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News- Page 23
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Various Articles : Autistic boy forced to sleep on sofa
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Posted by sylvia on Saturday, August 21, 2004 (17:52:08)
Awares 30/06/2004
STIRLING, Scotland: An autistic boy has been forced to sleep on a sofa for months because his family’s home is too small.
The Robertsons have been told they do not meet the guidelines to have an extension built. And after a year on the housing list, they have no idea how much longer they must wait for a move.
Nine-year-old Sean Robertson has been sleeping on a couch in the family’s living room for months because his behaviour is too extreme to allow him to share with his brother and sister.
His mother, Debbie, wanted to add an extension to their home in King Street, Fallin.But Stirling Council says that, because Sean does not have a physical disability, he does not meet the criteria for a ground-floor extension.
The council suggested converting the attic but Debbie said: “Because this is a wood-built house rather than brick, a conversion like that wouldn’t meet fire and safety regulations. We have tried to find people who might want to take part in an exchange, but because our circumstances are so unique we haven’t had any success on that front.
“We are also on the housing waiting-list now. but there are very few four-bedroomed houses around and there are complications with housing points if we want to move to another three-bedroomed. Even if we did get one, it would have to be one which could be converted or extended.â€
Debbie said Sean’s behaviour was particularly unpredictable, making it impossible for him to share with his brother. As he gets older and physically stronger, he has to be even more closely supervised.
“I particularly want Sean to have a downstairs room so that my other two children can have their own space,†she said. “It would also make it much easier for me to keep an eye on him throughout the day. We are just living in limbo at the moment. We are very happy in this area but if we had to we would move elsewhere.â€
A Stirling Council spokesperson said: “It was assessed that a downstairs extension would not meet their son’s particular needs. The family is currently on the housing list for a four-bedroomed property but the council has very few such properties in its housing stock. They have been given advice on maximising their chances of being rehoused.
“We sympathise with their situation and are aware of their circumstances and are trying to help them as best we can, so hopefully a solution can be found.â€
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Various Articles : Dunedin autism branch
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Posted by Sylvia on Sunday, June 27, 2004 (16:09:32)
ODT.co.nz 05/06/2004
By Juliet Smith
Parents and family of autistic sufferers are setting up a Dunedin branch of Autism New Zealand.
Organiser Sharon Bain said Dunedin was the only major city without a branch. Previously, Dunedin autistic people and their families had supported each other through Family Network, but numbers had grown and it was no longer appropriate to run it from there.
Having a support system for family was important and being part of Autism New Zealand meant training and special programmes for preschoolers could be accessed.
"It's really great to have someone who has walked the road before you," she said.
Her 4-year-old son's behaviour had improved through attending an Early Bird programme for autistic children, although she said it would have been better if he had attended when he was younger.
Ms Bain was a member of Autism New Zealand, working with the Christchurch branch.
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Various Articles : Young entrepreneur finds success with 'rainbow eggs'
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Posted by Sylvia on Sunday, June 27, 2004 (15:26:54)
Ravalli Republic 03/06/2004
By Dana Green
Justin Johnson has always liked eggs.
But his eggs aren't like most boring white ones: The blue eggs come from his Auracana chickens, but he rattles off a list of the others: Blue Andalusians, Rhode Island Reds, Silver Laced Wyandottes, Ancanas, Black Minorcas.
The eggs they produce come in shades from a rich chocolate brown to a smooth blue-green. "They come up with so many colors - that's why I call them "rainbow eggs," Justin said, holding up one small, bright blue egg.
Since he was 13 years old, Justin has been selling "Justin's Rainbow Eggs" to the Hamilton IGA market. He handles the entire business - raising 50 chickens, collecting and washing the eggs, bringing them to the store, and recording how many cartons sold.
Justin also creates detailed, custom-made labels for his egg cartons that catch the attention of customers.
Each label takes half an hour, but they make his eggs stand out on the shelf, said Janet Johnson, Justin's mother.
"It's very time-consuming, but he really enjoys it," Johnson said. "One man said his wife is an art teacher and collects the labels."
In his mother's view, it is because of Justin's autism - he was diagnosed at 11 months old - that he sees with an artist's eye.
