Aspie Adult Group Meeting

Yesterday we had our adult group meeting and had a game of mini golf at Victoria Park Golf Club.  It was good for everyone to get together and we also had a good turn out.  One of the dad's helped us out and everyone had a chance to play the 18 hole golf course.  What makes the adult group unique is that everyone is encouraged to come out of themselves with a focus on helping each other and providing support where it is needed.  We also are looking at ways of improving support and services for each other.



Mini Golf at Victoria Park, Herston, Brisbane.



Within our group we also discuss issues which effect us.  Mainly being the issues of unemployment, social isolation and the wider community not always understanding us.  The group exists not as a means of us being broken and needing to be fixed, but more so an identity.  Many of the adult have diverse interests. Some are mathematical, others musical and a few computer savvy.  It would be good to have the non Autistic world understand us better, and perhaps over time this may change?  

One adult is currently writing a blog about his journeys in finding employment, while another is writing a blog about his interest in photography from the Netherlands.  I also spoke with another adult who wrote a book yesterday about his own journey growing up as an adult on the Autism Spectrum.  He is currently 20 years of age.   

It is good to see things moving forward and the group also plans to present Dr Tony Attwood something that is reflective of being Aspie at our November meeting. 

If you are an adult on the Autism Spectrum wanting to find out some more or about the group please contact me via www.garryburge.com   The group is not so much clinical but more supportive and positive in terms of progress and inclusion.

Warmest regards
Garry Burge

www.garryburge.com 

Improving services for adults on the spectrum

It can be very difficult for adults on the Autism Spectrum to find services and obtain the necessary confidence and services to improve their quality of life.  With these factors in mind, we are now able to engage the energies of abilities of adults within a group for adults.  I am currently in touch and working with another adult based currently in rural New South Wales on the spectrum on ways to assist adults in finding employment and improving our quality of life.  We also are trying to assist Damian who also has Autism to obtain assistance with his research based here in Brisbane.  To find out more about his research and to assist Damian with finding another 80 applicants. Damian asks you to visit his Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/events/120028671500863/?ref=3

On 23rd November 2013, Dr Tony Attwood will be visiting the group and it is hoped by then that as an adult run by adults for adults that Tony can obtain important and useful information relating to our needs and to expand and share this within the wider community to assist in raising awareness.  As many adults including myself still have issues in finding a better quality of life and meaningful relationships and friendships.  The only means possible is to provide a group that meets on a social bases with strategies to assist with greatly enriching our quality of life. 

Currently I am working with Ben who is another adult on ways to further improve awareness and find positive solutions to the many issues we confront.  One of these being employment so that many Aspies can obtain a job rather than remaining on welfare.  Ben now has his own blog and we Skype our ideas and suggestions to assist in services for other adults.  Ben's blog can be visited by the following link http://bensaspieblog.blogspot.com.au/ The group is looking forward to meeting Ben in the latter part of the year when he will be moving to Brisbane. 

It is intended for adults that a strong focus on our abilities and achievements is of importance more so than the label used to define us.  With the right encouragement and support, many adults could be more ideally suited to employment and able to properly utilised but of course this takes time.  I find myself still on the outer within society as people still seem unable to understand how I like many other adults think and function.  Relationships seems impossible and even the thought of re-visiting dating websites seems overwhelming. So with this in mind as well as making meaningful and lasting friendships, surely a group setting with positive strategies would seem ideal? 

As I write this post what is above mentioned is all in an experimental phase but adults working together is possible but it is just a matter of convincing the powers that be it can happen!?   With this in mind it is just full steam as best as possible to the journey ahead. 

An Aspie's Journey in Finding Employment

In the world today finding and keeping employment is becoming an ever increasing challenge. For a person on the Autism Spectrum, we represent the highest unemployment statistics of around 85% to 90% unemployment.  Not having a job for many Aspies can further raise the issues of low self esteem and depression.  My own contact with some Aspies is that they are keen to work and remain committed despite the obstacles.  During such difficult times I try to encourage and focus upon abilities and encourage them to be utilised more within the area of advocacy.



