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Announcements
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Depression, Mental Health and Crisis Support 06/04/2017
Depression, Mental Health and Crisis Support Depression and other mental health difficulties are common amongst people on the autistic spectrum and their carers. People who are affected by general mental health difficulties are encouraged to receive and share information, support and advice with other forum members, though it is important to point out that this exchange of information is generally based on personal experience and opinions, and is not a substitute for professional medical help. There is a list of sources of mental health support here: <a href="http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=18801" target="_blank">Mental Health Resources link</a> People may experience a more serious crisis with their mental health and need urgent medical assistance and advice. However well intentioned, this is not an area of support that the forum can or should be attempting to offer and we would urge members who are feeling at risk of self-harm or suicide to contact either their own GP/health centre, or if out of hours contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or to call emergency services 999. We want to reassure members that they have our full support in offering and seeking advice and information on general mental health issues. Members asking for information in order to help a person in their care are seeking to empower both themselves and those they represent, and we would naturally welcome any such dialogue on the forum. However, any posts which are deemed to contain inference of personal intent to self-harm and/or suicide will be removed from the forum and that person will be contacted via the pm system with advice on where to seek appropriate help. In addition to the post being removed, if a forum member is deemed to indicate an immediate risk to themselves, and are unable to be contacted via the pm system, the moderating team will take steps to ensure that person's safety. This may involve breaking previous confidentiality agreements and/or contacting the emergency services on that person's behalf. Sometimes posts referring to self-harm do not indicate an immediate risk, but they may contain material which others find inappropriate or distressing. This type of post will also be removed from the public forum at the moderator's/administrator's discretion, considering the forum user base as a whole. If any member receives a PM indicating an immediate risk and is not in a position (or does not want) to intervene, they should forward the PM to the moderating team, who will deal with the disclosure in accordance with the above guidelines. We trust all members will appreciate the reasoning behind these guidelines, and our intention to urge any member struggling with suicidal feelings to seek and receive approproiate support from trained and experienced professional resources. The forum guidelines have been updated to reflect the above. Regards, The mod/admin team
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Aeolienne
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'Cruel' pauper funerals don't allow family and friends to mourn loved onesThere is no ceremony to attend if a pauper funeral is organised by Exeter City CouncilFamily members are not able to attend services paid for by Exeter City Council - also known as a pauper's funeral.In such instances the local authority pays a third party to carry out a closed cremation of the body.No ceremony is held and the council is not told when the cremations are taking place - so it is not possible for the family and friends of the dead person to attend.An investigation carried out by the Sunday Times said that in a leaked letter a city council official told a grieving man: “The body is passed to the crematorium in Exeter, who arrange a closed crematorium...this is not open to friends or family, I’m afraid.”Earlier this month, Devon Live reported how residents in Magdalen Road, Exeter, were planning their own fitting farewell for popular community figure Monica Law, 82, after being told a closed cremation had been arranged for her by Exeter City Council which they were unable to attend.In response to the Sunday Times investigation, an Exeter City Council spokesman said: "The council pays for the services of a third party to carry out ‘closed cremations’ in these circumstances.“In these cases we may write to friends or family informing them of the situation. However, there is no ceremony to attend."Because of this arrangement the council is not aware of when these funerals take place.”More than 110 MPs have told Theresa May to act on the funeral poverty “crisis” following the Sunday Times investigation.The MPs signed a letter to the prime minister describing the findings as “a national disgrace”. They demand a system to stop councils using “sickening” tactics to deter poverty-stricken residents applying for public-health or pauper’s funerals.“Councils across the UK are indulging in cynical punishment of the poor."A no-frills funeral is one thing, but it is unfathomable that the poorest families are being banned from attending those funerals full stop,” it reads.“One woman was told ‘don’t bother’ when trying to attend her brother’s public-health funeral last December. This behaviour must end.”The campaign is led by Carolyn Harris, Labour MP for Swansea East, whose son, Martin, eight, was killed in a road accident in 1989. She used a load and a “whip-around” to pay for the funeral.Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw said: “This feels like we’re returning to the cruelty and indignity of the Victorian age."Funerals are when we have the chance to say goodbye to our loved ones and celebrate their lives with family and friends."Their dramatically rising cost and the growing poverty suffered by some families under this Government are making tragic cases like this all the more common.“People can apply for help with funeral expenses from the Government’s Social Fund, but this has not kept up with the rising cost of funerals and the Government should review this as a matter of urgency.”Source: Exeter Express & Echo via Devon Live
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Another discount is available on Forest Holidays, this time for 5%: More info
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Even worse is the excessive use of "like". Aaagh!
