No news is good news

Every night my parents insist on watching the news on television. When I see it, it makes me frustrated and angry.  I hear tragedies and lies. I try to walk away and do something else.  At least I can rely on YouTube and this blog to share my thoughts with others.  I hark back to my university days when I lived in Armidale and how I travelled the New England Highway between Brisbane and Armidale.  Back then it reminded me or rather I used to call it the big L.  I would first of drive west of Brisbane to Warwick and then down to Armidale.  This in itself being almost an L shape.  I travelled in an old van.  This remarkably got me back and forth from Brisbane to Armidale.  As noisy as it was, the scenery back then always interested me.  I remember visualising the disused railway between Armidale and Wallangarra of what it may have been like in the 1800's.  How people would have caught the train and needed to change at the border at Wallangarra. 

I wonder now where Australia has gone.  Things don't seem right and people dishonest.  2 men tonight have been spineless on the news and the list goes on.  I feel people are also hurting and there are so many people out of work.  It is all beyond me so I try to keep myself happy where and when I can.  It doesn't seem very cold in Brisbane.  It is unusual given tomorrow is the first day of winter.  It seems to rain a lot and is mild.  Not sure what is happening or whether this is some kind of weather phenomena? 

I hope things change in the coming months.  Everywhere seems so depressing and there is a lot of anarchy about. People just seem to do what they want and not be responsible for their actions.   When will it stop?  I hope soon.  Just seems also hard to connect with anyone.  Hard to make friends, do things and go places. 

Trying to get on with the job at hand.

Well since getting back from New South Wales, I have been keeping busy.  Apart from advocacy work, I am trying my best to ensure I play my part in doing a great job and showing an example that as an adult on the Autism Spectrum I can work.  Now that I am getting on the job support with an employment consultant which incidentally I wrote about in the book I wrote "I Want To Work An Asperger Story", I hope that such support will be available to other adults on the Autism Spectrum.  With the employment agency that presently assists me I was today informed that the assessor would rather contact the employer by phone than visit me on the job.  I suggested to the employment consultant that the assessor should attend the workplace to see how I work and to see for themselves the support which I currently receive.  I was fortunate within all forms of employment to disclose my diagnose and receive support as much as possible. Like what I mention in my book that I chose to work and wanted to get off a welfare payment, I hope that my example will assist other adults to also obtain a chance of a real job. I know that many are keen to work but have lost hope in that finding work may be possible.  This I hope to change through my own efforts. 

Support for Aspies is required in many forms.  Also studying at university where the demand to attend lectures and tutorials as well as group work activities may be required. I know that from my own experiences that university life can be tough.  I have a lot of time for students who work hard and show a positive and committed attitude to their work.  I also know that the coming weeks are going to be tough for a lot of students as they face an uncertain job market.  I wish these students all the best with their upcoming exams. 

Over the coming weeks I will be busy speaking at Autism Focus where at their conference "Autism and Asperger Syndrome and Success In the Workplace" I will be talking about and sharing my own experiences.  I hope to discuss my attendance at the "iPad ebook Production "iBooks Author" and what information I have obtained from this. I also hope to discuss the software testing opportunities available worldwide and the support I am obtaining within employment at present. Furthermore I will be discussing the group for adults here in Brisbane which is run by adults for adults on the Autism Spectrum. It would be nice one day to see this group become inclusive of persons not on the Autism Spectrum as well but for the time being, efforts will be met to allow for greater support and awareness. It is hoped that we can talk about the NDIS at the upcoming meeting with federal MP Jane Prentice and how it may be possible that people with disabilities can negotiate working conditions through work choices.  Not sure how this will go.

In the meantime I remain committed to deliver support and assistance as best I can to people wherever possible.  It is often an overwhelming experience but I try my best.  Tomorrow the adult group meets and next week I have the arrangements on previously mentioned. I hope to also talk with Dr Tony Attwood on Wednesday 26th June also, updating him on developments.   Until then I just want adults on the Autism Spectrum to realise that there is hope and to please stay tuned with the work I am doing.  I think there are a lot of possibilities for opportunities.  

