http://www.asdassociation.co.cc/
ASD Association is a team of parents, professionals, and persons dedicated to improving the educational standards of children with High Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.
(Antoinette from this group came to visit The Lab today)
Their Facebook page is here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ASD-Association/292038697503000?sk=wall
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http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/02/22/1203467395755.html?page=fullpage
Fight for a different normal Denise Ryan
February 25, 2008
THOUSANDS of young Victorians with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism have dropped out of mainstream high schools and are spending their lives locked in their bedrooms watching television or on the PC, say autism experts.
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http://leader-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/campaigners-win-fight-for-ferntree-gully-autistic-school/
YEARS of campaigning have paid off for parents of autistic children in Melbourne's east with last week's State Government announcement of a new school in Ferntree Gully.
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Tony Attwood interviews Temple Grandin
http://www.fenichel.com/Temple-Tony.html
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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/opinion/i-had-asperger-syndrome-briefly.html
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Thursday, February 2, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
January holiday session
Yesterday we held the Lab's two-hour January holiday session. More people came along than planned, so the Maidstone office was a picture of flurry at 4pm as the guys struggled to find desk spaces for all the 18 excited (and often initially apprehensive) young people who came along.
How did it go? By all indications really well, thanks to the sterling efforts of Dale, Justin, Sean, Craig and Tung in settling participants and getting them stuck into something of interest. As usual, Minecraft featured strongly. One 8 year-old created a website on the fly and other returning participants had specific questions answered about particular software. At the end there were lots of big grins and requests to return.
For me observing proceedings, what was really striking was how quickly everything settled down and how at home these young people seemed to be once they got going on their activities on their laptops and their parents went to the tea room. These boys (there was only one girl present) really seemed to be in their element, like they'd been coming to the Lab for months, not going to a new location for the first time with a group of others they'd never met before. There was a surprising lot of interaction, with kids asking each other about their work.
For me, it was actually quite extraordinary and a clear confirmation that this approach works, at least in the current context - we have yet to see how this translates to other settings with different people and mentors. OK, I co-started The Lab and have been been running it since April so I'm not exactly neutral about its benefits, but this was a clearer indication than expected that we're onto something powerful here.
The main real issue at present is our ability to work with more of these excellent and fun young people, given the interest in The Lab by those who have been given a taste of it, our preference to work with people over the long term, and the ever-growing waiting list. We have to make sure we and our mentors don't burn out. The only real way to do this is to see the model adopted by other people in other places. This is our real challenge now for the next stage of the Lab's development.
How did it go? By all indications really well, thanks to the sterling efforts of Dale, Justin, Sean, Craig and Tung in settling participants and getting them stuck into something of interest. As usual, Minecraft featured strongly. One 8 year-old created a website on the fly and other returning participants had specific questions answered about particular software. At the end there were lots of big grins and requests to return.
For me observing proceedings, what was really striking was how quickly everything settled down and how at home these young people seemed to be once they got going on their activities on their laptops and their parents went to the tea room. These boys (there was only one girl present) really seemed to be in their element, like they'd been coming to the Lab for months, not going to a new location for the first time with a group of others they'd never met before. There was a surprising lot of interaction, with kids asking each other about their work.
For me, it was actually quite extraordinary and a clear confirmation that this approach works, at least in the current context - we have yet to see how this translates to other settings with different people and mentors. OK, I co-started The Lab and have been been running it since April so I'm not exactly neutral about its benefits, but this was a clearer indication than expected that we're onto something powerful here.
The main real issue at present is our ability to work with more of these excellent and fun young people, given the interest in The Lab by those who have been given a taste of it, our preference to work with people over the long term, and the ever-growing waiting list. We have to make sure we and our mentors don't burn out. The only real way to do this is to see the model adopted by other people in other places. This is our real challenge now for the next stage of the Lab's development.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
For anyone living in or near Ballarat (or know someone who is)...
Here's a message from someone running a great project you might like to explore:
Dear Stefan,
After reading your article in the AMAZE newsletter esprectrum 64 I thought I would contact you about another program that is running in the Ballarat Area. Flashdrive Beyond the Classroom Inc is a Not For Profit Business working with disengaged youth and people with disabilities. www.flashdrive.org.au.
From the website:
Students learn to:
- assemble a computer from recycled parts
- install and configure software
- use Windows and common software applications
- work in an environmentally-friendly way – our computers are donated by local organisations and refurbished or recycled, reducing e-waste.
