ASD Christian Fellowship at Cafe/Airport

Dear Aspies, I am going to start a Christian fellowship for Aspies in Hong Kong. Location: We are going to meet at an interesting cafe as suggested by members.   Each time probably at a different cafe/Airport Terminal 2. Time: Biweekly on Sat, 2-5pm The purpose: To share about life experience, difficulties in career or social aspects.   Receive feedback on social skills if you wish.   Learn about the Gospel and the Christian Leadership skills. Target Audience: Age: 24+ Criteria: Socially challenged Education: Bachelor...

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Aspie Sharing about Creativity

BirdinFlight: my own experience I believe there's a lot to be said for this. When I was having a rough time in school every day, the one thing that got the bullies to stop bullying me was when they happened to hear me and a friend behind a wall, singing a song we'd worked out pretty harmonies for. Suddenly everyone who had bullied me in school dropped it or actually became nice to me. It was an accidental thing but worked like a charm, I discovered. I was academically very bright but was bullied for that. I was excruciatingly shy and withdrawn...

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Aspie Sharing: Not Fitting in Socially

Willard: It's funny, Bumble, I've always known I seemed weird or odd to others a lot of the time, I knew that my thought processes were different (I thought superior) to the way others considered things), but it's been specifically since my diagnosis, that I've really begun to appreciate just how differently others really are seeing me. I've become gradually more hyper-aware of the subtle facial expressions people make when I express an opinion; at the momentary silences as others glance at each other before the conversation proceeds; the silent...

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Strategy on YouTube

Introduction to Strategic Management ECON 125 | Lecture 24: Michael Porter - StrategySimplify Your StrategyInterview Strategy from Harvard Business School Business Ideas Google I/O 2011: Don't just build a mobile app. Build a business. Google I/O 2011: How to Get Your Startup Idea Funded by Ve...