The moving finger having writ moves on

Take a moment to look at the following

The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam, 1859:

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.

In  your own life how would this apply to you?  What would you think if someone recited it to you?  It is one great verse as it describes how we need to make the most of our lives and ensure that every moment forward should be and how we cannot change the past.  For each and everyone of us, we only have one life on this planet and we need to make the most of it.  There are some people we cannot change but there are some that make our lives interesting and rewarding.

When I think back to the early years of my own life, some experiences were happy memories and others not.  I didn't enjoy school, especially high school and came out with very low grades.  Despite not fitting into the system, I decided some time afterward to overcome and improve upon my own foundations.  I taught myself how to write properly by acquiring school books from pre 1966 (Jacaranda Press) to understand sentence construction, grammar, punctuation and paragraphs.  I also tried to teach myself basic maths but found myself more interested in literature.  When I repeated my Senior Certificate in 1993, I needed to learn "The Great Gatsby" as part of assessment for English.  I also learned basic Economics and showed some interest in the Principles of Supply and Demand.  Also I became interested in history both Ancient and Modern which later developed into a latter interest in wanting to study Political Science at University.  I remember looking at old books and seeing below the Author's name the letters M.A, B.A PhD etc.  Back then they had meeting, now they just seem to be letters easily acquired and thrown away.  It is saddening how in Australia that universities have lost a great deal of their prestige.  Once it was an opportunity obtained from hard work and dedication whereas now they are just a dumping ground for the many unemployed. I don't mean all students are lazy but I do believe that the good old requirements of what my grandparents or parents experienced needs to return. There needs to be opportunity and self discipline prior to completing school to provide a pathway to either a job, career or trade. I think that many young people who are forced to attend university develop a dislike and contempt for being at university which really is not what it is about.  Universities should be for thinkers, achievers and eccentrics to further their careers and knowledge.  But what has become of them now?  Well enough of my ranting for now.

I worked hard myself to get to university and tried my best to meet all the requirements of tertiary study.  I realised the realities of failing and the hardships of not passing.  At least I knew where I stood.  Now with the removal of the pass mark it just seems that universities have become dumb downed.

I was brought up to have standards, integrity, honesty and respect.  I was constantly reminded that there was no such thing as a free lunch and that you needed to work hard to get anywhere. Well despite my own struggles, I have managed to get to where I am today.  I see a lot of younger people, lost and confused.  Many are unable to find employment and sadly some just lose hope.  I think to myself that this is not good. I would much rather see proud people than lost people.  I am reminded of the man I saw in the museum in Glen Innes whom I mentioned earlier. A proud Australian who took the time and effort to better himself and to obtain an education.  This was in the 1980's. Now we are in the C21th.  I may be old school but I try not to give up and allow myself to sink to a low level.  I have recently been called Sir instead of mate which to me seems more professional. I would like to be in a community where young people and older ones too would bother to say please, and respond with thank  you when required. Also to have respect and confidence in themselves and those around them. Sure it may be too much to ask but it is far better than selfishness and greed.  This not giving a stuff about anyone else and push and shove mentality really doesn't belong in our society.  I think at times or often that a National Service would greatly help young people to learn manners and respect as well as confidence.  It would also allow for more friendship and community. It is not all about learning how to use weapons but more so teaching self discipline and awareness.  It certainly would go a long way.  I think younger people, especially school students need to learn social skills and manners.  It doesn't take much effort! 

Now to get back to the original part of this post.  I have made mistakes in my own life which I cannot reverse but every step forward should be a one where your own or my own foundation should be improved upon.  My own efforts to help make a better world and to help others where necessary.  That is how the moving finger should write is it not?  Try not to please judge me on this post but think about how in your own life you can help to make the world a better place.

