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...

Read More

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 I was excruciatingly shy and withdrawn...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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 ...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More