There is always light and optimism



I encourage some adults to create their own blogs. Within this blog they can write about their own experiences of applying for jobs, reactions they receive and the direction in which they wish to go.  Not only does a blog demonstrate to a potential employer of their keenness to work but it also makes use of time which could be otherwise spent in frustration and despair.  The truth of the matter is that adults who are keen to work should demonstrate their keenness by raising awareness of their own experiences and scenarios. Within my own advocacy, I wrote a book which some of you may have heard about called "I Want To Work An Asperger Story" with a Foreword from Dr Tony Attwood which I self published through Schuurs Publishers.  I received knockbacks in terms of publication but to this day I still believe it is important to get the message out there!

Within the adult group yesterday, adults discussed the difficulties in finding employment and keeping a job.  This ranged from the very issue that most jobs are socially engineered relying on a person's social skills to a lack of Employment Consultants who have a general understanding of disability but very little understanding of Autism as it is a cognitive wiring difference.  I am encouraging some adults to not give up in their search for employment and to become advocates themselves.  I know of some adults with a great deal of experience and abilities who simply cannot get a job or are forced to work within jobs which do not include their experience and abilities. 

A blog called for instance "The Journey of An Aspie in Finding Employment" could provide a written account of what it is like being an adult on the Autism Spectrum.  It could also illustrate the challenges and offer solutions to overcome difficulties and to find coping mechanisms.  Many adults including myself struggle more on the social front.  We can be very good at tasks but the problem seems to be that employment is more focused on a natural flow of social interaction. Even a person in a wheelchair able to speak can have a mind similar to a regular person unlike a person on the Autism Spectrum.  Personally I think the sheer amount of mental energy required as well as the need for constant direction to ensure workflow is happening within an individual level can be a difficult task. Also working in group situations where communication is needed with other individuals who simply cannot grasp your own way of thinking, functioning and communicating.  I think many adults on the Autism Spectrum struggle so to speak in employment because work is not always visually obvious and communication and different personalities existing can just make for more of an obstacle. 

What then can be done?  I think that work should be compliant which factors in the strengths of a person on the Autism Spectrum and furthermore an employment consultant should be trained specifically in understanding Autism. Why not employ a high functioning Aspie to be an employment consultant or a meditator?  It is an often difficult problem to solve. As we speak I am encouraging one adult to learn software testing.  It is hoped that once he is well versed that a possible move forward to implementation of an error free outcome may be possible? Just imagine if for instance a computer was reliable and didn't break down as it was error free?  Within the adult group here in Brisbane, the thing which is important is that adults actually run the group and we work with each other to find positive strategies to move forward. To look at the issues of unemployment, lack of awareness and to overcome social isolation.  It is good to see adults working together by the simple means of playing a game of Scrabble or other word games.  We will be fortunate to have Dr Tony Attwood visit the group here in Brisbane on Saturday 23rd November 2013. The good thing about this visit is that Tony can meet the adults and the adults can raise issues and progress to Tony. It will not be other people speaking on behalf of adults or others who are trying to fix us but more so a means of adults talking with Tony and visa versa.  It is a first in so many ways. 

Currently, important responsibilities are being delegated to other adults. Some include contacting Blue Jays Employment which specifically assists adults with finding employment and by other means such as attending venues.  For instance at our mini golf game we will be making the proprietors aware of the fact we are Aspie Adults.  The identity being utilised more in a positive role and furthermore a means to also raise awareness. Perhaps the proprietor or another staff member know of someone on the Autism Spectrum?  It is a means of seeing our identity of being on the Autism Spectrum in a more positive light.  What I advocate in this post may not be positive to everyone or answer questions but it is an attempt to move forward and get something done.  Over time it is hoped that more adults will be engaging in important steps to pave the way forward and in a positive direction. 

Should you have any more questions or to find out about what is happening here in Brisbane the best means of contact is to visit my website www.garryburge.com

Kind regards
Garry Burge
www.garryburge.com