Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Being Jim

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  • JacksonP,

    Jimmy comes across really well in the trailer. Looking forward to seeing the rest of it. Kind of wish there was a spot for him doing video and gaming reviews on screen. He'd be great at it.

    M cried.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to JacksonP,

    Jimmy comes across really well in the trailer.

    It was a thrill for us to see it -- much like the first time he was an Attitude. I trusted them enough that I wanted them to interview him without us -- and he came up with his amazing "weird is good" speech.

    It's great for us to see how he is when he's not in our company. He's different in the family bubble -- as we all are -- but we've always heard from his teachers how likeable and funny he is. Not that he isn't when he's with us, but, you know.

    He was pretty impressed with the trailer too.

    Looking forward to seeing the rest of it. Kind of wish there was a spot for him doing video and gaming reviews on screen. He’d be great at it.

    You never know ...

    M cried.

    Aw.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to JacksonP,

    Kind of wish there was a spot for him doing video and gaming reviews on screen. He'd be great at it.

    Agree. We could help make one.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Aw

    +1

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Lizzy Lawrence,

    Jim, you're a real cool Dude.
    Cheers

    wellington • Since Sep 2013 • 2 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Was that at the fundraiser in Parnell?

    That's the one. It does seem a long time ago but still very strong in the memory. The auction was great and in the end it seemed like you could have auctioned off anything :).

    And yes, bravely showing us all what you felt, so very eloquently, was a good call.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Jim always refers to you as “my friend Craig”. For a young man who doesn’t have very many people in his life, that’s a very big thing.

    Just between us, the feeling is mutual. I don’t apply the other F-word to people easily, or often, but Jimmy doesn’t make it hard. Must admit, though, it took a bit of getting use to that he’s kind of crap at feigning interest in pointless social chit-chat, but that’s not the worse thing in the world and I'm hardly one to talk. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    That’s the one. It does seem a long time ago but still very strong in the memory. The auction was great and in the end it seemed like you could have auctioned off anything :).

    And The Clean played! The money raised was technically for full-time tutoring for Leo, who we'd had to take out of school, but he was in no state for that at the time, so we spent it more gradually on both boys' development. There's still a little left in the pot, and it pays for Dr Matthew Dentith to come every Monday and spend four hours (plus an hour of unpaid "chum time") talking to Leo about ideas. They cover anything Leo wants to talk about. This week, it was morality, another week might focus on a certain period of history. It's been an extraordinary thing. Ashley Hinton also spent a year doing catch-up maths, which was very valuable too.

    And yes, bravely showing us all what you felt, so very eloquently, was a good call.

    Funny thing about that: by the time I'd done that speech, I was done, But everyone was so moved that people started pouring out their hearts to Fiona and I. I wound up so overwhelmed that I had to hide out in the courtyard with my homies for a while:-).

    One more thing about that night. The whole thing was the idea of Deborah Pead, who threw a bunch of her own company's resources into making it happen. Deborah catches a bit of flak in the course of her business, but our family will always be grateful to her.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Russell Brown,

    'Agency' is a very important concept. Like 'dignity of risk'. Sometimes hard for the rest of us to allow.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe,

    Well done Jimmy. And well done Jimmy's parents: having differently abled offspring and committing to them reaching their potential is heroic.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Russell Brown,

    The whole thing was the idea of Deborah Pead

    Huh, I hadn't connected those dots, I'll try and remember.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    In case it fell through the Saved Daylight gap, Attitude TV has posted the complete episode really quickly here

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • thegirlstefan,

    hi Russell

    just watched this on TVNZ On Demand. As well as coveting your coffee cups, I was impressed with what a loving, supportive and thoughtful family you are. You should be rightly proud but gosh that scene where Jimmy was a bit lost in the street was hard to watch without knowing him- I can't imagine what it's like to watch your own kid struggle in that situation.. Kudos to you for supporting him in making this programme and in his aims to get a job.