The challenges of autism - speech therapy, trips to the doctor in Missoula, and seizures that can strike at any time - are balanced by extraordinary talents.
"It's interesting how the brain gets heightened in certain areas," Johnson said. "He remembers everything. And since he was old enough to start drawing, you could just see he was going to be talented."
Johnson said that Justin's condition struck when he had a reaction to his medication as an infant. "He became allergic and sensitive to everything," Johnson said. "Even too much light would bother him."
The family - Bruce, Janet, and sisters Kristy and Amy - suffered through serious seizures when Justin was small, until they were able to bring his condition under control.
"It's been a long process," Johnson said.
Today, Janet Johnson credits Mike Foss, the therapist at Hamilton High School, and Justin's teachers, for encouraging him when school was difficult and he was teased by students who didn't know about his autism.
"All of the teachers look out for him," Johnson said.
Along with his artwork, Justin is also a talented entrepreneur. Randy Williams, the manager at Hamilton IGA, said they move about 50 dozen of Justin's eggs per week.
"He's quite a businessman," said Williams. "At first he couldn't keep up, but then he got more chickens. We've pretty much given it to Justin," Williams said, pointing to one whole shelf devoted to Justin's eggs.
The other employees at Hamilton IGA agreed that Justin's eggs are a popular item. "They just like them - they like the ranch eggs," said Sonja, a checker at the counter. "They think he's an enterprising young man."
Williams believes that some Bitterrooters still crave the taste of food straight from the farm.
Factory life isn't pretty for chickens - often they are heaped together, unable to move, while conditions are filthy, Williams said.
"It's a small market, but there's people who look for a fresh egg that hasn't gone through a factory," Williams said.
Justin believes that his chickens getting to stretch their legs, so to speak - they have free reign of the field next door to the chicken coop - makes the eggs taste that much better.
"They're the kings of the pasture," he said with a grin. "They get to eat all the earthworms and bugs - they eat natural food. Being outside and being in the sunshine helps them make more eggs."
In Janet Johnson's view, the egg business has helped Justin overcome the difficulties of his illness.
"We thought it was a great way to develop his interests - he likes to keep busy," Johnson said. "He likes to be organized and set priorities."
She gives much of the credit to Hamilton IGA for being willing to stock Justin's colorful eggs.
"It's really been a perfect place for him to sell, we can just bring them to one place," Johnson said.
Janet Johnson also credits Justin's faith - he named one chicken "Miracle" after he prayed for her survival and she lived - for helping him face adversity.
"He has a really strong faith - I think it helps him deal with his autism," Janet said.
Now that his egg business is thriving, Justin has plans for expansion. He is already breeding ornamental pheasants, and he is interested in learning woodcarving and opening a wood shop.
"There's lots of businesses I'm interested in," Justin said.
As Justin surveys his small army of chickens, pheasants, and doves, he smiles broadly.
"I may have autism, but I can do this," Justin said. "I'm pretty lucky."
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Various Articles : I fear for my autistic son if crematorium is built near us
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Posted by Sylvia on Wednesday, June 02, 2004 (10:29:26)
IC Lanarkshire 21/05/2004
In the week before the crematorium proposal for Sydes Brae is to be considered by South Lanarkshire Council, a High Blantyre woman with an autistic son has expressed concern about traffic that may be generated.
Annie McClelland, of 16 Sydes Brae, says her son Tom could be put at risk by the extra vehicles brought to the area as a result of the proposed facility..
Annie (81), cares for Tom (40), who has a severe form of autism. She first voiced her fears at a public meeting held on March 31 by campaigners opposing the development.
She said: “Tom doesn’t know the danger of traffic. He just runs impulsively; he has never been used to that level of traffic here.
“I have the right to be concerned about what is likely to happen in the future. It has always been quiet here.
“After 46 years on Sydes Brae, I don’t want to be forced to move.â€
A bus for people with special needs picks up Tom every day and takes him to the Auchentibber Training Centre.
Annie claims the bus could have trouble accessing her driveway if the crematorium proposal from Dignity Funerals Ltd goes ahead.
Annie last made the news pages of the Hamilton Advertiser by passing her driving test at the age of 75, after her husband died.
“It became imperative to learn to drive to maintain as normal a life as possible for Tom and me,†she said.