The Asperger Syndrome diagnosis

In July of 1998 after much relief I found myself diagnosed as having residual Asperger Syndrome by Dr Tony Attwood.  I have often been asked what it was like to have been diagnosed.  At the time I was 25 years old, I was a student at university with my face hidden behind a bushy beard. I struggled with trying to fit in.  I also found life in Armidale almost impossible as I couldn't make any friends or be properly understood by others.  I resorted to joining the Masonic lodge as I felt this was a means of finding support and encouragement but instead, I found that I was even misunderstood in it.  I was the youngest man in the area to be initiated in the latter part of the C20th.  On my initiation which I learnt off by heart, and with the assistance of a short and elderly Austrian/Italian who experienced life in the war, I was able to be duly raised. I no longer am in the Freemasons having resigned some years ago.  I never really knew who I was at the time.

Up until I was 25 life seemed confusing to me. I never really knew who I was and more importantly how to get on with others around me.  I struggled with depression lot and had thoughts at times about wanting to take my own life.  However an inner voice kept me strong and I was determined to finish university no matter what it took. However having a difficulty with reading and undertaking group assessment tasks, I found myself visualising what was required with imaginary participants in order to get through. 

Now to the most important part. What was being diagnosed like?  Well to begin with it was liberating for in the years prior nobody could put their finger including myself on what it was that made me who I am.  I don't want to say what was wrong with me but more so why I behaved and functioned as the person I was and now am.  I discussed with Tony my who life's experiences and the current situations I confronted.  I described my bouts of depression, my struggles with friendships and my difficulties with socialising and adhering to the requirements of university.  I also discussed my earlier experiences of being bullied at school.  I also mentioned my desire for friendships also.   It is hard to actually go back and describe in detail what diagnosis was like but all I can say is that it helped me and those around me to understand my own internal wiring.   

I wrote some poems and short stories but never struck up the motivation to write a book which I did in 2011.  I just had to tell the world what life was like as an Aspie and more importantly the struggles I faced.  I self published the book as publishers like Jessica Kingsley and other publishers were not interested.  So I thought I would just self publish myself.  A lot of effort is required to write a book which I was able to do in a week and later have a book launch. 

Diagnosis was like stepping in a time machine back to the periods in your life when unanswered questions remained and people's reactions foreign but it appears that the only way forward is to try and use so many coats of paint to try and polish your own image so that you can better adapt to the world.  Diagnosis is a means of relief and not a crutch.    

Near enough isn't good enough

In Australia I must admit that I grow tired of the near enough is good enough she'll be right mate attitude.  Instead of seeing jobs done properly, you often see instead work which is not carried out properly and quite often repaired slackly.  Added to this it is more than likely evident that bad supervision and direction are also provided.  You hear on the news of workplace injuries, deaths or injuries due to accidents or so called work being carried out which is sloppy to the point of it causing accidents or future damage. 

I think that having a job is very important and what is more important is that it should be your own ingrained responsibility to ensure you turn up on time and try do the best you can even when times are tough.  When I was in Ballina recently I saw a sign on the staff door of a fast food outlet informing staff that the fast food place closed at 8.30pm and not 7.45pm.  Although working environments can be challenge it is up to unions to play a valuable role in ensuring that workplaces are safe, fairness is enforced and more importantly bullying and exploitation does not occur.  A union should be stand up for a worker's rights to ensure fairness and to protect workers against toxic situations.  These are some of my opinions anyway.  I have seen and see in all walks of life good people who try their best to make a workplace a safe and happy one but also sadly there are some in all walks of life who just don't give a stuff, call anyone mate and have this I couldn't be bothered attitude.  There are many who have a great deal of energy, drive and enthusiasm who simply sit on the side line denied opportunity. What also is the problem with work choices for isn't it a means of allowing an employee a right to demand what they believe suits their skills and abilities within a job? 

