Improving Your Workplace

I am constantly looking at ways to find ways that my abilities and ideas can be better utilised.  I thought this morning of ways that plants could be used within a workplace to provide a more seemly setting.  For instance not many people know that there are some orchids that are able to adapt or be used to transform a workplace.

Phalaenopsis Orchid can grow well indoors

When I visited Singapore on transit to Europe a few years ago I noticed the orchids at Changi Airport. These orchids were indoors and they were certainly prolific.  Could you imagine in a workplace whether it be a library, a business or some other organisation orchids growing within the work setting?  Furthermore the orchids would help to make and transform a workplace to make it feel much nicer.  For the public there are some benefits to for instead of looking at an ugly grey wall, they could instead see an orchid or a fern?

Orchids at Changi Airport in Singapore.

With over 13 years experience of growing orchids and knowing how they can thrive and adapt, I wish I could advise workplaces and other organisations of what orchids would be suitable for the work environment.  The many benefits of growing orchids include.

• Orchids have aerial roots (they don't need to be in soil)
• They can flower for long periods 
• Orchids require little water
• Fertilizing only needs to be so often depending on the orchid.  
• Orchids can have very withstanding foliage 

For a lot of work environments I would suggest either Phalaenopsis or Dendrobium orchids.  Cattleya orchids can also be good as they flower at certain times in the year and can be very strong and durable.  

Below I have placed some images of some suitable orchids which I believe could tolerate a work environment.  I cannot understand why more work environments do not have plants or even accommodate some animals being cats or dogs just to make workplaces much friendlier.  Why do people hate working and why can't work spaces adapt so that people can better cope within a work environment if they are forced to work?  Surely some staff can and should be able to provide feedback at ways to make the work setting more friendly rather than having grey walls and sad faces?

Dendrobium Orchid 

Phalaenopsis Orchid

Cattleya Orchid 

So what are you waiting for?  If you are interested in being advised on what orchid or orchids may be suited for your workplace please contact me via www.garryburge.com 

Preparing for February Asperger Services Australia Conference 2015

I am looking at presenting again for Asperger Services Australia  The title of next year's conference will be "Human Being on the Spectrum".  As I write this post, I am looking at and thinking about what I will present about. 


As you are aware the adult group is still continuing to meet and we are attracting more members.  We are looking at more adults undertaking their own presentation within the group as an icebreaker.  This allows for us to get to know the adult concerned better and for the presenting adult to have an opportunity to feel more part of the group and to express their own journey, special interests and ways that the group can continue forward.  We are hoping to have some more presentations in the not too distant future.  We also look forward to hosting Dr Tony Attwood in August.  For more information about Dr Attwood please visit www.tonyattwood.com.au


At our last meeting on Saturday 19th July 2014, we had the pleasure of hosting Nick from Peep Digital.  Their website is http://www.peepdigital.com/  Some of the adults within the group mentioned to Nick about ways that having Autism may be better utilised, understood and accepted within the wider community.  I also provided feedback in that perhaps adults on the Autism Spectrum could be employed at making applications (Apps) for tablets, devices etc.  What better resource could be employed than the experience of an adult on the Autism Spectrum for children and adolescents?  What support could be available within schools and in the wider community to help raise better awareness and support?




Nick speaks to the group about PeeP Digital http://www.peepdigital.com/

There are many advantages to having much friendlier technology for Autism as this would help with some of the challenges depending where a person is on the spectrum.  If there are some challenges with verbal and non verbal language, perhaps sound and audio equipment could provide a means of communication?  This feedback was provided to Nick at the meeting yesterday.  


On Wednesday I will be undertaking the second part of research taking place into adults.  I will be participating in this research to help with an understanding of what challenges and difficulties exist for someone like myself.  Hopefully this will be important to obtain a better understanding and raise more awareness? 


We are looking at ways in the group to allow all members a chance to participate more and to provide a positive image of Autism in the wider community.  There are still many challenges and a great deal of people who just need better awareness so as to increase both awareness and understanding. 


I look forward to providing more posts in the future.  I also appreciate support and ask you to please contact me or subscribing to  my youtube.  Please stay tuned for more updates.


