Adult Group Presentation

Curtis' Presentation 22nd February 2014

Yesterday the Asperger Adult Group met in the Toowong Library.  We hope to be able to use this venue more for conferences. The group is considering having adults present topics to help break the ice.  Yesterday Curtis Harrison spoke at our group.  For Curtis this was the first time for him to speak interstate. Not only just interstate but in a group that is run and facilitated by adults on the Autism Spectrum.  Curtis' presentation was very informative and interesting. He spoke about the challenges he faced while growing up and how he tries to come to terms with being an adult, now almost 22 years of age. 


We wish to thank Jeremy Farley for helping us with facilitating the meeting.  Curtis did receive some questions from other adults and this in turn was very informative. Curtis spoke about his experience in speaking at APAC (Asia Pacific Autism Conference). He also spoke of the challenges and difficulties he confronts in obtaining employment and in once instance being sacked from employment.  His story is sadly not alone as some other adults have been dismissed from employment just for the sake of having Asperger Syndrome. 


After our meeting we had a game of Tenpin Bowling. Everyone had fun and were able to interact.  We are fortunate in that we now have friendships forming and the difficulties and barriers of social isolation and even depression are starting to break down. We also discussed at the end of the meeting our future meetings and ways we want the group to move forward.  We believe that businesses need to come on board as well as employers in giving adults a chance in employment. 


We also welcomed Christine from Group 61 http://group61.org/ at our meeting.  The group has a lot of things planned for upcoming meetings and should you wish to find out or even attend a meeting, please don't hesitate to get in contact with me via my website www.garryburge.com

Sometimes I really wonder if it is worth living in Australia

What I find really annoying about living in Australia and I am entitled to a gripe is the lack of opportunity and incentive based on merit.  Furthermore the constant wearing out process if you try and improve on your own knowledge base.  The other thing that really is annoying is when others who do very little seem to get into places of influence and decision making. 


I know that I may not be everyone's cup of tea and in all honesty frankly I do not care!  However what I find frustrating in Australia is that it is just about impossible to get ahead.  If you try to focus on making things better you are either worn down or you confront the tall poppy syndrome where you are cut down.  Is it any wonder that people may give up or just decide to leave.  If it were possible, I wish that I could have the opportunity to better my skills and knowledge base and go somewhere else, using the grass is greener process and be involved somewhere where I could be appreciated for who I am.  I am not interested in sucking up to  people not beating my fists against my chest to get my own way but more so just wanting people to allow me and others I know a possibility of having a go. 


I work tirelessly and industriously on my Autism Advocacy work here and despite the challenges that lay ahead and some of the lack of awareness that I receive, I try my best to make things better.  I try to stand up for rights and fairness but at times it can just be about impossible. 


I watch the news which I find depressing and a lot of the spin and negativity which you watch just is so toxic that it makes you feel worse than it does better. Sadly it doesn't even provide you with an accurate scenario of what is actually happening.  I have thought about many times of whether it is  possible to just leave Australia and move to New Zealand or somewhere where incentive and merit are important. Perhaps even Germany is a place to go.  However living in Australia despite the so called 'lucky country' stigma is not really the honest truth.  If you try and do the right thing in any walk of life you are just put down or worn down.  You see so called celebrities who have got to where they are by operating wrongly and when you try and do the right thing yourself you are just on the outer. 


I know of many younger people who just want to leave Australia as they feel there is no longer and opportunity here.  Despite having the necessary qualifications and enthusiasm they just want out.  There are also some who may want to better themselves but just find the whole process flawed.  People who provide poor quality service or just couldn't be bothered to put themselves out.   We also have a political system which I think stinks. I think preferential voting needs to go and politicians made accountable. I find the major political parties don't really give a stuff about disability as they live in Canberra and screw the rest of the country with their perks and lifestyles.  It is about time that an Autism Adult movement starts to happen to allow our people real chance in employment. What people don't realise is that Aspies have potential and I know of many adults whom I support in my advocacy work.  We just need to be given a chance and listened too!


I am disillusioned a lot with Australia and I really believe attitudes need to change here.  I also feel more inclined to spend my tourist dollar in another country even New Zealand where customer service and delivery seem so much better. You just don't have to put up with crap and bad service and be expected to think that it's the only standard of service available. 


I really wonder if Australia is going to change or whether it is worthwhile going overseas more to say Germany which although not perfect focuses more on an industrious model of initiative and incentive!  Or even South America where there are more flamboyant women!


You may want to read this article about Australian Tourism

Does Australia live up to its reputation as a land of the fair go?

How to assist Damian Santomauro

Please assist Damian Santomauro with some very important research which he is doing. The research which Damian is undertaking looks at explores depression and finding ways to deal with symptoms better. In Australia we have very little support and services for adults but more so especially for adolescents.  The research Damian is undertaking looks at the challenges and issues of depression and emotional support.  I can remember when I was an adolescent, that there was nothing available.  Please understand that mental health and depression are very serious issues and in Australia we really need to improve services and assistance for people who endure such hardships and challenges. To register and to find out more please click on the following Free Event 


You can also email Damian to find out by more.  I really would encourage you to do so as Damian is really putting in a lot of hard work. I also meet up with Damian when I can to see how he is getting on and to offer help where I can. 