In my own working life I have worked under some very good people who try and instil a code of professionalism and they have helped to guide me through what level or standards should be expected of me.  I believe that adults on the Autism Spectrum need good role models in work to ensure that they are given the support, encouragement and even protection where necessary to allow them the opportunity to demonstrate their true skills and abilities. Sadly I have heard stories of adults being turned away or even sacked for not being fully understood and accepted.  There are individual reasons perhaps as to why this happens.  Disclosure of diagnosis is a personal thing and in my own employment history, it has not been an issue for me in terms of being given a chance.  Prior to 1996, I found it impossible to obtain a job and when I look at the current economic climate I can imagine that for many others that not being able to find meaningful employment still remains a sad reality. 

This post is not written to be anti union but more so to cast light on how certain measures should be more inclusive of those of us with disabilities.  I think often there is a fear of employing the disabled as in the case of Autistic people they can demonstrate valuable skills and abilities but certain obstacles remain in place making employment of such people difficult or allowing promotional or expertise opportunities. I don't understand work choices but does it not give an employee or potential employee a means of choosing what skills and abilities they would like to obtain within employment? For the adults who choose to work and want to work, why can't the workplace allow a means of choosing what skills one would like to work?  In my own situation I was even prepared to work for a lower wage just to obtain employment but was constantly aware that this was not possible.  I must admit that I am not fully aware of workplace bargaining, enterprise agreements etc. In fact I have attended few union meetings finding them a waste of time as instead of finding outcomes it has been more so just a means of finding a means of not having to work for most.  I would rather a meeting with an outcome and solutions etc. 

I find the current climate of there being a lack of opportunity and incentive in Australian society today annoying.  Either if you try you are cut down or worn out.  Trying to get the message out there that people on the Autism Spectrum have skills and abilities which when implemented when thinking outside the box seems impossible. I just don't know what to do at times and feel at a loss.  I just hope one day that things will change.  I am not a difficult person and I try my best to do the right thing but it seems now that this state of anarchy just is difficult. 

Moving forward with ant steps in elephant tracks

Often moving forward in life or more so just wondering what life is all about can be an overwhelming situation.  It is hard to try and make sense of a world which you struggle to fully understand and assimilate.  People saying things which are not always obvious and being expected to be and act like everyone else, when you process and comprehend information differently.

Today was a rather hectic day in terms of traffic. Normally I tolerate the nearby Western and Centenary freeways but I feel like I am losing my mind sitting amongst tin cans within a tin can.  The very fact that I am able to write this blog entry today has been possible due to a somewhat busy afternoon schedule.  I posted a video about being Aspie as a label and I am having quite a large flood of enquires and questions regarding what it is like having Asperger Syndrome as well as the occasional friend requests on Facebook with adults wanting to find out about the Aspie Social Group here in Brisbane.  A lot is going on and often trying to deal with all matters, enquiries and answering questions in itself can be a monumental task.

It is difficult to try and make a world understand more about the very understanding required for being an adult on the Autism Spectrum.  Society has its own way of thinking and functioning but my own clashes with it or forges ahead with a feeling of being on the outer, a mere observer more so than a participant in every day life.  Being an advocate is like a 24/7 job not to mention keeping up with the information and awareness requests which are required. 

I feel at times  that I am progressing with ant tracks compared to those of elephants in terms of awareness.  Every small step no matter how small it may be is moving slowly forward but I guess I am wanting more so elephant tracks and not realising that progress is not always this big and possible. 

Next Saturday is the group meeting and I am getting more enquiries which is good and it would be good to see more awareness also spread. It is only a matter of time to wait and see.

Navigating through the world with only an intellectual compass

Throughout my life I have had to rely solely on my intelligence in order to survive.  Within school I had to plan almost every step and I need to do the same in adulthood.  I would firstly like to briefly explain what I mean.  I think the school system is a means of socially conditioning a person for later life and secondly, I believe that the workplace is an adaption of this early conditioning process.  I have tried to write about this even present a possible PhD topic on this with little or no interest as society seems to be more interested in any study following a formulated response. 

