high levels of unemployment, the very selection criteria and interview process seriously let us down. This is because we are judged at face value. Employment is said to be 70% social and 30% practical but for adults on the Autism Spectrum this is in reverse. We find the social process all too difficult which makes our lives difficult as we often find it hard to have a lighter side and more know the social procedures necessary to hold down and keep a job. This is why I penned the words to my book and which I hope you and others around you may read. I am not satisfied with being held back and overlooked in the interview process, other employment opportunities and for promotion. I am also deeply concerned about the future of adults with Autism with the very issue of unemployment reaching figures of 90% as well as low self esteem.
Rather than spoil too much of what my book contains within it. I would like to ask you to open your minds. Please read this book as I believe it does provide hope for future generations of Autistic people. Please also know that I am pioneering to try and bring about necessary change to help and improve the lives of persons on the Autism Spectrum. This I do through my own self funding and through my blog and website. I will be shortly visiting the United Kingdom to be visiting Autism Works and looking into the concept of software testing as a positive start in employing adults in Australia.
My placement into employment has been long and difficult. I have gone through employment agency after employment agency to finally obtain employment at the University of Queensland Social Sciences Library. I feel that even though I am capable of more, that at least I have a job and this provides hope in that other Autistic people can do this also.
Within the audience I would like to acknowledge supportive people who have helped me in employment. They include Fiona Glover, Diane Mason, Joanne Rutherford and Sandra Rothwell. Without their support, keeping a job would be more difficult. It further goes to demonstrate that people with Autism can work. I hope that my book will also help to prevent the current welfare reforms happening in Australia at present. These reforms placing people on the Autism Spectrum into further hardship as they are already unemployed but do not need further hassles with unnecessary bureaucracy and hierarchy.
My book has received positive responses. People have purchased copies at work, at the local doctor’s surgery and from within the Autism Community. I have also received book orders from the National Autistic Society in the United Kingdom, one of the largest Autism bodies in the world. Asperger Services Australia has also informed me that there is strong interest from America regarding my book. What is important is that all of you here today are just as important as you can also help to spread the message and hopefully break down the barriers of ignorance that exist within some sectors of the community. I can inform you honesty that I am not allergic to Asparagus or do I have a disease which are some of the comments I have received. I am just a person who like you wants to be afforded the same opportunities and understanding, but at present more awareness is required.
So with all factors being mentioned above thank you very much for coming a long today and I hope you enjoy reading my book “I Want To Work An Asperger Story”.

Garry Burge

I Want To Work An Asperger Story Book Launch

This morning was a very important day for me as it was my book launch. I do not want to brag about myself at this event but more so provide those of you both in Australia and abroad about how the day went.

The morning started with both myself and Stefanie Evans Secretary of Asperger Services Australia attending with a small army of volunteers. I assisted with placing 60 chairs into the Chermside Library Conference Room here in Brisbane and the numbers started to roll in. Some very important people within my life attended this event. These people included some of the people I worked with and some other very good friends. I was also fortunate to have some other friends attend who were in their late 80's. So in all the event went well.

My speech was 4 pages long and people were very impressed with it. I have been asked for copies of my speech and this can be done should people either contact myself or Asperger Services Australia.

Lots of books were sold and all of them autographed. Now that I have written my first book there are several others to come. These will be in the area of employing adults on the Autism Spectrum. I am also going to work on my current manuscript for "Crikey I'm Eccentric". More details soon.

I am currently looking into options of undertaking post graduate study in the area of employing adults on the Autism Spectrum and I intend to talk with Dr Tony Attwood about this in July when I meet with him.

On 16th May I will be heading overseas for 5 weeks. I will be visiting Spain, Portugal and then onto England and Ireland.

But in conclusion my book launch went well and it will be a matter of breaking down further barriers of ignorance in order to get the government to listen to the plight of Autism. Thanks again to anyone following me and taking the time to read my blog posts.

Is it just a different means of success?

I find having expectations causes me to feel depressed. What if they do not work out? What if my plans or goals never come to fruition? I believe that adults and persons on the Autism Spectrum have a different way of living compared to other people. We find socially network difficult or more so near impossible. This seriously puts us into a difficult situation when trying to create friends and broaden opportunities into employment or to obtain promotion. We are also held back by the constraints of society. Hierarchy can be maddening and bureaucracy frustrating to the point to cause us severe meltdown.

I have come to the conclusion that the cards we are given in life we just need to deal with and play to the best of our ability. Some of us may never be successful in terms of the neuro typical sense and may struggle to hold down relationships. As I stated in an earlier post I think NT's respond more to chaos and uncertainty whereas Aspies are the opposite. Well in my case I am.

Society needs to begin to understand Autism better and to make accommodations, modifications and provide awareness where necessary. The traditional means of employment just don't seem to work for some Aspies when there is an interview process that tends to judge at face value.

On another note my books are selling fast. Both myself and Asperger Services Australia have been selling books so far to Belgium, United Kingdom and the United States. Ireland has also ordered some books. What is also far more important is that the National Autistic Society based in the UK has purchased my book also. I am not interested so much in making money from book sales but more so raising awareness. My book has an ISBN and Barcode which means it can also be stocked in bookshops and libraries. I would encourage anyone to place a copy into your local library whether it be for school, community or university.

I would like to thank everyone for their support and I look forward to my upcoming book launch tomorrow morning.

An early start for DayBreak Rotary

On Tuesday morning 3rd May 2011, I spoke with Andrew Taylor from Toogood Lawyers concerning Autism and support for children and adults. It was interesting that at the meeting everyone concerned was affected by Autism. Either they knew a family member or had some understanding of it.

I spoke a long with Andrew with my "I have a dream" which was borrowed from Dr Martin Luther King who spoke in August 1963. I spoke of my own experiences within the school system and how something needs to be done. The meeting was from 6.45am to approximately 8.15am but I could not stay for the whole duration as I had work commitments.

I would encourage anyone to contact the Rotary Club which I have included in this post should you have any more questions or queries.

My book now in Queensland State Library

I am pleased to announce that my book can now be found and is still being processed in the State Library of Queensland. As it is the requirement of a legal deposit that a copy of my book has to be submitted to the National Library of Australia, the Queensland State Library and the Parliamentary Library, you can now search my book in the Queensland State Library. After double clicking on the title of this post "My book is now in Queensland State Library" you just need to enter my name "Garry Burge" into the search box. You will then be directed to a copy of my book. Hopefully my book will not only appear in this library collection but library collections around the world and hopefully Autism Libraries.

There have been some very encouraging and positive book reviews from my book. These include

"I enjoyed it so much I could not put the book down"

"It is a personal account of your experiences, which will be very interesting to many adults"

As the book goes more into circulation it is my hope that more and more reviews will occur and that other people may find my book useful.

I thank everyone for their continual support and more so to Stefanie from Asperger Services Australia who works tirelessly in Asperger Services Australia. I hope to see as many of you as possible at my upcoming book launch this Saturday!

Date: Saturday 7th May 2011
Time: 10.30am
Where: Chermside City Council (Brisbane) Library
RSVP: Asperger Services Australia phone (07) 3865 2911 / office@asperger.asn.au by Friday 6th May 12pm.

I hope everyone has a good week in the meantime.