Some good news to share - our intrepid Paul Staubli has not only got the Frankston Lab going, but has managed to secure a year's funding. That is so very awesome :) More soon...
Monday, October 7, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
The Maidstone Lab is moving!
Some good news - we've just had
confirmed that The Maidstone Lab will be moving to a brilliant new
location at the Footscray Community Arts Centre next term, after the Centre approached us about hosting The Lab recently.
It's a fabulous space with a cafe, good parking, nearby train and a grassy setting by the Maribyrnong River. Footscray Community Arts Centre runs a broad range of programs for all kinds of people, and it will be great for The Lab to be part of that community. Centre location details are here:
http://footscrayarts.com/contact-us/how-to-get-here/
Besides the opportunity to move to such a good new location, The Lab's decision to move from Maidstone is connected with Dale's business. Oztron doesn't really need the big space to do their software projects, and the rent keeps going up, meaning that it has become increasingly less viable lately to keep running The Lab there.
Everything else about The Lab will stay the same - fees, processes, session times etc.
We have just found out and will be working out other details in the next week. But we did want to let people know asap in advance of planning for the next school term, so you can make an informed decision about that. Soon we'll send parents the payment forms for the new term for the Lab at the Footscray Community Arts Centre.
Best,
Stefan and Dale
It's a fabulous space with a cafe, good parking, nearby train and a grassy setting by the Maribyrnong River. Footscray Community Arts Centre runs a broad range of programs for all kinds of people, and it will be great for The Lab to be part of that community. Centre location details are here:
http://footscrayarts.com/contact-us/how-to-get-here/
Besides the opportunity to move to such a good new location, The Lab's decision to move from Maidstone is connected with Dale's business. Oztron doesn't really need the big space to do their software projects, and the rent keeps going up, meaning that it has become increasingly less viable lately to keep running The Lab there.
Everything else about The Lab will stay the same - fees, processes, session times etc.
We have just found out and will be working out other details in the next week. But we did want to let people know asap in advance of planning for the next school term, so you can make an informed decision about that. Soon we'll send parents the payment forms for the new term for the Lab at the Footscray Community Arts Centre.
Best,
Stefan and Dale
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Minecraft server especially for kids wth autism
Thanks Sophie for sending this through!
Autcraft:
"The first Minecraft server dedicated to providing a safe, fun and learning environment for children on the autism spectrum and their families."
http://www.autcraft.com/
Autcraft:
"The first Minecraft server dedicated to providing a safe, fun and learning environment for children on the autism spectrum and their families."
http://www.autcraft.com/
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
PAX Australia - starts tomorrow
Hi everyone.
The Melbourne event for gaming show series Pax starts tomorrow and goes through to Monday!
The Melbourne event for gaming show series Pax starts tomorrow and goes through to Monday!
Here's the description:
"In 2004, the folks at Penny Arcade decided they wanted a show
exclusively for gaming. Sure, comics, anime, and other nerd hobbies were
cool, and those activities all had their own shows... so what about
games? From that idea spawned a small 4,500 person event in Bellevue,
Washington, focused on the culture and community that is gaming.
Since then, the show hasn't looked back. Doubling in size each year
until venue capacities were reached, in 2010 the show expanded into
Boston for PAX East, drawing tens of thousands of attendees in the
inaugural year. The shows in Seattle and Boston represent the two
largest gaming events in North America, and for the first time PAX is
expanding internationally for its inaugural Australian show!"
Monday, July 1, 2013
PhD scholarship for The Lab
Anyone know someone who might be interested in doing a three-year PhD scholarship with The Lab?
If so, the link to the application form is here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z839oabrpduvphn/aiZw8vWfvc . The deadline for applications is July 31.
Here's the description:
If so, the link to the application form is here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z839oabrpduvphn/aiZw8vWfvc . The deadline for applications is July 31.
Here's the description:
The above application
form relates to a VU & Young And Well CRC scholarship to undertake a
specific PhD research project at Victoria University. This project
will:
- generate new knowledge from and about an existing innovative technology project for young people with Asperger’s Syndrome and High Functioning Autism, and;
- develop innovative methodologies that accurately and ethically represent young people’s voices, including methodologies that involve the use of digital technologies.
The Lab (www.thelab.org.au)
is a growing
network of ‘technology clubs’ for young people with High Functioning
Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome, as well as their parents and carers.
Established in early 2011, The Lab currently caters for 60 families in
Melbourne, 30 families in Sydney and 30 families in
Geelong, with more locations underway. All Labs offer personal
mentoring in technology by programming and design professionals, as well
as the chance to meet others and develop social skills in a relaxed and
supportive environment.
The focus of the PhD project will be:
·
The development of innovative,
technology-informed research methodologies that respond to the needs of
young people with High Functioning Autism, and that accurately reflect
participants’ ‘voices’;
·
The use of these methodologies to (a) better
understand how the Lab works, especially in its interaction of the
technological and the social; and (b) develop cross-Lab evaluations that
accurately capture impact on participants and families;
and
·
The development of protocols and guidelines for
new Labs that are designed to facilitate maximum positive impact, based
on evaluation data.
Closing date is Wednesday 31 July 2013. Further
information is available from Dr Stefan Schutt, Centre for Cultural
Diversity & Wellbeing, Victoria University (Stefan.schutt@vu.edu.au)
Monday, June 24, 2013
Payment forms for Term 3, Maidstone Lab
New payment forms are now available for Term Three of the Melbourne Lab.
Term Three runs for ten weeks and costs are:
Social
Sessions (Wednesdays and Saturdays): $110.00 full/ $90.00 concession Technical Sessions (Thursdays): $165.00 full/ $110.00 concession
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Disclosing Aspergers workshop
Hi everyone.