Often I have people tell me that I should go out and find more interests or I need to get out more.  However when you are uniquely wired and think unconventionally this is not always easy. Furthermore, not understanding the necessary social skills and relying on intelligence makes the matter more difficult and even complicated.  I can remember my early years to when I knew I talked to myself and my brother insisting that I should jettison the habit. For me it would be like losing a limb as I needed to talk to myself and to be honest I was lucky to be able to communicate at all. 

When you think about having to try and adapt to the world at large you may begin to understand the complexities.  For instance why does one have to become obsessed or have their life revolve around a piece of paper and secondly how will people react to you when you leave the safety of the family nest if indeed you are fortunate to have existed in it?  Many parents have and raise concerns about their Autistic offspring leaving the nest as they have grave fears and concerns about how the world will treat them.  In my case my elderly parents whom I still live with have such fears.  It is a constant reliance on intelligence on our part but the underlying issues of bullying and predators still remain a reality. With our own naivety we can become exposed to predators and not realise the potential dangers that lay in waiting.  It can be either too late or fate that then creates further difficulty.

It is hard to navigate certain areas of life. The main difficulties being the health areas. I have known of some hospitals refusing to treat Autistic individuals in terms of operations and other procedures.  I have also heard the issues raised concerning vaccines which I don't necessarily agree with.  I believe that Autism is a hereditary occurrence that emerges itself through the genetic chain of life.  I think Aspies have always existed but have more so come to the surface because of this tolerance of stress and uncertainty that exists in the current world. 

To cut to the bone, relying on an intellectual compass is often a necessary strategy to get by.  We need to protect ourselves against the often insidious attacks or ignorant attacks relating to our unique ways of thinking and functioning.  Why then does society want a cure?  For anyone thinking outside the box this presents itself with fear.  The fear of the unknown.  The fear of untapped potential and knowledge which society seems to want to comfortably put away in a box under the bed, or on the shelf.  Never mind what the box may contain as now certain unsavoury types have made the majority of people afraid of this.  If one were to open the box perhaps they may find magic and unbound knowledge inside? 

It seems that mainstream reaction to you as an adult is that you are to be either avoided or your actions explained so as to not supposedly embarrass others.  More so why can't questions be asked and instead knowledge extracted?  It seems that the only way forward is to rely on your own intellectual compass.  I know in my own life that issues and other matters often appear unwelcomed. Just like an unknown guest at the door they either have to be told to go away or a stern demand given.  They can be unpleasant but just like remoulding a vase with clay you have to try and implement the changes where necessary. 

My only way to express myself is to write and to further raise awareness as I am merely treading water by other means.  Often I have to explain and defend myself which has always been a reality to me more so than just fit in like the square peg in a round hole. Ask  yourself the question of whether you have an intellectual compass and is it required when navigating the world around you?  

The implosion factors

As an adult myself on the Autism Spectrum it took me many years of determination and perseverance to get to where I am today.  However for other adults the giving up or losing hope in ever finding employment can be a serious setback.  As many are unable to find employment, they tend to resort to a dysfunctional existence.  One which is a means more of survival more so than progress.  At times I feel it necessary just to stand up for myself and advocate only for myself.  This is because many adults are different and it is often very hard to get through to them without offending or confronting some back lash.

I avoid as much as possible internal politics.  In fact it even exists within the Autism community and sadly it can be destructive with both bullying and alienation as a result.  I choose not to go down this path. Tomorrow I return to work again and I often wonder if the very advocacy work I am doing is actually getting anywhere? How can I make for a better world when some don't give a stuff about what I do and the efforts which I make?  I tend to think that the best thing is just to advocate for myself. To fight my own battles and obstacles when they come to hand and just to make my life better where I can. 

