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Public Address
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1029

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Island Life: A Special Public Address Message

I've given over this space to Conor Roberts, who has something very important to say on behalf of our friends at Pead PR. All of us here at Public Address hope you'll take a moment to read it.

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Hayden Wilson
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 9

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

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Greg Wood
From: Now back in Aucktown
Since: Dec 2006
Posts: 16

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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.

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Kirsten Brethouwer
From: Rome, Italy
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 20

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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.

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David Slack
From: Devonport
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 378
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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.

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Paul Litterick
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 281

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Good one, Conor. I'll be there.

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steve sutcliffe
Since: Mar 2007
Posts: 1

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.

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Che Tibby
From: the back of an envelope
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1515

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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.

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Phil Mackie
From: Lyall Bay
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 4

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

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Tony Kennedy
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 165

...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.

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Zippy Gonzales
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 70

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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.

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Sebastian
From: Berlin, Germany
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 11

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

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Hadyn Green
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1086
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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?

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David Slack
From: Devonport
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 378
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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.

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Russell Brown
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 5279
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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.

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Che Tibby
From: the back of an envelope
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1515

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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.

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Riddley Walker
From: AKL
Since: Feb 2007
Posts: 890

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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.

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Russell Brown
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
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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.

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Robyn Gallagher
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 992

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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

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Deborah
From: Adelaide
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 610

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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.

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Martha Craig
From: Petone
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 22

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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.

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