The Brisbane Aspie Adult Group Pioneering Ahead

It is with great pleasure that I can announce that the Brisbane Aspie Group is growing strong. Yesterday we had a good turn out of over 15 people.  Despite stretching our already existing resources, people were accommodated and enjoyed time together.  We had a great Australia Day BBQ.  Sausages were pre-cooked as well as people bringing a long food and drink to share. We also had an Australia Day Trivia Quiz presented by Andrew George who assists our group when he can. Andrew is a committed father of one of our adults and without his help, we would not have had such an enjoyable day. We also were going to have a game of Social Cricket but due to the rainy weather, we held our event inside.



We are pleased to appoint another Assistant Facilitator to the group. We welcome Nick who has joined Jeremy who assists the group with social activities and ensures that everyone is made welcome and comfortable. If for instance Andrew needs a bit of help also, we can rely on our Assistant Facilitators to ensure everything runs smoothly. For all involved including our adults, everyone has a chance to provide input into the group and to grow at the same time. We have some great activities planned for the remainder of the year.  Even though the year has just began, we are always welcoming of new adults and ones who may be starting university, study, or even a job.  I cannot forget our wonderful caters also.  Dedicated parents of our adults who come along to ensure that everyone is made welcome with a cup of tea, piece of cake or a cold drink.  Thankyou to all!


The year is jam packed with many events.  We have a few in the pipeline already and we have other activities planned through our helpers as well.  We begin the year with Curtis Harrison's presentation in February, Otis employment agency presentation in April and a trip to Mount Glorious in May.  So everyone can experience with the latter a change in temperature and scenery.  For more information please be sure to get in touch with me via my website www.garryburge.com 





Aspie Adult Group meeting Saturday 25th January 2014

Progress in small and large steps

Yesterday I had the opportunity of meeting another adult Ben Wilshire who is on the Autism Spectrum.  Ben is taking a break from both advocacy work and trying to find a job.  He boarded a ship with his family bound for Cairns and had a brief stop in Brisbane.  Although it seemed difficult to meet up with Ben, I thought I would try my best, so I boarded the City Cat and met with him firstly at South Brisbane. I have been in touch with Ben via Skype for the past 6 months and meeting him in person was really no different.  It was just that both he and I could meet personally.  Ben also informed me that he now has a job in a retail outlet on a part time basis.  This is great news even those it is temporary which I hope will become more permanent.

Good to catch up with Ben Wilshire in Brisbane 

I am pleased to also announce that the Asperger Adult Group is still growing strong and we have some more assistance from others to help us out.  What I hope for is for liaison between adults on the Autism Spectrum and those who are not to work and understand each other better and more importantly to break down stigmas and labels.  For our upcoming Australia Day BBQ, the group besides having participation with food and beverage, may also host some interactive games.  These will include board games such as monopoly or even a game of social cricket.  Of course the setting is laid back and fosters personal growth as well as participation in a non threatening environment.

I have also advised through my 24/7 work via Facebook, LinkedIn and Skype assistance to persons wanting to find out more about services and other necessary information.  Recently I was contacted by a lady who is wanting to get assistance for her partner who is facing some challenges being on the Autism Spectrum. I hope to meet with them at our next meeting.  I have also tried my best to contact necessary organisations and link them to existing services which currently are limited.

I have also been in touch with Damian Santomauro who has experience in understanding Autism and undertaking necessary research.  For anyone who is an adolescent and wanting more assistance, Damian is running a workshop.  He is working with Dr Tony Attwood and Michelle Garnett.  For more information I would encourage you to visit the following link 

Please stay tuned for more updates and remember you can like my Facebook Page and contact me via my website www.garryburge.com

Kind and warmest regards

Garry Burge

Making sense of it all.

Dear Blog, I cannot make sense of this world and only through you can I communicate my thoughts in helping others to understand should they try to or bother.

The world seems such a confusing place and such a mess.  I see and hear from young people who sadly some have given up hope in thinking that they have no future in Australia.  I spoke to a young person yesterday and I have heard from some others that they feel they no longer have a future in Australia.  There are no jobs and they see Australia as too competitive, despite even having qualifications to even be provided with an opportunity.  It seems that so many people are just like cold blocks of ice.  Nobody seems to care about each other anymore and there is no sense of community.  You try and be a good person and do the right thing but even at times this gets you nowhere.  I know that I am not crazy but at times there just seems to a be a total lunacy to humanity in that people seem to have in most instances lost the plot.  Will there ever be any end to it?