It is easy to implode when a world doesn't always understand the way you think and function.  Quite simply when others don't understand you feel as though you are on the outer, a mere observer more so than a participant.  For many adults the biggest problem is that employers are not always aware or informed about the thought processes and patterns that exist in the Aspie mind.  Often the line of least resistance is always taken and being a person on the Autism Spectrum makes one vulnerable to not always knowing the correct social skills to defend and explain yourself in difficult situations. 

The biggest challenge today is having the means of working with other adults and providing the necessary pillars and scaffolding of support to assist them to enter the job market or find a means of a better quality of life.  I often feel myself at times if my life is going anywhere but just like what other people, finding friends is always impossible.  It seems almost impossible just to connect with others and to know the necessary social skills to find friends or enter a relationship. Sometimes I can offend without knowing.  I spend most if not all of my life living more so in my head than existing in the physical world.  I often wonder if this part of the mechanics for the evolutionary step forward? 

I wonder if at times also whether I should just walk away from advocating for Autism as I have concerns over whether the world will ever change and its thinking.  I feel at times that as people on the Autism Spectrum are so different that my effort and time may just be going into a lost cause?  The Autism Spectrum should not be used as an excuse to justify dysfunctional behaviour but more so a means of understanding a different way of thinking and functioning.  To avoid the risks of the implosion factor, I try within myself to avoid issues that are going to cause grief and to focus more so on what I can do to try and prod people's way of thinking to understand me better.  The biggest risk with suicide is the thought of others not understanding you and you feeling at a loss and believing that your existence serves no purpose. I find social isolation immunes me a lot from toxic factors and difficult people.  I also try to avoid energies that simply cause me grief and distress.  In my own company I don't have to constantly defend people's prying and more so questioning as to why I am the way I am.  Perhaps one day things will turn around but currently I find myself at times wearing down with trying to make things better for myself.  Finding interests involves some degree of using social skills.

With an Abbott government looking more possible, I think that a focus on providing employment opportunities for people with disabilities, especially Autism should become a reality.  More so I can remember in my own employment history that I obtained a proper job under the Howard Government.  Instead of being forced to accept a welfare payment and undertake directionless courses which existed under the then Keating government, obtaining employment was more so a reality under a Howard Government.  I hope the same applies for others under a future Abbott Government if elected.  These factors alone making it impossible which it did for me when wanting to have a go a chance of entering the job market.  These are my thoughts and I am entitled to them as I have been there and experienced this etc. 

Therefore to answer the question of the implosion factor and how it can be overcome, I therefore believe it necessary that more opportunities and awareness be implemented to better improve the lives of persons on the Autism Spectrum with both awareness and greater understanding.   

The unique and super human evolution

If I started to talk about the realities and possibilities of Atlantis you may think that am I am curious but when I mention the possibility that Atlantis may have been a city containing specialist and higher thinking individuals, you may believe me living in a world of fantasy or make believe.  I wonder about Atlantis and whether it did in fact exist and if it contained higher thinking individuals.  Quite simply these individuals functioning more on a means of acquiring and harnessing intelligence to make milestones with human achievement.  There are many mysteries surrounding Atlantis and whether in fact it actually existed.  Plato described it as a city that came and went quickly and if so why? 

There are various civilisations we know nothing about.  Why for instance were the Egyptians interested in mummification and the Mayans into calendars?  Furthermore, how come there was so much interest in the heavens and how were ancient monuments constructed and for what purpose?  There are some places in the world where only diagrams and drawings can be seen from the skies and furthermore discoveries which defy man and his understanding of the universe. 

Was Atlantis for instance a place where high thinking was able to see people think more on a spiritual level more so than a physical level?  It is interesting how in the past there was so much interest and discoveries made within astronomy.  The emergence of places to harness higher thinking also existed.  For instance and I believe most Aspies exist more and live more in our heads, that our influence in many fields has led to major advancements in the Maths, Science and Physics areas.  It is hard to actually define but perhaps Atlantis was destroyed for a reason of which cannot be explained.  Perhaps it was a city that destroyed itself disallowing future generations the real truths of its existence and functioning? 