Understanding Autism in the workplace



How to help adults with Autism obtain and maintain employment

I am currently exploring ways of making it possible in employing more adults on the Autism Spectrum in employment.  With this in mind, some of the concepts I am looking at to better inform companies, business, government departments etc about Autism are as follows.


1. Talking with HR (Human Resources) about ways to make use of persons on the Autism Spectrum and to understand adults better.


2. Talking with unions about standing up for rights and ensuring support for a person on the Autism Spectrum.


3. Talking with Disability Employment Service providers about what jobs may be suitable and what kind of support is required based on my own personal experiences.


4. Suggesting ways to better utilise skills and abilities of adults with Autism in a workplace


5. Briefing employers about the difficulties of workplace bullying and ways to deal with and overcome this serious issue


6. How to harness the special interests and abilities of adults with Autism to better inform and expand on a business or company's knowledge.


Above are some ideas I am exploring at the moment but I need to hear from business, companies, employers etc should they wish to contact me.  I am only to happy to assist and can be contacted via my website www.garryburge.com


With an unemployment of nearly 85%, a means of employing adults on the Autism Spectrum and making Autism marketable is something I am constantly investigating.  I will be looking at ways to explore this and at the moment I am concentrating on the Brisbane market to see if I can obtain any support in what I intend to do. 

Where to from now?

As the advocacy work continues to gain momentum, the biggest decisions are yet to come.  Should I apply or rather we apply for funding?  The main issues I see with funding are they are a diversion from the work that I am doing.  Time would need to be spent simply on writing applications, lobbying and furthermore submitting endless documents to convince the powers that be that the work which I do is viable. 


As I write this post, I continue to push to the fullest extent all social media outlets.  These include Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and LinkedIn.  All I can do is keep expanding as much as possible and sending the message out as much as possible. 


Some questions that continue to plague me are how can I change attitudes in this country and furthermore how can I convince people that Autism is not a curse, disease or something that needs curing?  The only thing I can do is to continue to grow and reach out the advocacy.  The work is both challenging and rewarding but still a lot more needs to be done.  I am reaching out as much as possible to businesses and government sectors trying to spread the message. At times it can simply be maddening when you find meetings never eventuate or funding or support simply dries up.  It is important to stay strong however and keep moving forward. 


Over the coming months I will be looking at and exploring ways of trying to make Autism more attractive in the sense of innovation and utilisation.  I know of many adults who simply have more to offer than being forced to remain in seclusion.  I have been able to assist some obtain employment and others to try and grow their own skills and abilities.  There are still many barriers which still remain and hurdles yet to be crossed.  There needs to be a simple solution and a practical one? 




How is obtaining sponsorship or funding possible to utilise potential?

As the Autism advocacy continues to expand so to does the need for providing necessary support and assistance to those on the Autism Spectrum.  What still is lacking are the services which could better improve the lives of many adults.  Some still confront a lot of social isolation and depression.  Furthermore there also needs to be a means of employing adults.  This does remain a challenge but it is possible given the right attitudes and encouragement. 


I spend a lot of time trying to contact organisations and utilise networks to expand awareness of the work which I do.  On the whole countless energy is required to maintain a website, take and answer phone calls and to keep an adult group going and expanding momentum.  What many people don't see is the work I also do from home which can be very time consuming. 


I really hope one day though that the work I do may attract some funding or sponsorship.  This money would go directly into employing adults and providing a means of better improving awareness and creating training and or employment.  I would also like to have an opportunity of speaking at some overseas locations in the not too distant future about my own personal experiences of having Autism.  My dreams and aspirations continue to remain both optimistic and I am still ambitious to keep pushing forth.  What I need though is for people to assist me with the work I do as I cannot do all of it on my own. I need to delegate some duties and responsibilities to others.  Also required is someone to assist with advice and ways to make things better. 


As I get older I really do enjoy the challenge of working for myself within an Autism advocacy framework. I can get things done as best as possible and ensure I continue to implement a professional and high quality service.  All I need is for better support, awareness and recognition which in time I hope will come? 


My website for further contact is www.garryburge.com and I am happy to answer questions, queries or advice which you might have. 


