Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: Like Minds

Phil Lyth

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 22:06:24 +1200

the “drunk” they’re about to throw in the tank is wearing a Medic Alert bracelet identifying them as diabetic.

Yes, important to understand one can appear to be the other

Phil Lyth

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 22:05:14 +1200

the most difficult situation in live radio – the suicidal caller

Yep. About the most traumatic morning I had at Parliament was receiving the call threatening murder and suicide. Very specific, very believable. 35 minutes on the phone and I was sh*tting myself. Police were excellent, and got back to…

Hilary Stace

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:01:58 +1200

Like most things to do with autism, hard data is very hard to find. (I can't think of one database that has a nice neat tickbox space for 'autism' – even the census hides it.) But In my research I came across so many stories from countries around the world…

Sacha

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:03:38 +1200

conditions you are obliged to report

Putting the obligation on the wrong party, surely. Protecting the vulnerable should be a basic service ingredient. Though assuming that a particular condition always implies the same set of needs to be met is a mistake doctors and well-meaning policymakers often make. Rather not…

Rex Widerstrom

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:57:55 +1200

That’s all you need.

But do not get. Otherwise by now we’d have widespread acknowledgement amongst police that an indigenous youth’s refusal to make prolonged eye contact is a sign of respect in that culture, not defiance. (Or it’s wilful ignorance. Same difference).

Otherwise you’re heading for unpleasant territory.

I…

Islander

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:01:05 +1200

+1 +++

I have whanau who work in medical and/or rescue services. They have very regular upgrades of information & protocols.
I know police officers have heaps on their plate- but surely no more than rural GPs? Fire chiefs?

Sacha

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:56:41 +1200

one would hope cops would receive some training

That's all you need. Otherwise you're heading for unpleasant territory.

uneasy round issues of attaching labels

Quite.

Islander

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:42:18 +1200

Now, that is one smart idea!
I am noted as being visually disabled (even though I now have good driving vision)
on my licence. While I’ve never been “officially diagnosed” as being on the autism spectrum, I’d happily have a note about that- which would include “cannot stand person who…

Rex Widerstrom

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:27:18 +1200

(From the link provided earlier by Russell):

For some people, it may be worth printing an autism handout...

Before I'd read that, the idle thought had crossed my mind that perhaps people on the autism spectrum may benefit from some sort of "medic alert bracelet", but that made me uneasy…

Sacha

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 18:58:23 +1200

It'd be great to have some better research to refer to

Quite. Governments, advocates and allies have had a decade since the NZ Disability Strategy was adopted to progress its Objective 10 about research and statistics.

However, disability is still not included as an identifying and analytical factor in any…

merc

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 18:24:36 +1200

In a broader sense it is also the discussion round the abuse of power that needs to be revisited again and again.
One of the imported police was noted to say how NZ Police tolerate alot more lip than the UK cops would "back home".
And with enablers like their…

Sacha

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 18:21:59 +1200

Thanks for the US reference. Interesting.

Russell Brown

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:56:32 +1200

AS people are more likely to … run intro trouble with the police.

Have you a stat somewhere to back this up?

Sacha has provided you with a reference. Unfortunately, this area isn't well-researched, and it's complicated by poor diagnosis. But I think the Arie Smith case will eventually be…

Russell Brown

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:28:27 +1200

This program taught me to be open-minded in an unexpected way – it showed me that Mike King wasn’t a complete prat after all.

Absolutely. I think he'd readily acknowledge that there may have been times when the description was accurate, however.

Cecelia

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:09:22 +1200

has been surprising and gratifying for everyone concerned.
Thanks for the link; I've watched one show and will look at them all now. It's heart-warming and very nicely calibrated. I would never have seen it if you hadn't pointed it out.

Kumara Republic

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:58:38 +1200

This program taught me to be open-minded in an unexpected way – it showed me that Mike King wasn't a complete prat after all.

IIRC wasn't he grappling with depression not too long ago? Maybe he also had an about-face after his pork industry exposé, and the subsequent berating from…

Rex Widerstrom

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:50:50 +1200

Have you a stat somewhere to back this up?

Data on the prevalence of mental illness (and yes, as Russell says autism isn’t, but is likely to show up in any survey of offenders’ mental health) is hard enough to come by, let alone something that tries to break down…

Sacha

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:42:57 +1200

The official NZ ASD Guideline says on page 180:

Although it is generally accepted that people with ASD and other disabilities have a higher likelihood of contact with the police, courts and criminal justice system than other people, little research on this could be found. Certainly people with disabilities have…

W K

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:06:44 +1200

This program taught me to be open-minded in an unexpected way – it showed me that Mike King wasn't a complete prat after all.

Graeme Edgeler

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:06:29 +1200

AS people are more likely to ... run intro trouble with the police.

Have you a stat somewhere to back this up?

Public Address

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:06:29 +1200

Discussion from blog post.