Stefan sends an email out to some of our colleagues

Here is an email Stefan sent to several colleagues regarding our ideas.

I’m emailing to let you know about an idea that Dale and I are pursuing that has arisen from our Connected Lives project, and wanted to get your feedback and thoughts. I’m copying a blurb that I’ve been sending to a few people about the project, as follows.

Our proposed project is to set up a drop-in centre in Footscray for young people with AspergersSyndrome, especially those from other cultures. This centre would be modelled on the Dave Eggers ‘826 Valencia’ project (http://www.826valencia.org/, or here for the TED video:http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/dave_eggers_makes_his_ted_prize_wish_once_upon_a_school.html ). We would like to establish a centre close to transport and readily identifiable where:

· Dale’s technology company Oztron can be based – this company does web and virtual world development

· Young people with Aspergers can drop in at specified times to do projects, meet each other and learn technology and media skills from Dale and other Oztron volunteers

· We create something relevant and interesting at the front of the premises, possibly a computer museum

· Teaching students from VU can undertake work experience

· We provide paths to advocacy for young people with Aspergers

There is a huge demand for this , particularly in the West of Melbourne (see:http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/autistic-students-in-west-miss-out-20101026-172dx.html). As you know, we have found through our work (and something that has been well documented in the literature) that:

· many young people with Aspergers gravitate to technology;

· structured online environments allow these young people to develop their social skills in a mediated way

We have also found in our work that:

· one-on-one mentoring seems to work particularly well with these young people, especially with mentors who are highly technically adept

· the chance to meet others with Aspergers has made a huge difference to their lives – isolation is a big factor

· young people with Aspergers from ethnic backgrounds are particularly disadvantaged because their parents often do not know how to negotiate the complex government, education and health conditions that accompany this disability

· the problem is severe. These young people are truly ‘fish out of water’, and half of the young people with Aspergers we’ve worked with have attempted suicide in the past. Despite the funding they are given, schools often have trouble knowing what to do with these young people, and they end up being shunted inappropriately into classes with kids with other kinds of disabilities, including those who are low-functioning

We already possess most of the elements needed to make such a drop in centre happen, including:

· a bank of laptops, Telstra-supported wireless broadband accounts, digital video cameras and other gear

· support from the VU School of Education, who are willing to provide pre-service teachers on work experience

· the computers to create a computer museum.

All we really need to sort out is the space and a small amount of coordination, which we’re currently working on. Oztron is also willing to contribute to any rental expenses. Based on the 826 Valencia project, the space will need to be out of the usual institutional environments for kids to feel comfortable in going, and will need to be close to public transport, as we expect many disadvantaged young people from other areas to also attend.

Be interested to hear thoughts you may have.

Regards,

Stefan