Officials from South Lanarkshire Council social work services are working with her to plan a suitable care package for Tom.
This would mean he could continue to live at home at some time in the future when Annie may not be around.
She said: “I have asked South Lanarkshire Council social workers who provide special assistance for Tom for their help by complaining to the council about the new proposed development. Social services say they are unable to complain because they are employed by the council.â€
Bill Douglas, of 33 Sydes Brae, who is campaigning against the development, said: “Annie is a neighbour of mine and I know she has concerns about Tom. Caring for him is a full-time job for her.
“I think that the conflict of high-speed traffic - there are a lot of HGVs on the road - with slow-moving funeral traffic, is likely to cause the potential for a serious accident.
“The gradient is so steep in places that lorries sometimes stall and have to roll back down the hill. In the last year, two cars have turned upside down onto the pavement and run for about 30 yards, upside down. On both occasions the road had to be closed.â€
Commenting on the crematorium application, Mr Douglas said: “We understand that South Lanarkshire Council planning officials are recommending approval of the proposal, which is what we were expecting.
“Our objective has always been to get the Scottish Executive to hold a public inquiry.
“We intend to put together a presentation package for the Scottish Ministers.
“We remain optimistic that in an impartial setting the logic of the arguments will be properly considered and adjudicated.â€
If approved by councillors at the planning meeting on Tuesday (May 25), the proposal may have to be ‘called in’ by the Scottish Executive because the council would have a commercial interest in the facility.
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Various Articles : Autistic row: chiefs cleared
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Posted by Sylvia on Wednesday, June 02, 2004 (10:20:13)
Scotsman News 21/05/2004
By Chris Mooney
FOURTEEN Labour councillors who voted to refuse to pay for a six-year-old autistic boy to be taught at home have been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The boy’s parents sparked an official probe into the actions of the West Lothian councillors after complaining to the standards watchdog for Scotland.
The couple said the councillors had already agreed to refuse their plea before a meeting to decide the boy’s future.
They said arguing their case before councillors who they believed had already made up their mind had been a "harrowing and humiliating" experience.
The way the council acted meant they were guilty of "failing to act in a fair, open and honest manner", the couple had claimed.
But the standards watchdog, which enforces high ethical standards at local councils, found that the Labour councillors had not broken their own code of conduct by agreeing to vote on the issue along party lines.
The couple, who have been identified only as Mr and Mrs A, had hoped to persuade West Lothian Council’s education committee to fund a home-based education programme for their son, which they believed would be better for him than going to a school run by the local authority.
The Standards Commission for Scotland’s chief investigating officer, Stuart Allan, has now ruled the councillors involved did not act inappropriately.
However, he criticised the council’s procedures for dealing with such individual cases, suggesting the local authority could have handled Mr and Mrs A’s case in a "more sensitive" way, which would have been "less stressful" for the couple.
In future, he suggested, people addressing such meetings should be told when a party whip was being applied.
The commissioner also recommended future hearings be dealt with by a smaller committee.
He said: "This case deals with the sensitive issue of an autistic child whose parents are determined that he should receive the best education possible.
"The council share that wish, but unfortunately, the parents and the council are not agreed on how that is to be achieved.
"Having considered the whole circumstances of this complaint, I have found that the request by Mr and Mrs A for a home-based education programme for their son was properly dealt with."
The complaint, which was supported by the council’s SNP group leader, Councillor Peter Johnston, had named 14 members of the ruling Labour group, including council leader Graeme Morrice, deputy leader Willie Dunn and committee convener Carol Bartholomew.
The parents claimed the council’s decision breached its own standing order number 17, which states: "Members shall not agree before a meeting to be bound to cast their vote in a particular way when the meeting is dealing with a matter where the decision may affect the interests of any person as an individual, and the decision is made after a hearing by the committee where the person has a right to be heard. This paragraph does not apply to deputations."
While Mr and Mrs A had given their evidence as part of a deputation, the couple and Mr Johnston had argued that the rule should apply anyway.
A spokesman for the council’s Labour group said: "It’s not surprising that the Standards Commission said we acted properly.
"We sought and were given advice prior to this and we feel that the decision was taken in a fair and proper manner, which has now been acknowledged."
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