I was raised and it was instilled in my to have values and respect for others but it seems that some people have lost such attributes.  I am often told what is wrong with me more so that what I am doing and achieving but always having an inbuilt mechanism of talking to myself, I at least know that my justifications can be shared with myself at any rate.  People often make comments or ignore me even though they never really know who I truly am and what I have achieved in my life.  They also make assumptions and opinions even before I have been able to speak for myself.  I often watch episodes of Highway to Heaven and I wish other people would watch them also.  They have a hidden and underlying message about being a good person and in trying to help others.  Perhaps more people may like to watch Highway to Heaven and begin to see that by helping others and being Christian is not such a bad thing after all.

I also find at times that people try and conform me into what they think I should be rather than allowing me to be who I am.  For instance, people seem to treat me as though I am a freak because at 41 I am not married nor have a relationship.  I wonder what would actually happen if people spent more time in thinking about acceptance rather than measurement of expectations.   I know and do not want to feel sorry for myself but more so I would like people to better understand that having Autism is not a disease nor does it mean that I am broken and needing to be fixed.  Just because I think, function and see things differently does not mean I am incapable or stupid!  I also try my best to do things properly and for others to listen but at times I feel as though my message is just going silent on a solitary journey.

I am not after fame or fortune but more so a world which just understands better.  It is frustrating living in a world where people don't speak their minds more and just ignore me because I may look like others but yet have a different mindset.  If only people not on the Autism Spectrum would understand Aspies more. To see us as people but just unique in our own ways.  People often see the icing and not the cake beneath.  After all when you eat a cake the icing is only a part of it with the rest making up the ingredients.

One easily grows tired of the stigmas and perceptions of what a person should be.  The man beating his fist on his chest and behaving like a fiddler crab.  The alpha male raving on about how good he is to others. All so tedious and boring when you examine it more in detail.  The crap that men cannot talk to others nor shed tears.  It is time that attitudes start to change.   I think a lot of young people need to communicate better. It makes me wonder that as a person with a so called communication problem that you see others who cannot communicate at all. They put earpieces into their ears and shut out the world or talk on a piece of glorified plastic. However there is an alarming rise in mental health issues, depression and male suicide.  What is going on?  Why don't people start to listen.  Realise that material possessions are not fulfilling and that a more caring and understanding world is a better alternative.

Well anyhow this is my contribution today and I hope more people will start to wake up and listen!

Thomas A Edison

How the NDIS or Disability Care should work.

It concerns me what commitment the Abbott Government will provide or give to the NDIS or the Federal Opposition should they win government also, but in any case I thought I would provide my own opinions concerning the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme/Disability Care).

One of the things that needs in my opinion to provide adequate support and assistance for anyone with a disability is first of all a "Means Test" and secondly a "Case Worker".  Although not the total solution, both these persons could provide the following.  I will  provide you with an example of where support should occur and how assistance can be provided.

Let us imagine that Joe is 19 and he has just finished school.  His parents are very concerned about his future.  Joe doesn't have many friends and spends a lot of time in front of the computer as he has no job.   Joe also has social isolation and left untreated there is a strong possibility that he may development mental health issues leading to depression and possibly worse.

What therefore can the NDIS or Disability Care provide for Joe?  I will provide a possible example.