As humanity advances and the universe expands so to does the human mind.  Just imagine the universe as a large living brain and all of us are only allowed so much time within our mortal lives a chance of experiencing life but not ever know the real answers as mortality prevents us from thinking beyond our own existence.  Other people and indeed humanity is deciphered through our own minds but how do we know or I know that what I think and feel or what you think or feel is in fact reality?  People seem to spend more time in the physical world than in the spiritual world and the former sadly creates more misery. Greed and consumerism just cause people to become greedy and selfish when little emphasis is placed on our spiritual sense or the other 90% of our brain which in each of us remains untapped. 

Some questions possibly worth answering or pondering are as follows.  Are specialist and unique thinkers evolutionary steps within humanity?  How do you think the concept of Atlantis existing and its existence change your way of perceiving the world around you?  What if there was a superior race and it was so perfect that it was able to enter a higher dimension of human evolution?  Do you think that there are other dimensions which exist and perhaps life forms exist in another dimension?  

Of course writing this blog is only thoughts of an overactive imagination for if you ever saw the movie the Truman Show you may think that everything around you is a stage play and you only exist within yourself?  All thoughts I guess that are just thoughts or perhaps a future stage of evolution?

Perhaps you may want to watch this youtube on Plato and Atlantis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRwYYkwqV0o

More important updates

Autumn 2013 update

 

On a cool Autumn morning, I thought it an idea to update my blog.  This being the first entry for May 2013!  I have currently been busy with work and other advocacy.  Recently I received an email from Orfield Labs to assist in important research to modify and improve public spaces.  I am currently in the process of doing this as well as offering the input from other adults on the Autism Spectrum via Skype.  I also have been in touch with Clain from Utah in the United States.  Clain has a son on the Autism Spectrum who wants to pursue a career in a specialised field.  I have offered to assist with support and provide feedback to assist the Autism community in Utah.  They are currently trialling a buddy system where an adult on the Autism Spectrum is paired with a non Aspie within a work environment.  As I mentioned to Clain, adults on the Autism Spectrum need a great deal of support and any assistance from those around, especially involved directly and indirectly with Autism would be greatly appreciated. 

As the list grows of adults on the Autism Spectrum in employment, so to does the need or rather I say support from those adults as first time Skype users.  Many struggle to overcome social isolation or even to write text chat within Skype. It feels good when adults can be connected to others within the wider community and to know the issues of mental health and social isolation can be broken down.  Of course unemployment is still a major issues with adults on the Autism Spectrum still representing the highest in the unemployment figures.  It is only a matter of time until things hopefully change in this direction?! 

I hope that within an academic community that more adults will come out of the closet to admit and feel no longer afraid to disclose they are Aspie.  Until more and more adults come forward the path ahead is going to be slow.  However, as I am in touch with more adults, I am reassured that the future direction is positive and it will be only a matter of time before the pigeons come home to roost.  The group which I run for adults, hopefully will one day grow in number and provide a means for adults to work at solutions and better services for persons on the Autism Spectrum now and in the future.  It is  not a matter of if but more so when.  I think Autism is the next important cause which lay ahead. 

In the meantime I thank all those for their support and please stay tuned for the new Australian Autism magazine.  

As far as the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) is concerned, I think it is a start but still a lot more and a long way still needs to go.  I would like to know what support I can obtain and others I know who have a disability.  It is not merely a tool for re-election but more importantly a means of getting the support and services to those who most need it.  I will be monitoring very closely the coming months and playing a part in democracy in September with the Australian federal election. I have been extremely disappointed with the Gillard government's let down in terms of mental health.  It is time for action on this front. 

Please stay tuned for more updates!

Kind regards
Garry Burge
www.garryburge.com