Thank you Murray and parents for discussion yesterday - and useful Autism Games site

Thank you to Murray Dawson-Smith from Amaze and parents for taking part in our very encouraging chat about the idea to team up the Lab with a work skills and placement initiative. We'll now follow up on that.

You might also be interested in this games portal for kids with Autism, which was mentioned during the discussion:

http://www.autismgames.com.au/

Luke Priddis Foundation - an ASD support org operating in Western Sydney

Just FYI folks, in case you want to make links with other ASD groups around the country:

http://www.lukepriddisfoundation.com/

A couple of very relevant articles about autism in Melbourne's west from today's Age

http://www.theage.com.au/national/reading-writing-and-politics-20120311-1usfm.html

http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/autism-school-for-west-20120311-1usmw.html

Meeting with south eastern group

On Thursday we had a meeting with several people who are interested in either helping or getting another version of the lab off the ground in the south eastern suburbs.

In attendance were;

Mandy Rampton - DEECD

Amanda Jarn - Carrum Downs SC

Sonya Bottern - SFYS Frankston

Julia Dixon - Occupational Therapist Carrum Downs

Antoinette White - http://www.asdassociation.co.cc/

Jill Robins and Cristina Isaac who are running monthly social sessions for kids with Asperger's

Dan Tiomkin - Holmesglen

Stefan

Dale

Murray Dawson-Smith - Autism Victoria CEO

Paul Staubli - Parent

Anne Harris - Monash University

Many of the attendees have children on the spectrum and a real vested interest in getting some kind of program up and running.

Topics discussed included(in order of discussion);

Specialisterne - looking to franchise here

Murray has talked to the bank industry for 2 years to try to get something similar happening here.

SFYS funding 16th March which Carrum Downs SC will apply for.

Co-ordinating all groups and working together.

Importance of research and gaining empirical data, prove it's going to work (Murray).

Possibility of involving a wide range of corporations who can provide employment for aspy kids in the future.

Using various objects of affinity.

Schools have the potential to do harm or damage.

Parents group and how it has worked so well.

Action - we will give a letter of support for carrum downs.

Jill and Cristina are also looking to start something and we will try to assist with mentors.

Overall it felt like quite a productive meeting, with some new ideas coming from it and the very real possibility of something happening in the near future.