Afterwards, students may purchase the computer they build at low cost.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
New members and business as usual over Xmas
Welcome to Michael and Nicholas, the Lab's two new members!
Also, The Lab will continue to run every Thursday over the Xmas break. Next week (22nd) will be an Xmas party - basically the Lab as usual but with some food (bring a plate if you feel like it) and after that every Thursday as usual.
Happy holidays and hope everyone gets a chance to relax after what's bene an intense year for lots of people.
Also, The Lab will continue to run every Thursday over the Xmas break. Next week (22nd) will be an Xmas party - basically the Lab as usual but with some food (bring a plate if you feel like it) and after that every Thursday as usual.
Happy holidays and hope everyone gets a chance to relax after what's bene an intense year for lots of people.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Melbourne exhibition of autistic young man's incredible artwork
Below is a message we received from the mother of a young man we have had the privilege of meeting. His name is Marley, he is autistic, and he has incredible artistic talent.
WILD LOVE
IMAGINARIUMS
BY MARLEY JAMES WRIGHT
BY MARLEY JAMES WRIGHT
Marley seems to dwell in a parallel world, but from a certain age he began to gain some understanding of the conventional one. He remains adamant that the feeling of love is not to be restrained, rather shared with with every being. Unable to speak coherently for years, he communicates powerfully with color and mesmerizing forms. He was diagnosed with autism and epilepsy in early childhood. "I will be what I am" ruled,and the usual social conditioning had no foothold. From age 5, he was never apart from ink and paper...
THE PIECES FOR THIS EXHIBITION WERE CHOSEN FROM 5000 DIGITAL WORKS TO SHOW THE ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT OVER THE LAST 7 YEARS.
He is now 17 and attends special school.
www.marleyjameswright.com
Location: No Vacancy Gallery THE ATRIUM,
Location: No Vacancy Gallery THE ATRIUM,
FEDERATION SQUARE, MELBOURNE
exhibition continues into January 2012
Please LIKE Marley on facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marley-James-Wright/182025281891076
We would love you to send this invitation on to get marley's message of Wild Love out there!!!!
Monday, November 14, 2011
New article on The Lab
Check out the profile on The Lab on page 14 of this magazine called Made You Look, put out by the NSW Government disability program Don't Dis My Ability. You can download it here (large download: 4.9mb)
http://www.dontdismyability.com.au/news/made_you_look
http://www.dontdismyability.com.au/news/made_you_look
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Ideas from parents
A few ideas for The Lab were flagged by parents in yesterday's session. These are:
- for the mentors/tutors to put up a pic of themselves on the website next to their name, so that participants will remember them and their names
- for there to be a version of a group photo at The Lab with faces and names of participants, for similar reasons as above
- There is renewed interest in the Arduino kits, so looking at an Arduino show and tell in next week's session
- for participants to be slowly introduced to a range of different games, to avoid the Team Fortress 2 obsession gripping a couple of the guys
Lastly, a note that the sign-in book is now in operation and is working well. All parents signed participants in and out, which has really reduced the scope for not knowing where a participant is.
- for the mentors/tutors to put up a pic of themselves on the website next to their name, so that participants will remember them and their names
- for there to be a version of a group photo at The Lab with faces and names of participants, for similar reasons as above
- There is renewed interest in the Arduino kits, so looking at an Arduino show and tell in next week's session
- for participants to be slowly introduced to a range of different games, to avoid the Team Fortress 2 obsession gripping a couple of the guys
Lastly, a note that the sign-in book is now in operation and is working well. All parents signed participants in and out, which has really reduced the scope for not knowing where a participant is.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Adventures with Aspergers blog
Some folks might be interested in this new blog: http://kavehadel.com/blog/2011/10/adventures-with-aspergers-cartoon-look-outside/
It's a cartoon blog by an Iranian artist who aims to shed light on AS.
It's a cartoon blog by an Iranian artist who aims to shed light on AS.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Minecraft conference in the US
Minecraft is taking off in a big way it seems. Check out this conference in the US in November (thanks Greg W): http://minecon.mojang.com/
Friday, October 7, 2011
Article on The Lab in The Spectrum
Here's the article that has appeared in the current edition of the Autism Victoria magazine The Spectrum - thanks a heap to Darcy, Darcy, Paul and Lily for taking part.
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