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Why? What if none of his descendants want to do the job, or are any good at it? Is it really fair to subject anyone to such expectations? Look at the damage caused to the current heir to the British throne: Prince Charles, a victim of monarchists' cruelty (originally written in 2003, prior to Charles's second marriage)
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Royalist? How are we going to choose a monarch?
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Here's another one, the aptly-named Frensham Great Pond near Farnham in Surrey: The secret beach in Surrey that you might not know exists
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Robot could help reduce unemployment amongst autistic people
Aeolienne replied to Aut_Scot's topic in General Discussion
It's all well and good having assistance to "deal with social signals in workplace situations" but there's the small(!) matter of having to get through the interview process first. -
Early stage social enterprise creating digital solutions for autistic children
Aeolienne posted a topic in Education
TallStick is an early stage social enterprise creating digital solutions that support autistic children, their parents and teachers. They have a long-term goal of open sourcing data in order to model the cognitive function of those with autism and improve their lives, and are looking for feedback from parents of autistic children (up to age 16) Link to survey -
This is a mixed-gender forum. Please address us collectively as "everyone" or "people".
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Since I last posted, two Meetup groups in my area have come in to being, Adults with Autism - West Midlands and Adults with Autism, Leamington Spa. I have attended some of their meetups, albeit infrequently. The first one (Birmingham-based) have settled for the first Sunday of each month which is no good for me as that's when I volunteer at Foundry Wood nature reserve.
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should we stop artificial inteligence?
Aeolienne replied to dotmarsdotcom's topic in General Discussion
On the subject of artificial intelligence... Google Glass is a hit for children with autism -
Posted with moderator approval- BBC Employable Me looking for people to take part in series 2
Aeolienne replied to Emma Optomen TV's topic in Beyond Adolescence
I took part in the first series, when I was 40. However my contribution was reduced to a short film on BBC3. I admit to feeling quite envious when I watched the second series and saw how the format had changed. If only I could have benefitted from assistance with creative job searching techniques; maybe if I had the programme makers wouldn't have needed to fake a happy ending. Contrary to what the video implies, what I was actually offered was a temporary job as an agency worker at National Grid, earning less than a graduate trainee. Less than a year later I was told that I hadn't displayed sufficient analytical ability to be upgraded to a permanent role, and out I went. So much for Aspies and their special talents! -
Check out this new initiative from Aston University (in Birmingham): National centre set up to promote learning all kinds of subjects in a foreign language Year 10s at one school make a grade-and-a-half more progress after learning their usual school subjects in French A national centre dedicated to the teaching of school subjects in a foreign language has been launched. The scheme, led by Aston University and Bordesley Green Girls’ School with input from Birmingham City Council, forms part of efforts to increase uptake of students deciding to continue studying modern languages, and to raise achievement levels across all subjects. Learning Through Languages UK will connect the existing community of teachers and lecturers that deliver lessons in a foreign language, known as CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning). The ultimate aim is to develop a ‘golden thread’ of language learning from primary school through to university. Dr Emmanuelle Labeau, Co-Director of the Centre for Language Research (CLaRA) at Aston University and one of the lead academics, said: “Across the country there are pockets of activity in CLIL, but these remain fragmented and lack sustainability. Evidence of CLIL’s application in other countries has shown how a national centre can spread the word and use of CLIL and consequently the improvement in both language acquisition and achievement. We believe that language is a skill that can be accessed by all, and given the right approach, children from any context and at any level can achieve success.” Bordesley Green Girls’ School has seen a rise in all key stage three subjects thanks to the adoption of CLIL. 89% of students at the school study languages at GCSE and 81% of those girls said that they enjoy the subject. Judith Woodfield Head Teacher said: “Year 10 students who have studied geography, business and science in French in years 7 and 8 are making over a grade-and-a-half more progress in humanities subjects, a grade higher in French and two-thirds of a grade higher in other Ebacc subjects. “We believe that our international curriculum is developing the problem solving skills needed to access the more challenging GCSEs. Nationally modern foreign languages are not being taken up by all students as they are perceived as being harder. Our students enter the school well below the national average, but their tremendous motivation towards languages and learning subjects through languages is ensuring that that they have the best possible chance of reaching higher levels of attainment.” The centre was launched at the school on Friday April 27th, with representatives from the Department for Education, teachers’ associations and distinguished scholars due to attend. Original article
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Do you really consider yourself to be an autism suffererer? (emphasis mine)
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Autistic student faces jail for attempted Tube bomb
Aeolienne replied to Aeolienne's topic in General Discussion
What's so hilarious?