Damian as I understand is wanting adolescents from in and around Brisbane

Beware of the Dating Scam via Facebook or some Dating websites

One of the things that really infuriates me are these dating scams. Always you hear about how women have been screwed by them but never do you hear how men have been. 


I am 42 this year and I just find the whole dating and relationship process beyond me to begin with but what really concerns me is how these dating scammers operate. 


To begin with. If you are using Facebook, the first thing which usually happens is some person (whoever they may be) contacts you.  They begin the predatory process by first of all luring you to accept them as a friend.  Usually they have a photo of an attractive woman who meets all the baiting props that most men fall for.  These may include seductive photos, semi nude or revealing characteristics that make the poor suspecting honest man think, 'hey I have found the woman of my dreams'. 


These predators will stop at nothing to try and screw potential victims.  The first process will be to pretend to be or fall in love with the victim.  The ultimate aim is to ask for money but as most wise men have smartened up to dating scams, they may think or be easily manipulated by the predator saying 'oh we can just get to know each other long distance more' or 'I have been hurt by men before so I don't want to experience this again'. Folks they will try anything they can to screw a poor unsuspecting victim.


Recently this predator contacted me claiming to be this very attractive woman in the United States Army.  The chats on Facebook Instant messaging made out that she was a chick having a hard time in the army and furthermore just wanting to settle down with the man of her dreams.  She met the ideal scenario being single and having no children.  While talking to this predator via Facebook and of which I also reported and have not received any report back, this predator said that the only way she could be in Australia was if I you guessed it, paid her way here. I insisted that I am not interested in doing this and more importantly I contacted Scam Watch here in Australia to be advised by them as to whether this would a dating scam or not.  I was informed by Scam Watch that these predators will not stop at anything until they can get money out of their victim. In other words playing a love game so that the poor victim is so desperate and lonely that money is paid and ultimately lost in the hands of the dating scammer. 


I really find Facebook in all honesty something that has many traps in it.  For many men, more importantly Aspie men, these predators will use Facebook as a means of trapping the victim as the victim is just so desperate in believing they have found love at last.


In all honesty governments and internet monitoring authorities need to seriously force Facebook to comply with standards of conduct ensuring that such predators are weeded out.  This does not also just relate to Facebook but to dating websites as well.  Where are the stories of men being screwed and exploited by dating scams and not just women? 


I have since blocked this person and reported the profile to Facebook.  All this manipulative nonsense of 'I'm just a woman having a hard time in the US Army and wanting to find the ideal man' lies.  You can also usually tell if the predator is non genuine also as the English is often broken or poorly expressed.  Sentences may appear awkward also. 


I advise anyone reading this post to be warned!  Never put money down or provide financial assistance to such scum.  Just delete and block and don't risk it!  It just simply isn't worth it!!!!


Please watch this video and share!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF4NEbgFQKo

Welcome to February 2014

The year has started off jam packed with a lot of events and a couple of visits planned.  This March I will be visiting Ben Wilshire who is based in Orange.  Ben runs an Adult Group which meets on the second Tuesday of every month.  I will be visiting the meeting scheduled for Tuesday 11th March.  I have worked out that the easiest way to get there despite some expense, is to fly from Brisbane to Sydney and then from Sydney to Orange via a regional flight. 


I really hope to assist Ben in getting his group off the ground.  He has put a lot of hard work into it and we hope that this group will continue to grow. I am sure that Ben will at some time write another blog entry indicating what he is doing in the group and future meetings planned?  So please stay tuned for more updates. 


The Adult Asperger Social Group here in Brisbane is continuing to grow as we speak.  Yesterday some of us had an outing at the Powerhouse Museum here in Brisbane.  We met up for a light lunch and then had a chat about how we can make life better or for the wider community to understand us more.  We also wanted to see if it was possible to have a meeting there but sadly the cost is too expensive.  We thought about having board games and ways we can interact with younger people not on the Autism Spectrum but still some work to do here.


This morning I spoke with Liam. Liam is from Ipswich and he wanted to get in touch because he just cannot find employment and has experienced work place bullying so badly that he wonders if he will ever be able to work again!  I will be talking with Liam next Saturday as I have invited him to the Adult Group at Toowong and informed him that I would like to find out what kind of work he is interested in and to talk about experiences and to offer advice.  I also hope to meet up with Damian Santomauro this week to see how he is getting on and to offer assistance where I can. 


We have some great events coming up throughout the year so if you want to find out more please don't hesitate to contact me via www.garryburge.com Contact Page.


Warm regards
Garry Burge
www.garryburge.com

Brisbane Powerhouse, NewFarm