Public Address | System (Home)

Posted at 4:42PM on 6 Mar 07. Permalink.

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

Posted at 4:45PM on 6 Mar 07. Permalink.

Fingers crossed I'll be in town for the night! Otherwise I'm gonna flog my ticket on trademe for HUNDREDS. All proceeds to Russell, bien sur.

Posted at 4:54PM on 6 Mar 07. Permalink.

can't make it still will be trying to make my way back from Womad with the tribes, but wouldn't mind if there's another way for me to show my (financial) support.

Posted at 5:02PM on 6 Mar 07. Permalink.

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 Conor@peadpr.co.nz , he'll fill you in.

Posted at 5:07PM on 6 Mar 07. Permalink.

Good one, Conor. I'll be there.

Posted at 5:20PM on 6 Mar 07. Permalink.

I feel for Russell, having a child with needs outside the normal spectrum brings all kinds of challenges, and when a school or the system lets your child down and you need to take him away from his peers, we know that is a decision not taken lightly. Here's to Leo..and all the other kids whose needs are not being met.

Posted at 6:34PM on 6 Mar 07. Permalink.

count me in for a financial chip in. the least i can do.

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 world, the better.

Posted at 6:39PM on 6 Mar 07. Permalink.

And me. I have been a 'free rider' on Public Address for years now. It is (Almost) the least I could do!!

Posted at 9:44PM on 6 Mar 07. Permalink.

...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.

Posted at 9:53PM on 6 Mar 07. Permalink.

I'd like to help where I can. If people are serious about a Wellington gig, I can put out some feelers. I could probably get in touch with some good catering, if not a venue or performers. I'd gladly donate some waitering time and perhaps an auction item too. It's for all the right reasons.

Posted at 11:01PM on 6 Mar 07. Permalink.

when these things happen, i am always sorry for my anti-ad stance ... delete my entries! i am gonna click through from now on!

Posted at 8:24AM on 7 Mar 07. Permalink.

Ala' Sebastian: when things like this happen I always think what about those families who don't have connections into the entertainment community.

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

Posted at 8:36AM on 7 Mar 07. Permalink.

Hadyn - Conor's message touches briefly on this:

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 well, which I daresay he'll have plenty to say about at some stage.

Posted at 8:58AM on 7 Mar 07. Permalink.

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 of the impact to the community.

One thing that will come out of it is an Asperger/autistic spectrum website for support and lobbying, and I've already talked to some IT people about developing some sort of practice for introduction to computer programming that would be portable to other kids. The degree to which people have been eager to pitch in on both is amazing.

I asked this a while ago, but perhaps this is is good time to ask again: I'm still looking for that person who's able to do that initial introduction-to-programming tuition. Via Alice, Python, game mods, whatever. I don't think formal qualifications are as important as the ability to share a love of it with a bright, systematising kid.

Posted at 9:11AM on 7 Mar 07. Permalink.

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 same.

Posted at 9:19AM on 7 Mar 07. Permalink.

great idea. with the amount of respect for russell and with conor involved, it will be a success. i'll be there.

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.

Posted at 9:45AM on 7 Mar 07. Permalink.

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 us, we can pay. I tried the Student Job Search website, but that basically wants you to sign up like you're a major employer, which didn't seem quite right.

He took really well to Alice, which introduces kids to object-oriented programming via 3D animation. If anyone had skills with that it would be ideal. 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. He made us a fireworks display for New Year's Eve.

Posted at 9:50AM on 7 Mar 07. Permalink.

I know a few guys who sit at different places on the autism spectrum. They've all benefited from a good education and are now in good jobs. Everyone deserves this opportunity.

Russell has given us this choice website, and arranged the Great Blends, so I'm more than happy to give something back. <3

Posted at 9:52AM on 7 Mar 07. Permalink.

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.

Posted at 11:52AM on 7 Mar 07. Permalink.

I was contacted by the woman who hosts this site a while ago http://www.hiyah.net/

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.

Posted at 12:05PM on 7 Mar 07. Permalink.

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 the callback rather than going via the website.

Posted at 12:09PM on 7 Mar 07. Permalink.

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

Posted at 1:06PM on 7 Mar 07. Permalink.

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 is for people on the spectrum to get their heads around who they are and how they're different.

Another reader passed on the link to this beautiful clip featuring the amazing Amanda Baggs, a non-verbal autist with a hell of a lot to say:

It sad but interesting that a number of commenters refuse to believe that the narration is hers. Because, well, someone who looks like that can't possibly have thoughts ...

Posted at 4:42AM on 8 Mar 07. Permalink.

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 is :) time for a google I think....

So, assuming there isn't going to be a welli event, can the fine folks at pear create a non-event? Ie can I buy a ticket to an event which doesn't exist, ala a donation? :)

Posted at 9:05AM on 8 Mar 07. Permalink.

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 - Conor@peadpr.co.nz

Posted at 11:17AM on 8 Mar 07. Permalink.

Hi

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 they had chased down any genes linked to autism so I followed the path to CTAG The Centre for Applied Genetics which has apparantly done a large study and found a portion of the genome linked to autism and within that a specific gene.

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.

cheers
Bart

Posted at 11:36AM on 8 Mar 07. Permalink.

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 of disparate studies finally shared data.

Hopefully we're seeing the beginning of the end of the mercury-in-vaccines canard and the various "cures" embraced by vulnerable parents. I had to explain to a mum of an aspie child this morning that as far as I could see, the mercury theory had no basis in fact. That's quite a hard thing to tell someone's who's been chelating their child for the past two years and thinking they've been doing something good.

Posted at 1:05PM on 8 Mar 07. Permalink.

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 thoroughly mod friendly and interesting to tinker with.

TA/SC especially, as apart from 3d modelling and physics stuff, you can get right down to the nitty gritty AI creation.

FPS schmeff-pee-ess.

Posted at 2:04PM on 8 Mar 07. Permalink.

Just another version of the genetic linkage story in the Toronto Star and I thought I better correct the mutation in my previous post - it's TCAG not CTAG.

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

ugh sadly I doubt it. There will always be those who tout "alternatives" to science and medicine. Sometimes well meaning sometimes not. I used to believe that solid science and fact would win people over but that isn't true.

However, we do seem to be begining to provide some really solid science for those who want it.

The really difficult thing with autism (from an outsiders perspective) is that some of the characteristics seem to be useful in that they aid in focussing of attention on a single task, in some cases aiding learning in some fields. It's almost as if there is a balance in the biology of the brain between social skills and the kind of focussed logic needed by programmers and mathmaticians and artists. So if you could eliminate (mild) autism from the genepool would you being doing good or harm? So much to learn:).

made possible because a lot of disparate studies finally shared data.

It does happen a lot in science, yes we have huge egos to massage but ultimately most of us want to do "good" and collaborating usually the best way. What makes it more difficult sometimes are the issues surrounding IP and the desire of parent institutions to avoid sharing IP.

cheers
Bart

Posted at 2:04PM on 8 Mar 07. Permalink.

world of warcraft has more addons and macros that you can shake a stick at, most of which seem to scale upwards in complexity depending on the skill of the user.

there's also the humungous online community.