    Aotearoa • Since Oct 2011 • 42 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    What a lovely young man!. Many similarities to the lovely young man I have here. Realistic portrayal of the issues around employment too, including the huge motivation to be in the workforce and do well*. However, for successful employment, well explained and demonstrated repetitive tasks are often better/less stressful than lots of different ones, and provides the opportunity to do a few things really well, rather than coping with constant changes in environment and people.

    (*Not always appreciated by the 'blame the lazy beneficiary' culture in some Work and Income offices)

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to thegirlstefan,

    gosh that scene where Jimmy was a bit lost in the street was hard to watch without knowing him- I can’t imagine what it’s like to watch your own kid struggle in that situation..

    Jim was pretty bummed when he came home that day. I talked to him about how it could and should go in the documentary.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jim Brown,

    Russell, has Jimmy ever thought of an online blog ? My son, James, also an Aspie writes for Craccum and finds it very satisfying to write about his view of the world, and also hopefully show others that Aspies can function in normal society.
    Although just whats normal is a debate we won't get into !

    Long Bay • Since Sep 2013 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    A great piece of television. Spotted Roger Horrocks in one scene at the Civic.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • thegirlstefan, in reply to Russell Brown,

    well, as a viewer I'm pleased you did. As someone who doesn't know much about autism 1st-hand it was the scene that really brought home how difficult processing ordinary situations where you have to think laterally must be, and I was pleased with respect that the film-makers obviously had for Jimmy in the way everyone (including him) managed and communicated the situation.

    Aotearoa • Since Oct 2011 • 42 posts Report Reply

  • thegirlstefan, in reply to Russell Brown,

    well, as a viewer I'm pleased you did. As someone who doesn't know much about autism 1st-hand it was the scene that really brought home how difficult processing ordinary situations where you have to think laterally must be if it doesn't come naturally. It was obvious that the film-makers had respect for Jimmy in the way everyone (including him) managed and communicated the situation.

    Aotearoa • Since Oct 2011 • 42 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    That was great. Thanks.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Cecelia,

    Thought-provoking doco. Jimmy will make a a great employee and workmate one day soon I hope.

    Hibiscus Coast • Since Apr 2008 • 559 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    Just watched the doco. I was so delighted to see Jim behind the desk at the Civic during the Film Fest -- only now do I fully realise how delighted he was to be there himself!

    What a fantastic and generous insight into Jimmy's world, and the sheer determination it takes for him to move through the rest of the world. His irrepressible charm and humour is such a strength.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • "chris",

    Nice one Jimmy, sweet as. I spotted the t-shirt so...

    location, location, locat… • Since Dec 2010 • 250 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    By the way loved the quirky use of the coloured cups (and fascinating to see the lovely R-B house).

    I am still smiling at the many similarities we here have recognised from the many young Aspies we know, such as the struggle with handwriting and understanding what is required, and other aspects such as the precise speech. And a great deal of overall charm. From a parent's perspective I think we often don't see the networks and abilities of our Aspie offspring. Their independence is not always our idea of independence, but with luck they find the right people who appreciate and get them and then they flourish. This video has been extensively shared and maybe the right person will see it and give him (and all those others out there) that employment chance.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    And a great deal of overall charm.

    Everyone who's ever worked with Jim, from day one at school, has really liked him -- peers included. His personal charm and obvious lack of malice has served him well. But I've been thinking about how lucky he is in that. We both know there are people on the spectrum who don't have those qualities, who give offence without meaning to, or don't act the way other people might expect.

    From a parent’s perspective I think we often don’t see the networks and abilities of our Aspie offspring. Their independence is not always our idea of independence, but with luck they find the right people who appreciate and get them and then they flourish. This video has been extensively shared and maybe the right person will see it and give him (and all those others out there) that employment chance.

    We've always been aware that Jim was different away from home. Teachers would talk about his sense of humour. This has actually been our first opportunity to see that.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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