As Joe has left school, Joe's parents have heard that in his area that access to services are possible.  First  of all Joe's parents access the Department of Disability Support and they are assigned to a Case Manager.  This Case Manager sets up an appointment with Joe's parents and Joe to sit down and access the services which Joe needs and a "Means Assessment" of how Joe can be assisted.  Joe is also assigned a Case Worker who works with Joe and his parents to find out what Joe requires.  After sitting down with both Joe and his parents.  The first thing of importance is accommodation.  Joe's parents realise that Joe needs to look after himself but they know that Joe is unable to afford to live in the rental market as it is too expensive and Joe will need some help with day to day tasks.  Joe's parents are informed that with any disability that the needs of adults vary from one to another.  For instance the level of support for one young adult may be different to another and with this in mind a "Means Test" can determine exactly what level of support in Joe's case is required.  Joe would like to live on his own but he feels that he may need some assistance with cooking and connecting to the community.  The good thing is that the Department of Disability Support knows of an Adult Social Group for Adults on the Autism Spectrum.  This Adult Group has adults from across the Autism Spectrum and they meet regularly as well as have persons not on the Autism Spectrum to assist them.  Joe feels relieved that he can now connect with others and live independently.  His Case Manager is working with Joe to find accommodation that suits his needs.  As he will be obtaining some work experience in a school library. The Case Manager is assisting Joe to find accommodation near the school and ensuring that this accommodation suits his needs and that this accommodation is compliant with the Code of Standards in ensuring that Joe is not prone to being ripped off by an unfair landlord or being placed with people that could be potential bullies or worse case scenario predators.   By also having the Adult Social Group, Joe is reassured that he is no longer socially isolated and his potential in finding someone of the opposite sex may be higher in terms of a friendship or relationship instead of him remaining in social isolation.

Like Joe, whatever or however the NDIS or Disability Care is going to be implemented. There needs to be somewhere for the first port of call.  Somewhere a person with a disability and Autism can go to know they will get help.  This service does not even necessarily need to be paid but more importantly instigated by an Adult with Autism mentor.  Can the government or even business take the time to consider how better services can be implemented without me sounding like a total deluded individual in thinking that the world will change when I am told it wont.  Frankly I will just keep going on pushing for more rights of people with Autism because I believe these are needed.  I don't think the services are good enough and I think Australian political parties and politicians could do much more than putting disability on the back burner.  It is about time to start acting and delivering.  There are a whole range of measures not only for people with Autism but for anyone with a disability in wanting better services to greatly enhance their lifestyle.  I think it is disgraceful that not even some buildings even have wheel chair access to them and people with physical disabilities have to resort to crap services which they are just expected to put up. Even if a person with a disability is in employment and paying taxes then their taxes should go into services to assist them and not into the hands of greedy government to spend on projects that go nowhere.  I can think of much more that needs implementation.

For many adults on the Autism Spectrum and I may not speak for all the following are needed.

1. Accommodation for Independent living that is fair and equitable. Also safe and not exposing to bullying and unsavoury conduct.

2. Better access to the community

3. Employment Consultant and Disability Friendly Employer

4. More awareness and acceptance of Autism and Disability in the wider community

5. Improved means of overcoming social isolation

6. Better access to services.

I will continue to work towards greater awareness of Autism acceptance in the wider community.  The Adult Group is growing more and more here in Brisbane.  I also know more adults world wide.  I just ask the government, business, employers, organisations, communities etc to start waking up.  If you don't like what I have to say then that is your choice but as long as free speech is permitted I will continue to speak my mind.  I have had enough of parents, families and individuals in breakdown because people refuse to listen.  I will be writing more blog posts later and I would encourage you to also support the many friends I have who also work tirelessly to raise awareness of Autism.  They are doing great work and need your assistance and support also!

Acceptance and cohesion

2014 the year ahead

Welcome to 2014!  Despite it going to be hot on Saturday reaching an uncomfortable temperature of 41 degrees Celsius, I thought I would take the time to write another post.

The year I hope will be a different and a better one in terms of my own development.  I am wanting to try other things and activities.  I have looked into assisting or connecting with overseas students from Europe and South America to show them around Brisbane. For instance I can take them to Mt Glorious, Mt Tamborine, or the coast?  I find that often people from other countries can be easier to befriend and communicate with also.  There is more to life than just sitting around waiting for things to happen and focusing on things which can make you feel more down than happy.

I am not sure when as yet I will go overseas again but I think Hawaii might be a place of interest.  It has variations in scenery with beaches and snowfields and is approximately 12 hours by plane from Brisbane.  Furthermore, I find traveling on my own as challenging because at times it is good to have someone else around me.

I would like to emphasise that I no longer try to compare myself to other people.  Some may be in different scenarios to my own but this does not mean that I have to be and think like they do.  I find it depressing to look at things this way. Furthermore I just try to understand that other people have personal boundaries and they may have their own issues as well.

I really hope 2014 will be a better year for me as I have worked hard both physically and passionately in relation to Autism awareness.  I may not be able to please all adults on the Autism Spectrum but I try my best.

Roll on 2014!

Hawaiian Orchid