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朗程 - 自閉症人士輔助就業服務計劃

智力健全成年自閉症人士前路何去何從? 「朗程 - 自閉症人士輔助就業服務計劃」啟動明朗前程 有本地研究資料顯示，不少智力健全的自閉症兒童成年後仍然在形形式式的大專課程中尋尋覓覓，箇中原因是普遍成年自閉症人士在離開教育體制後，在持續發展上得到的支援相對減少，令他們頓感前路茫茫。近年，自閉症兒童成年後的問題備受社會關注，但社會上投放於成年自閉症人士的資源卻相對不足和缺乏，加上社會大眾一般對自閉症缺乏認識，即使智力健全的自閉症人士亦難以得到就業機會。新生精神康復會（新生會）承蒙凱瑟克基金撥款資助，今年正式開展「朗程 - 自閉症人士輔助就業服務計劃」（「朗程」計劃），針對上述現況為面對就業困難的智力健全自閉症人士尋找工作培訓及公開就業機會，期望協助他們自力更生，融入社會。新生會專業服務經理（培訓及服務發展）鄧佩珊女士表示：「我們針對智力健全成年自閉症人士的需要，提供全面職前評估至公開就業的一站式服務，特點是以發掘服務使用者的個人優勢為本，透過評估為他們度身訂造一系列職前及社交能力訓練；我們並連繫公私營機構，建立多元化的僱主網絡，根據使用者的能力和興趣提供實習機會及就業配對，以期提昇他們的就業機會。」新生會特別邀請資深臨床心理學家潘麥瑞雯博士擔任是項計劃的顧問。潘博士在2006至2008年間跟進了64位自閉症人士的成長個案，就「成年自閉症人士前路何去何從?」主題進行深入探討，發現這群年齡介乎18至28歲的自閉症人士中，44%擁有大專學歷，但當中很多人不斷報讀大專課程的原因是難以找到就業機會。雖然半數人已投入職場，但當中52%只能找到非技術性工作，如清潔、速遞、運輸及保安等，相比本港同齡擁有大專學歷的人口則只有17%從事同類工作；而得以晉身專業或管理人員的更只有3%、遠低於同齡人口的29%。潘博士指出：「調查顯示，自閉症人士即使智力健全並擁有同等學歷，亦難以跟同齡人士一樣得到平等就業機會。大眾普遍對自閉症缺乏認識，令他們在職場上無法得到所需協助，即使從事基層工作，亦往住因未能適應而經常轉換工作，在上述個案中，只有15%人士能夠在同一工作崗位任職一年或以上。就自閉症人士而言，就職成功與否，很大程度取決於社工的協助及僱主的諒解和支持。」記者會上，「朗程」計劃準服務使用者阿邦及母親張女士即場分享他們的經歷。今年18歲的阿邦是應屆文憑試考生，暑假後將會繼續升學，但已屆成年的他希望找一份兼職賺取零用錢，嘗試獨立自主。可惜，過去數月找工作的失敗經歷令他非常沮喪：「每次面試後，他們都叫我回家等消息，結果都沒有回音，我找過文員、資料整理，甚至是便利店和派傳單等工作，但最終都不成功。」阿邦明白到自己缺乏求職及面試的技巧，亦不了解自己的優勢和適合甚麼工作，期望「朗程」計劃能夠給予所需協助。張女士感慨地說：「眼見兒子處處碰壁，我心裡非常難過，留在學校就像一個避風港，讓他有一個容身之所，但我更希望為他找一個工作機會，讓他真正投入社會，嘗試自力更生。我相信自閉症人士也有能力貢獻社會，希望大家給他們一個機會。」盧女士亦有過一段艱辛的經歷。她的兒子同時是患有自閉症和過度活躍症，是「朗程」計劃顧問潘博士跟進多年的個案之一。現年28歲的他於2008年畢業後，先後做過速遞、雜工、派傳單等工作，但因為適應困難，每一份都不長久，兩三年間已轉換了四、五份工作，直至遇到現時的僱主，才總算安定下來。盧女士表示：「僱主大多不認識自閉症，不懂如何與自閉症人士相處，其實只要有適當的協助，自閉症人士也能發揮自己的長處，做好自己的工作。我的兒子比較幸運，遇到一位開明的僱主，願意接納他的特殊情況，給予適當的協助。我希望社會關注自閉症人士的就業問題，要幫助他們正常就業，社會的協助和長期跟進非常重要，家長及僱主的支持更是不可或缺。」新生會期望透過「朗程」計劃，向學員、僱主及家屬三方面提供全面性的輔導服務，為智力健全的自閉症人士尋找明朗前程。本計劃現已開始招募學員，並積極建立培訓實習和工作配對網絡，我們熱切呼籲本港各界公私營機構積極參與。查詢詳情，歡迎致電2327...

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Differences between Self-centre and Selfish, Mind-blindness

For normal people, self-centred and selfish means almost the same character.  But for Aspies, there is difference: Self-centre means self-focus and self-conscious, lack of empathy in a sense that ignore other people's feeling or perspective.  Putting one's own opinion and judgment higher priority/authority than other people, which may/may not resulting in the advantage of oneself. Selfish means intentionally taking advantage of others for your own good. No two clients with Asperger’s syndrome exhibit the same cluster of traits, nor...

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My YouTube Videos

This video series is the first one to share my experience working with people on the spectrum:  4:05 Real life experience on Aspergers: fine motor clumsiness, stimming and bottom-up learning style ...

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Aspie Sharing: Office Politics

From Willard: I've had several management positions, of different types. In some, I had to oversee small crews under varying circumstances. It usually went pretty smoothly, but there always seems to be at least one incurable slacker in every group. It's almost like a mathematical principle in physics. Every group of more than two has to have at least one useless goof off. In several instances, I operated an entire department that was entirely under my purview and control, but some of the work had to be farmed out to other employees who were...

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Proverb & John

我兒、你若領受我的言語、存記我的命令、 側耳聽智慧、專心求聰明． 呼求明哲、揚聲求聰明、 尋找他如尋找銀子、搜求他如搜求隱藏的珍寶、 你就明白敬畏耶和華、得以認識　神。  因為、耶和華賜人智慧．知識和聰明都由他口而出． 他給正直人存留真智慧、給行為純正的人作盾牌． 為要保守公平人的路、護庇虔敬人的道． 你也必明白仁義、公平、正直、一切的善道。 智慧必入你心．你的靈要以知識為美．  謀略必護衛你．聰明必保守你． 要救你脫離惡道〔惡道或作惡人的道〕、脫離說乖謬話的人。 那等人捨棄正直的路、行走黑暗的道、 歡喜作惡、喜愛惡人的乖僻． 在他們的道中彎曲、在他們的路上偏僻。 Proverb 3:21 我兒、要謹守真智慧和謀略．不可使他離開你的眼目． Proverb 10 義人的口教養多人．愚昧人因無知而死亡。 義人的嘴、能令人喜悅．惡人的口、說乖謬的話。 Proverb 18 愚昧人的口、自取敗壞．他的嘴、是他生命的網羅。 敗壞之先、人心驕傲．尊榮以前、必有謙卑。 未曾聽完先回答的、便是他的愚昧、和羞辱。 人有疾病、心能忍耐．心靈憂傷、誰能承當呢。 聰明人的心得知識．智慧人的耳求知識。 箴言21：4...

