It was with much pleasure that I visited New Zealand in September 2014. I
started my tour from Queenstown arriving there on Sunday 31st August. I found
Queenstown awesome despite the motels being somewhat uncomfortable. I visited
Arrowtown a few times and Glenorchy. The scenery was most spectacular. As I
had a hire car, I drove within 2 weeks at a leisurely pace from Queenstown, to
Te Anau, Invercargill, Dunedin, Omaru, Timaru and finally onto Christchurch.
Here I stayed for one full day and night before departing on my return to
Brisbane as I write this post.
While in Christchurch I met with both Leith McMurray and Jan Brooking. I was made aware of the awesome work which Leith is doing with Aspie Help www.aspiehelp.com. I was given some pamphlets which Leith has put together. Leith informs me that she has also been getting some enquiries from Australia concerning Aspie Help. While in Dunedin I visited firstly the University of Otago. I met with Melissa Lethaby from Disability Information & Support Student Services. Melissa was very helpful and I tried to connect with some adults on the Autism Spectrum. Unfortunately this did not happen given the short time I was there but it's better to try than not to? I then walked to Michael Woodhouse MP's office. Here I met with parliamentary assistant Sue. I expressed an interest in moving to New Zealand and to find out whether support was available. In my time in Dunedin, while in Michael Woodhouse's office I was referred to Margaret Lawless and John Kena at Workbridge. I mentioned my meeting with Valma Fisher (Library Administration Manager). I wanted to find out whether opportunities existed within the University of Otago Library and whether a move from Australia may be possible given the fact I currently work in a library environment. Although it is not possible anything is worth a try and optimism necessary. I also got to check out Housing New Zealand and was referred to writing a grant application for funding within New Zealand. Of course I don't want to compete with adults who are advocates there but I really want to both harness and utilise the full potential of adults rather than most sitting on the scrap heap and sadly fading into oblivion.
Upon my return to Australia I hope to work with New Zealand where I can and to sometime in the future visit the adults on the north island. We have some very energetic and motivated adults there and it would be good to meet with them.
In my meeting with Leith and Jan in Christchurch I visited the earthquake effected areas. I wondered whether Christchurch could accommodate adults especially in the area of more accepting building codes with attention drawn to Orfield Labs within the United States? Outside the box thinking may provide a crucial perspective in building design.
In the meantime we have some very enthusiastic adults in both countries committing themselves to the Autism cause. Otis is working with Acacia Law and Ben with Ability Links in Orange. We have Joanne in Kapti Coast and Leith with Aspie Help so together we are firmly working on the cause to raise more awareness in adults.
I will endeavour to provide a video update as soon as possible but for now please stay tuned for more updates when they become available.
While in Christchurch I met with both Leith McMurray and Jan Brooking. I was made aware of the awesome work which Leith is doing with Aspie Help www.aspiehelp.com. I was given some pamphlets which Leith has put together. Leith informs me that she has also been getting some enquiries from Australia concerning Aspie Help. While in Dunedin I visited firstly the University of Otago. I met with Melissa Lethaby from Disability Information & Support Student Services. Melissa was very helpful and I tried to connect with some adults on the Autism Spectrum. Unfortunately this did not happen given the short time I was there but it's better to try than not to? I then walked to Michael Woodhouse MP's office. Here I met with parliamentary assistant Sue. I expressed an interest in moving to New Zealand and to find out whether support was available. In my time in Dunedin, while in Michael Woodhouse's office I was referred to Margaret Lawless and John Kena at Workbridge. I mentioned my meeting with Valma Fisher (Library Administration Manager). I wanted to find out whether opportunities existed within the University of Otago Library and whether a move from Australia may be possible given the fact I currently work in a library environment. Although it is not possible anything is worth a try and optimism necessary. I also got to check out Housing New Zealand and was referred to writing a grant application for funding within New Zealand. Of course I don't want to compete with adults who are advocates there but I really want to both harness and utilise the full potential of adults rather than most sitting on the scrap heap and sadly fading into oblivion.
Upon my return to Australia I hope to work with New Zealand where I can and to sometime in the future visit the adults on the north island. We have some very energetic and motivated adults there and it would be good to meet with them.
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| New Zealand Doubtful Sound Tour September 2014 |
In my meeting with Leith and Jan in Christchurch I visited the earthquake effected areas. I wondered whether Christchurch could accommodate adults especially in the area of more accepting building codes with attention drawn to Orfield Labs within the United States? Outside the box thinking may provide a crucial perspective in building design.
In the meantime we have some very enthusiastic adults in both countries committing themselves to the Autism cause. Otis is working with Acacia Law and Ben with Ability Links in Orange. We have Joanne in Kapti Coast and Leith with Aspie Help so together we are firmly working on the cause to raise more awareness in adults.
I will endeavour to provide a video update as soon as possible but for now please stay tuned for more updates when they become available.
