Autism Light: Australia

Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts

Friday, November 14, 2014

Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect)

Autism Light #364 is Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect).

Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect), is a non-profit organization located in Sydney, Australia. They were founded in 1969 by a passionate group of autism parents and today are the largest provider of services to individuals with autism in Australia, helping 10,000 people each year. Autism Spectrum Australia is an Autism Light for the light they shine for autism in Australia through their direct services with individuals with autism and for their creative and effective efforts at raising public awareness of autism.

Values: The following is the values and mission of Autism Spectrum Australia as shared on the Aspect Website.

"At Aspect we are passionate about people, about being positive and about what's possible. We are committed to providing the best opportunities for people at home, in the classroom and at work. We are single-minded in our pursuit to make life better for people living with autism and we are devoted to making connections that help us to better understand people’s needs and wants (Aspect Website)."

The following is a video that gives an overview of the extensive work and programs of Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect).

A Different Brilliant Campaign was launched by Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) in November, 2014. People are encouraged to watch and share the "A Different Brilliant" video that Aspect created. If you are sharing on Twitter or other social media that uses hashtags please use the hashtag #adifferentbrilliant.

Post by Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect).

Social Media: You can follow the work of Autism Spectrum Australia at the following social media areas:

Contact: To contact Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) use the following means.

Phone: 1-800-ASPECT (277328)
Email: customerservice@autismspectrum.org.au
Mail: PO Box 361, Forestville, Sydney, Australia 2086
Website: www.autismspectrum.org.au
Webform: www.autismspectrum.org.au/forms/contact-us

If you would like to donate to Autism Spectrum Australia there are online ways to support them.

Special thanks to Autism Spectrum Australia for their dedication to changing the lives of individuals with autism in Australia. May they continue to shine a light for autism and grow as an organization.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Kmart in Bateau Bay

Autism Light #326 is the Kmart in Bateau Bay.

The Kmart in Bateau Bay, Australia is a discount department store. The Kmart in Bateau Bay is located in the Bateau Bay Square, which was built in 1984. Kmart in Bateau Bay is an Autism Light because they replaced some Christmas gifts that were stolen from an autism family who bought them at their store.

Jenny O'Donnell is a single mother who had purchased some Christmas gifts on layaway for her two children. She has a daughter Eliza and a son named Connor who is 15 and has autism. Connor's gifts included a popular Skylanders toy and some DVDs.

Jenny O'Donnell had paid for the items at layaway but then left them at the check-out counter when she purchased some other items. When she returned to get them they had been taken.

Mike Charlton, the store manager of the Kmart in Bateau Bay, said, "It was very unfortunate that this should happen. Christmas is about making people happy (Kmart replaces Christmas gifts stolen from autistic teenager, The Telegraph, December 23, 2013)." After hearing of her loss Mike Charlton decided that his Kmart store would replace the Christmas gifts that Jenny O'Donnell lost at the checkout counter.

Special thanks to the Kmart in Bateau Bay, Australia for setting an example for other businesses in kindness toward autism families. The generosity of this business made a difference in Jenny O'Donnell's family and is an inspiration at this time of the year.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Juan Mann and Christopher Webster

Autism Lights #196 are Juan Mann and Christopher Webster.

Juan Mann founded the Free Hugs Social Movement in 2004 in Australia. Since then the practice of offering free hugs to strangers has spread to other great cities of the world, including San Antonio, Texas, where a young man with Asperger's named Christopher Webster has been involved in the campaign for six years. Free Hugs founder Juan Mann and participant Christopher Webster are Autism Lights because of the way the Free Hugs Social Movement brightens peoples day, including having changed Christopher's life by helping him leave his comfort zone in social reactions.

Christopher Webster provides an average of 22 free hugs on a typical Saturday at his post across from the Alamo Plaza in San Antonio, Texas. He holds a sign that says, "FREE HUGS" and has the opportunity to meet dozens of new people. The practice is out of the comfort zone for most people with Asperger's and the experience has had a profound impact on Christopher Webster's life. Since beginning the free hugs, Christopher has had life improvements, such as the determination to start taking college computer system courses (Source).

Christopher Webster said regarding his experience in the Free Hugs Campaign, "It was stepping out of my comfort zone. Once it started, it became natural. I do it to make the world a better place. One hug at a time (Source)."

Here is the official video of the Free Hugs Campaign, featuring Juan Mann. It's a video that has received over 72 million views on YouTube.

For more information on Christopher Webster involvement in the Free Hugs Campaign read these online articles. You can also see photos of Christopher Webster at these links.

Special thanks to Juan Mann and Christopher Webster for sharing free hugs and making the world a brighter place for people. Never underestimate the power of a hug, especially when it comes from someone with autism.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Photo: The Photo in this post is in Wikipedia Commons and authorized for use by the author Miles Li.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Victoria Boland

Autism Light #160 is Victoria Boland.

Victoria Boland with her partner Andrew Rudd

Victoria Boland is from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She has lived in both Canada and Australia. In 2002, Victoria and her mother Viga Boland wrote the Autism Song, Don't Give Up on Me as an autism awareness song. Victoria Boland is an Autism Light for the way in which Don't Give Up on Me has brought awareness to autism.

At age 8 Victoria Boland started performing for audiences in her homeland of Australia. At the age of 15 she won two scholarships to Boston's Berklee College of Music. In 1999 Victoria Boland performed at a Shania Twain concert and in 2000, she produced her first music CD called All Woman Girl. Victoria Boland sings pop rock and alternative music. She also performed at Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee in 2002. Additional information about her honors and experiences in music are at this link.