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Aspie Sharing: Imposing view on others

octobertiger wrote: Well a couple of weeks ago, I made a post and you said that I was too intent on imposing my world view on others - and you were right. I never thanked you for that. Reply: I guess depends on the person. I usually prefer people to impose their view on me if they think what I think is not completely true. Because that can expand my mind. Sometimes, I am so obsessive with my thoughts that it takes a lot of imposing in order for me to see other perspective and I appreciate people go extra miles to do that to correct me. Unfortunately,...

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Why Aspies still better off going to Church?

Despite less than 1% of the Aspie population are Christians and being accepted by fellowship still requires certain threshold of social skills, there are still good reasons for Aspies to attend church.  The reasons are: Aspies love clearly layout rules and principal on how to deal with people.  The underlying principal for the sermons are based on love for one another and the people skills are clearly layout.   Worship serves the purpose of music therapy to sooth the anxiety and depression. The gospel is designed to serve the poor...

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Practice Scenarios

Real life examples contributed from Aspies derived from the painful experience of their worst failures,  such as losing a scholarship or job opportunities during the final interview, in hope to be a learning experience for the rest of the Aspies to avoid making the insensible mistake.  1. Friend addicted to drugs  (lost a schlorship) If your friend is recently addicted to drugs, what would you do? a) Leave the friend because he/she may influence you b) Try to help, be supportive, seek advice from experts and research...

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Asperger Traits

IQ much higher than EQ (IQ & EQ differences more than 1.5 standard deviation) 2-tiers maturity: Intellectual maturity much more than emotion maturity and social maturity (SQ - social quotient).  Sometimes people cannot notice because intellectual maturity mask emotion and social immaturity. Social skills has be taught, they cannot learn naturally. In autistic population the deficit is in cognitive empathy (figuring out the mental estate). Due to the starving kid is physically suffering it's easer to generate an emotional response than...

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Dysfunctional Thinkings

Impose your own judgement to override the instructions or judgement of someone with higher authorities e.g. A summer student were told that the office dress code is shirt and tie.  But the student makes the judgement himself thinking that was not necessary and wear jeans instead to work.  The end result is his losing the job because of his Ego and stubbornness in not listening to others who are more senior or experienced than him. 你要專心仰賴耶和華、不可倚靠自己的聰明．  在你一切所行的事上、都要認定他、他必指引你的路。 不要自以為有智慧．要敬畏耶和華、遠離惡事． (箴言 3 : 5-6) 腓立比書 2:3 只要存心謙卑、各人看別人比自己強。 Taking...

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Adversity Strategy

Aspies become excel at their special interest when they drill in the specific interest until it becomes intuition for them.  The special interest is usually something that they can develop within themselves independently without team support.  The interest can be common interest.  What makes the interest special is the intensity in the effort that gets put in. Successful Examples: Clay Marzo (Surfing) Clay Marzo began...

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Fail to Build Meaningful, Load Bearing and Supportive Relationship

Due to social deficits, Aspies are less likely to find and keep meaningful, load bearing and supporting relationship that can accept them as it is, provide feedback to help them to improve their social skills and go extra miles to support them whatever that is needed.  Even if they manage to keep a close friend for a few years due to certain circumstances but there are good chances are their lack of empathy towards others will alienate from the close friends over time when the close friends ran out of patience.  Most of these supportive...