For your information, have just been sent the following email about an Aspergers workshop:
---
I’m writing to let you know that registrations are now open for the full day Special Little People seminar to help children with Asperger's/Autism Spectrum Disorders: “How to best support Primary School children”
For your information, have just been sent the following email about an Aspergers workshop:
---
I’m writing to let you know that registrations are now open for the full day Special Little People seminar to help children with Asperger's/Autism Spectrum Disorders: “How to best support Primary School children”
Wednesday, June 19th, Darebin Arts and Entertainment
Centre, Preston Registrations close: 20th May
It’s exactly the same seminar we ran in March, where
presentations focused on strategies: managing anxiety, pragmatics, team work,
handling bullying and disclosing an ASD.
Here’s what attendees had to say about the March seminar:
“A very helpful, well organised seminar - a terrific
insight into the “world of an aspie.”
“All information was helpful - especially parents
understanding teachers and teachers understanding parents.”
“I came away upbeat and not overwhelmed as I have done on
many occasions of going to these seminars/workshops.”
This seminar is for all year levels in primary school and
brings together the main professionals needed to help case manage a child with
Asperger's.
If you know any parents, teachers, service providers,
others that you think this seminar would benefit please email it on, publish it
on your facebook site, etc and a flyer is enclosed if you wanted to print it
out and post up on notice boards etc.
The website for further information and to register is
Thank you for your support to date. We are really trying
to have the wider community see the world through the eyes of a child with
Asperger’s as the basis of our seminars, strategies then follow. Hopefully
we’ll get even more parents, teachers and other professionals coming for the
same seminar to help us with this goal!
Thank you for your time and passing this email on!
Amanda Curtis
SLP seminars team member and author of the book "My
friend has Asperger's"
Tel. 0417 411 007
Fax. (03) 9489 7636
PO Box 416, Northcote, Vic. 3070
Monday, April 29, 2013
New links with GUF Gaming - and new offer for Lab social sessions in Werribee
Today Dale and Stefan met with Jim White, founder of GUF Gaming, described on their website (http://www.guf.com.au) as "Australia's own internet and games centre...We offer top of the line PC and console gaming for the casual and the hardcore player alike."
Jim is a parent of a child on the autism spectrum. He already knows some of the Lab kids, and wants to have more involvement in the Lab. We're very excited to have this interest from GUF - in fact we couldn't imagine a better alignment of interests.
To start things off, Jim has offered to host special social Lab sessions at his Werribee centre from 10am - 12pm on Saturdays. Cost will be $10 and includes access to the GUF PCs. Security will be provided, and GUF will create a special Lab login, which will include access to a host of fun games offered by GUF, but minus any inappropriate ones (R-rated etc). There is no 'parent room' there: usually parents either leave kids there and come back later - or are encouraged to learn the games themselves from the guys who work there!
For those of you interested, please let Stefan or Dale know as soon as you can. This session could either replace or augment your usual Lab session, depending on your interests and time. We will still run the Maidstone sessions from 1pm to 3pm on Saturdays, so you could do both or one, as you choose.
The GUF website has more details of what they offer: http://www.guf.com.au
Jim is a parent of a child on the autism spectrum. He already knows some of the Lab kids, and wants to have more involvement in the Lab. We're very excited to have this interest from GUF - in fact we couldn't imagine a better alignment of interests.
To start things off, Jim has offered to host special social Lab sessions at his Werribee centre from 10am - 12pm on Saturdays. Cost will be $10 and includes access to the GUF PCs. Security will be provided, and GUF will create a special Lab login, which will include access to a host of fun games offered by GUF, but minus any inappropriate ones (R-rated etc). There is no 'parent room' there: usually parents either leave kids there and come back later - or are encouraged to learn the games themselves from the guys who work there!
For those of you interested, please let Stefan or Dale know as soon as you can. This session could either replace or augment your usual Lab session, depending on your interests and time. We will still run the Maidstone sessions from 1pm to 3pm on Saturdays, so you could do both or one, as you choose.
The GUF website has more details of what they offer: http://www.guf.com.au
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013
Melbourne Lab - payment forms for next term
Hi everyone.
Payment forms for term two of the Melbourne Lab are now available. Our term will be the same as the 11-week school term - ie starting in the week of April 15 and ending in the week of June 24.
Cost per session will be the same as last term ($15 plus GST for the tech-focused sessions, $10 plus GST for the socially-focused sessions, concessions and hardship exemptions available). The total cost will be a little more this time because this term has 11 weeks instead of term one's 9 weeks. Payment can be made via credit card, cash or cheque. VU will issue paper receipts that can be picked up from The Lab in Maidstone (next to the sign-in book).
MS Word and PDF versions of the payment form can be downloaded from here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z839oabrpduvphn/aiZw8vWfvc
Regards,
Stefan
Payment forms for term two of the Melbourne Lab are now available. Our term will be the same as the 11-week school term - ie starting in the week of April 15 and ending in the week of June 24.
Cost per session will be the same as last term ($15 plus GST for the tech-focused sessions, $10 plus GST for the socially-focused sessions, concessions and hardship exemptions available). The total cost will be a little more this time because this term has 11 weeks instead of term one's 9 weeks. Payment can be made via credit card, cash or cheque. VU will issue paper receipts that can be picked up from The Lab in Maidstone (next to the sign-in book).
MS Word and PDF versions of the payment form can be downloaded from here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z839oabrpduvphn/aiZw8vWfvc
Regards,
Stefan
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