Warm regards
Garry Burge

The Brisbane Aspie Adult Innovator Group meets Maja Toudal

Yesterday the group hosted Maja Toudal to its Brisbane meeting.  It was good to meet Maja and her partner Michael both visiting Australia from Denmark.  Maja spoke to the group about her own experiences of being on the Autism Spectrum and we then visited the Shingle Inn for lunch afterward.  We tried our best to show Maja some historical part of Brisbane at least. 


I really hope that Maja's visit will mean that a positive way forth will happen in Australia.  We really need to be raising more awareness of the Autism Spectrum in adults and furthermore start to see ways of providing a positive future for adults.  I spoke briefly to Maja's partner Michael about some things happening in Denmark and I hope to visit Denmark in the not too distant future.  For example there is Specialisterne which now employs adults on the Autism Spectrum and someone visiting us from Europe.  It would be good to see more adults visit Australia from abroad. I am always ambitious and optimistic with future visions.  I would one day like to see more opportunities of adults on an exchange scenario where they may be able to visit another country like Denmark and receive some training and another culture which may assist in overcoming some of the difficulties with social isolation and exclusion?


Meeting Maja Toudal

The group is looking to be incorporated under Asperger Services Australia.  This will be a slow process and one that all adults I hope will be able to provide some thoughts, ideas and feedback. 


I also would like to talk about the concerns of reaching middle age as an adult on the Autism Spectrum.  Life does become harder and existing support seems to not represent.  For instance private health insurance seems to cover more sport injuries more so than access to counselling and support for mental health and others challenges.  Also there is very little support to assist with social isolation and linking to other sectors of the community just seems to be more overwhelming.  Finally if I am required to pay tax this year where is the support for disability services?  I think it would be good if the adult group could be a pilot in providing an adult task force to meet with government and other sectors of the community.  

Going on dates with Internet Dating

In some of my last posts I spoke of my experiences of Internet Dating.  So far I have been using RSVP.  I find Oasis a little less effective primarily because it seems to cover a wider world wide audience. I often gets women from Brazil or Mexico wanting to connect with me.  So for this reason I tend to rely on it less.

Internet dating is by no means easy.  I have gone out on approximately 6 dates so far with each experience being different.  The way I use RSVP is to work the kisses on it to see if I can find prospective women interested in going out on a date.  If you are able to work on the technique properly, you can get an email response.

What I find the most difficult is not knowing what to do or expect on the date.  Most dates seem to be only one off.  Connecting again seems impossible and scenarios different from one to the next.  In my first experience, I found there was a woman interested in me but me not her.  In my most recent experience I found I was interested in a woman, having kissed twice and held hands.  I felt there was chemistry but this other woman not.  Furthermore the main issue is scams.  Are these women telling the truth?  Are they really interested in a relationship or friendship or do they have some other agenda?  With my last date I think there may have been some concerns but at any rate I am now back to square one again.

Trying to work out internet dating.

What I find the hardest thing with dating is what is expected of me.  I seem to be unable to read body language and or even knowing what signals are being sent out and what signals I am sending out.  It is also hard just to be yourself for often there are high expectations placed on me.  The process just seems so overwhelming from many angles.  Just like a job interview which is primarily based on a person's appearance and performance at the time, the dating process is very similar. How well do you know the person on the first encounter and are they genuine and should more time be given?

There seems to be no real way of meeting persons of the opposite sex as bars and clubs are places I have no interest in.  Despite the noise being overwhelming, you can hardly communicate and filter out excessive noise. I also think that Aspie men may rely on emotion more so than body language which can make the process hard in itself.  I often feel that it is like losing all your body limbs and then having to regrow them for the next encounter.  

On RSVP I have managed to make it to the 100 list.  I do so to also try and dispel any negative connotations people have with men on the Autism Spectrum.  There are many advantages to being Aspie but yet people still don't really understand us and a lot more still needs to be done.  For me the challenges with internet dating include.

1. Body language

2. Conversation

3. Where to go and what to do after the first date.

4. Expectations 

5. Trust

6. How to define boundaries

7. Future contact

8. Predatory behaviour

9. Venues

10. Rejection

While I write this I am still trying my best to deal with the challenges and barriers as I don't really want to be lonely all of my life despite needing periods of seclusion.