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Controlling the Uncontrollables

Adults with relatively high cognitive ability seem at risk for developing symptoms of depression (around 60% chance), possibly because they derive their expectations for themselves based on their intellectual ability rather than overall ability, they are more aware of expectations of the outside world and their inability to meet those.  If they are raised in a negative environment, there are the possibilities of deep-seated anger against themselves (introvert) or against the society (extrovert) depends on the Aspies' inborn personality.  The...

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The Ultimate Identity Crisis

In this world, your identity is based on who you are, who you know well, how much money you earn, where did you go, your education and your occupation.  So if a person has been unemployed chronically, there is high risk of going through an ultimate identity crisis.  Identity crisis is a psychological crisis. For Aspies, self image is largely dependent on their job, what do they do for a living, the money they earn and currently had which means that if they are unemployed for a long period of time, their whole life has been collapsed....

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Q&A on Anger and Stress Management

If the parents often uses verbal attack and they may not aware of the negative effects on you, how do you forgive? You need to ask the parents politely to stop it right at the point.  Otherwise, hard to forgive if they kept hurting you verbally. I applied for a job at a country club as a waitress. I've been working there 4 days a week (when I'm not there I'm in school) and I honestly think this is one of the worst decisions I've ever made. I interact well with the club members and I rarely make mistakes on my orders, but it's so incredibly...

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Q&A on Handling Co-worker Relationship

If your co-worker has been bad mouthing you in front of your boss and your boss told you about it.  How to deal with this person? Just tell your boss, whatever he said is not true.  Let the boss deal with him...

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金燈臺

In church, Aspies naturally serve as a lampstand of pure gold because one can see the darkest corner that other people cannot see because of their attention-to-detail autistic trait, can think out of box and uniqueness.  That is why Aspies can so easily see the bad behavior of relationship predators.  Some of the bad behavior of relationship predators were on the entrance of the church and inside the church with a big crowd but surprisingly none of the church go-ers can see what’s happening because the bad behaviours are out of the...

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Business Etiquette for Aspies

Shared from Repent: “I tend to prefer one to one communication a work. In small meetings, I follow the rule that if there are 3 people- each person should talk about a 1/3 of the time, 4 people each person about 1/4 of the time, ect. In larger formal meetings I'm lost. I don't know how to act in formal settings. In a recent staff meeting the boss got up and started speaking to the group. He was very formal, and other co-workers started acting 'different', I can't explain better. After a few minutes he said several things about me and my job...

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China & Spain: Homeless People vs Peopleless Homes

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Devotion Notes from Kam Leung 傳道 (Nov-Dec, 2013)

Dec 31 他向你求壽，你便賜給他，就是日子長久，直到永遠。」詩篇21：4 大衛向上主耶和華禱告祈求生命在世的日子長久多一點，乃因他已接過上主加給精金的冠冕戴在頭上，盼望此美好輝煌的日子更多。特別之處就是上主聽禱告，成就賜予應許的日子，大衛在位正是見證以色列強盛，榮耀耶和華。我們見到大衛的禱告，確切的實現眼前，與神同行，合祂心意是最核心的影響。所以無論求甚麼，總要以愛 神為首，謙卑順服在祂面前。Amen！ Dec 30 「耶和華啊，王必因你的能力歡喜；因你的救恩，他的快樂何其大！」詩篇21：1 詩人大衛為著他作戰勝利而歌頌耶和華，交與負責敬拜的詩班長(伶長)獻頌。大衛王作戰之時一向不靠自己，乃倚靠耶和華的大能，惟有祂賜予亦是那從上而來的力量，才能攻克仇敵；更因著他專心敬畏耶和華，以救恩為樂，再沒有甚麼可以相比。我們在日常生活中遇上不少挑戰困難，靠的是己力，還是所信的 神！活出的是因救恩而大大喜樂！Amen！ Dec 29 「所羅門坐他父親大衛的位，他的國甚是堅固。」列王紀上2：12 一代合 神心意的君王大衛與他列祖同睡，昔日的一切都可以蓋棺定論，但無論如何上主看他的功與過都亦只有祂可以說定。大大衛被揀選、接受命定；奮戰攻克敵人、惡行私慾謀害他人；親近倚靠上主、痛悔罪孽過犯，上主仍是看在眼內，視為合心意的人。所羅門繼位將會比其父大衛更好，其國度更堅穩，活出上主賜予的智慧。我們見到一個人行在...

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