Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: Telling Stories for Change

Jan Farr

Fri, 19 Sept 2008 11:15:42 +1200

du Fresne's attempt to frame every programming choice in terms of the alleged political orientation of individual guests — rather than whether they've written a good book, done some interesting research or can tell a joke — is strained to the point where it seems reasonable to ask if he…

Hilary Stace

Thu, 18 Sept 2008 20:03:19 +1200

Jackie – I'm reading it at the moment. I was at the American Psychological Society conference last month where he was a keynote speaker. Just like Steven Shore and Matt Frost at our Autism NZ conference last weekend, he had many parents and professionals queuing up to question him about…

Jackie Clark

Thu, 18 Sept 2008 18:04:40 +1200

Oh, I meant to say – has anyone read the book by John Elder Robison? He's Augusten Burroughs' older brother and was not diagnosed with Aspergers till he was 13 ( I think?). The book is called Look Me in the Eye. Very interesting chappie – his facebook is here

Jackie Clark

Thu, 18 Sept 2008 17:51:21 +1200

I've taught many children on the autistic spectrum – some diagnosed officially, some not at all. I just want to take my hats off to all you parents who have children on this spectrum. Communication is such an important part of being human – and it entails such a lot.…

Russell Brown

Thu, 18 Sept 2008 09:16:09 +1200

And I'd just like to say "thanks" to Russell for speaking so openly about your own son and advocating for ASD and for giving me a few ideas/options. It's helped alot to know one isn't battling away alone.

That's great Kerry. Any time you want to say something, just email…

Kerry Weston

Thu, 18 Sept 2008 08:04:46 +1200

And I'd just like to say "thanks" to Russell for speaking so openly about your own son and advocating for ASD and for giving me a few ideas/options. It's helped alot to know one isn't battling away alone.

Some other posters on PA also gave me some good tips earlier…

Sacha

Wed, 17 Sept 2008 20:59:51 +1200

Matt is bloody good value. He similarly gives me hope for future leadership. We'll need it to turn the endless reports and platitudes into decent services and supportive attitudes.

The current situation fair pisses me off. I'm impressed with the huge strides in consumer-led change in mental health services, and…

Deborah

Wed, 17 Sept 2008 20:56:20 +1200

Tears in my eyes too.

Hilary Stace

Wed, 17 Sept 2008 17:47:58 +1200

Thanks, Russell, for coming to our Autism NZ conference. Your session was really well received and there were people from various government agencies there who heard your message.

I agree with you about Matt. He gave an inspiring speech to the conference on the first day linking the personal and…

Paul Williams

Wed, 17 Sept 2008 16:47:59 +1200

I don't recall Finn well but I found re-reading his story simply overwhelming.

I can't imagine how he or his family felt when the health carers weren't responding to him. I feel very sorry for him and his friends and family.

I currently work in the NSW education system where…

Kumara Republic

Wed, 17 Sept 2008 15:52:27 +1200

Whatever happened to the Mason Report?

merc

Wed, 17 Sept 2008 15:24:25 +1200

Finn Higgins was known to users of the Public Address System discussion forums as a keen-minded, literate, witty and sensitive debater, and an asset to the community.

Yes, very much so.

Russell Brown

Wed, 17 Sept 2008 14:40:42 +1200

There will always be stories where the only response is to be angry. People deserve the best help available, and they don't always get that. What's much worse for me, is that every expert review we have of this sector tells us that we need to make so much more…

Kyle Matthews

Wed, 17 Sept 2008 14:33:01 +1200

When I think of the crap we had to endure along those lines versus what we know now, it does make a bit angry, yes. Frankly, I think many people in the system simply don't understand autism spectrum disorders.

Not to comment on either your situation Russell, or what happened…

Russell Brown

Wed, 17 Sept 2008 13:38:26 +1200

From experience, trying to source help for a (now) 15 year old, I know it is extremely difficult. You might consider yourself an excellent parent, but as far as the authorities are concerned, a 'problem' child or teen is the result of bad parenting.

When I think of the crap…

Don Christie

Wed, 17 Sept 2008 13:35:00 +1200

Finn Higgins was known to users of the Public Address System discussion forums as a keen-minded, literate, witty and sensitive debater, and an asset to the community.

Yes. That's how I remember him.

Kerry Weston

Wed, 17 Sept 2008 13:30:23 +1200

What does the high-functioning person have to do to get an "official" label of Aspergers or autism?

I suspect – pay through the nose for an excellent private psychologist. One you've already checked out for 'a good fit' – their websites can be useful. The public mental health system only…

Che Tibby

Wed, 17 Sept 2008 12:43:00 +1200

Argh, that last story from Finn brought tears to my eyes. It was so hopeful.

i suspected as much.

there's no way i'm reading it at work.

most adult diagnoses are self-diagnoses. That doesn't mean they should be ignored.

unless they're that bloke mentioned david cohen's book, the guy who…

Russell Brown

Wed, 17 Sept 2008 12:24:12 +1200

Argh, that last story from Finn brought tears to my eyes. It was so hopeful.

Yeah. You can imagine how I feel about it.

What does the high-functioning person have to do to get an "official" label of Aspergers or autism?

I honestly don't know — in some parts of…

Stephen Judd

Wed, 17 Sept 2008 12:14:13 +1200

Argh, that last story from Finn brought tears to my eyes. It was so hopeful.

Dianne's story stressed that he was self-diagnosed and that the mental health team didn't consider Aspergers as a factor. What does the high-functioning person have to do to get an "official" label of Aspergers or…

Public Address

Wed, 17 Sept 2008 12:14:13 +1200

Discussion from blog post.