I met a guy (from Auckland Uni) who's on the spectrum yesterday. He came up to introduce himself at a seminar I spoke at, and sort of barged into the conversation I was having.

As a "sometimes" presenter in the IT industry, I have observed and had this happen to…

Which was just fine, but it makes you realise how complex apparently trivial things like joining a conversation actually are.

This is a remarkable and beautiful comment.

...the unnerving side of the genetic knowledge that's accumulating

There's quite a lot happening already in the field of genetic counseling on a whole range of genetic variations. There's a Genetic Service run by ADHB. I'm not sure in what instances they might advise a termination of pregnancy, say, but…

Daniel Tammet is a high-functioning autistic savant. He is the author of "Born on A Blue Day" a very inspiring book about his life and achievements.

Daniel Tammet is an amazing person and that book is just beautiful. It's sort of a shame that broadcast interviewers in particular always make…

Daniel Tammet is a high-functioning autistic savant. He is the author of "Born on A Blue Day" a very inspiring book about his life and achievements. He has become a bit of a celebrity, particularly…

Yeah that was I guess the thinking by asking the question in the way I did. Cliche or not it is true that some of the most valuable members of the human race have been anything but "normal". Recognising that, accepting that and taking advantage of…

http://autismdiva.blogspot.com/index.html
http://ballastexistenz.autistics.org/?p=65
http://partprocessing.blogspot.com/
http://autisticbfh.blogspot.com/

The "bfh" in the last one stands for "bitch from hell". Heh.

So if you could eliminate (mild) autism from the genepool would you being doing good or harm? So much to learn:).

It's become a bit of a cliche to say it, but there is some evidence that both Newton and Einstein were on the spectrum, which accounts for a fair…

I think we really need to get the 'dis' out of the language we use for people living on the autistic spectrum and get people…

http://hittingmetalwithahammer.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/cant-blog-migraine/

http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/node/3790

there's also the humungous online community.

Hopefully we're seeing the beginning of the end of the mercury-in-vaccines canard and the various "cures" embraced by vulnerable parents.

ugh…

He also uses 'Gary's Mod', which opens up the Half Life 2 engine (ironically, all the interesting stuff is in the shooters) and lets the user create stuff.

lies! neverwinter nights (1&2 – RPG), total annihilation, and as of last week supreme commander (the not-sequel to TA – both RTS) are…

Of course none of this implies a "cure" whatever that might entail, but certainly diagnosis is very important in terms of identifying children who are going to need a different kind of education.

Yep, the CTAG study actually looks like a pretty major step – made possible because a lot…

This just came over the wire and caught my attention because of the Russell's child
CombiMatrix Molecular Diagnostics to Develop Autism Dx With TCAG Markers
It's a biotech news item referring to the development of a genetic diagnostic test for Autism.
Which caught my eye because I hadn't realised…

can I buy a ticket to an event which doesn't exist, ala a donation?

Nic, you can post a donation here:

Hustle for Russell Donation
Pead PR
Private Bag 99911, Newmarket, Auckland.

If you want to make some other arrangement, you could email Conor Roberts –

Have passed the link onto a friend who has aspergers and is really into their IT stuff. I'd expect that you'd already know her though.

http://msbehaviour.blogspot.com/index.html

Well, I guess – as I kinda know Ms Behaviour and Chelfyn via the Psytrance/dance community – I really have no idea what Aspergers…

Have passed the link onto a friend who has aspergers and is really into their IT stuff. I'd expect that you'd already know her though.

Thanks – no, I don't know her but that's a very cool blog. The two most recent posts reiterate the idea of how beneficial it…

http://msbehaviour.blogspot.com/index.html

I have used the Student Job Search site to find casual babysitters, and firends have used it to find after-school caregivers. It's worth giving it a go.

Good call. I just had a useful conversation with one of their people – it was worth leaving a message and waiting for…

It is aimed to help young kids to use computers, and also for children with autism. I imagine it is too basic for your son, Russell, but I thought someone might be interested in it.

Russell has given us this choice website, and arranged the Great Blends, so I'm more than happy to give…

russell, what exactly do you need re: 'person who's able to do that initial introduction-to-programming tuition? tuition for leo or a programmer for the site?' any more detail would be helpful, could probably find volunteers for either.

The tuition part. And of course, thanks to what people are doing for…

russell, what exactly do you need re: 'person who's able to do that initial introduction-to-programming tuition? tuition for leo or a programmer for the site?' any more detail would…

I'm still looking for that person who's able to do that initial introduction-to-programming tuition.

how about someone with a ZX spectrum and one of those booklets on programming games in BASIC. having the commands written out on the keypads made learning programming pretty easy.

or, the c21st version of the…

Russell has some quite exciting ideas about building on this as well, which I daresay he'll have plenty to say about at some stage.

Or maybe now. I'm pretty humbled by what people are doing for us, but I realised what would really make it work would be extending some…

Once the costs for home schooling Leo have been taken out, Russell will be using the remaining funds to help better serve kids like Leo who are "in" schools right now.

Russell has some quite exciting ideas about building on this as…

Is there a thought that if this is successful it can be spread out past just the Browns?

...it should go on tour (at least to Wellington!)

Any suggestions for making it (or something similar) happen? Given the number of PA'ers domiciled in Wellington, a large turnout could be expected.

well, actually the least i can do is nothing, but that isn't an option in this instance. my cousin also has something like asperger's, and he's a pretty cool little dude. the more cool dudes in the…

wouldn't mind if there's another way for me to show my (financial) support.

Quite a few people have been asking about this. Pead PR will gladly accomodate that – if you email Conor Roberts at , he'll fill you in.