Although written in 2002, it took 3 years to raise funds to record Don't Give Up on Me (the Autism Song). It was recorded in 2005 and was officially released on April 30, 2006 for the Canadian National Autism Foundation. The story of how the song was commissioned is at this link. The following is the original video presentation of Victoria and Viga Boland's song Don't Give Up on Me.

The following is a live performance of Victoria Boland singing Don't Give Up on Me.

The chorus to the song says, "You're the light in my dark, the current in my stream. my sun when it's raining and drowning all my dreams. Without you, I can't make it ... so don't give up on me. There's a whole lot of love inside the person you can't see (Source for Lyrics).

Websites: The following websites feature Victoria Boland's career.

Social Media: You can follow Victoria Boland and her partner Andrew Rudd on the following social media areas:

Special thanks to Victoria Boland for raising awareness for autism in Canada through her music. It is an inspiration to see such a talented musician devote efforts to an autism song.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Photo: The photo in this post is used with permission of Viga Boland.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Glenn Edwards

Autism Light #158 is Glenn Edwards.

Glenn Edwards is a 31 year old Camerman for 9 News in Melbourne, Australia. On February 27, 2012, he rescued Ryan Pham, a 7 year old Vietnamese boy with autism, who was lost near Kororoit Creek. Glenn Edwards is an Autism Light for rescuing Ryan Pham from a dangerous situation.

Ryan Pham had been missing for 16 hours. Glenn Edwards and reporter Rob Scott were covering the story with 9 News when the boy was spotted near the fast moving river called Kororoit Creek. Glenn Edwards described the rescue situation like this:

When I got to him I couldn't touch the bottom and we were up to our necks in water literally. It was freezing cold. I could feel his heart beating on my chest - he was so scared. The current was that strong it dragged us 30 metres down the creek. (Source).

Other news articles on this miraculous rescue can be found at the following links:

The user "johnsview" from Cawarral left the following comment on the 9 News video of Glenn Edwards rescuing Ryan Pham.

Watched this on the news and felt a great admiration for Glenn and his bravery. After years of seeing the media in a bad light Glenn has shown at least he is willing to put himself on the line for this kid. I hope he is recognized not just for his bravery but I guess he and his partner have scored a scoop and it should be recognised as an amazing story. Well done Glenn, you have probably restored many peoples faith in journalism with this act of courage.

Social Media: You can follow Glenn Edwards on Twitter.

Special thanks to Glenn Edwards for being an Autism Light. This story underscores the dangers that sometimes befall people with autism. It's positive outcome inspires us to not lose hope even in grim situations. One never knows when the opportunity will exist to become a hero to someone with autism.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Melinda Smith

Autism Light Classic
Updated on April 13, 2012.

Autism Light #37 is Melinda Smith.

Melinda Smith lives in Canberra, Australia. She is a mother of two sons and one of them has autism. She is also a poet. As a parent of a son with autism she writes for those experiencing autism from one experiencing autism. Melinda Smith is an Autism Light for how her poetry brings awareness to autism.

Melinda describes her diverse life this way on her website, "I have been at various times a Ph.D. student in Japanese History, a teacher of English as a Second Language, a lawyer, a tea maiden, a tour guide, a barmaid, a software salesperson, a legal editor and a law teacher (Source)."

Melinda Smith's poem, 'autistic child with acute auditory processing disorder' won a National Competition in 2010 sponsored by the Australian Poetry Centre. Melinda Smith has received a local grant of support from artsACT to write autism related poems for Autism Awareness Month in April, 2012.

Autism Light asked Melinda Smith about her favorite autism related poem from her site, and she directed us to the one called "First...Then...". In a prelude to this poem Melinda Smith writes:

"If you have people in your family or circle of friends who still don't get why you've been acting so weird since your child with difficulties was born, make them read this."

It wouldn't do it justice to quote a line from the poem here, because one needs to read the full poem to understand its deep meaning, so I encourage you to read it at her CircleQuirk Website. She is truly an inspirational poet.

Melinda Smith published her book of autism poems with Ginninderra Press in April, 2012. The actual book launch is taking place at events during the week of April 9, 2012. The book is a short collection of 24 of Melinda's autism poems and is named after her favorite poem First...Then... The poems reflect on people with all types of different relationships to autism such as parents or siblings, and also notes the perspective of both non-verbal and verbal individuals with autism. You may find information for purchasing her book at a section of her website dedicated to this book. Autism Light congratulates Melinda Smith on the release of this book of autism poems.

Melinda Smith's poem "Autistic Acrostic" was featured on Dr.Tony Attwood's Website. The poem reflects on a parents experience of facing a meltdown from their child. The first letter of each line spells an acrostic of a very important word. The poem goes like this.

Autistic Acrostic

Any day now, it will lift.

Under your mask of howls, I see

Two knowing eyes reproaching me,

Incensed that I should try to shift

Some blame, for this, our hell, to you.

Mummy feels like howling too. (Melinda Smith)

For more information on Melinda Smith's poetry and work you may check out the following Websites.

WordPress Blog for her general poetry

CircleQuirk blog for her poetry about autism

Aspie in the Family

Blog (Guest Post)

Scottish Autism

Social Media: You can follow Melinda Smith's autism tweets on Twitter @FirstThenASD.

Special thanks to Melinda Smith for being a poet that touches on themes that relate to the autism community. Your poetry is a light that is bringing autism awareness through poetry.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Photo: Photo in this post used with permission of Melinda Smith.

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