Changing the Global Mindset on Autism and Employment
Specialisterne Denmark’s founder Thorkil Sonne gives a personal account of his journey
55 minutes
2016 Annual Report
Directors Message
We have completed nine years at OTARC, and this year’s Annual General Meeting launches us into celebrating our tenth year! Thus it was ten years ago that I met the extraordinary Mrs Olga Tennison who made possible Australia’s first dedicated centre for autism research. Her decade of generosity and support has meant that we have been able to increase autism research capacity in Australia, which would not have otherwise been possible.
The last year has been a year of awards for our free mobile app ASDetect which detects autism in toddlers aged 11 to 30 months. To date, the app has been downloaded over 15 000 times, and won both the Victorian and National iAwards for Research and Development Project of the Year. As one often finalists in the Google Impact Challenge, work is underway to translate ASDetect into Spanish and Mandarin, two of the most common world languages. And Dr Josephine Barbaro, upon whose work the app is based, won the Autism CRC Research Translation Award, for the second time!
Our work with the Autism Cooperative Research Centre progresses well, with one of its signature projects, the Australian Autism Biobank, being extended to enable the collection of biological materials (hair, urine, faeces) in addition to phenotypic data and blood – and not only in children with autism and their parents, but also their siblings, as well as children without autism. This database will be a unique research resource for Australia and beyond.
Our research on employment of people with autism, in partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprises, has continued to grow, with the Dandelion Program having been extended in 2016 to include the Australian Department of Defence (with a focus on border security),in addition to the Department of Human Services. Adjunct Professor Michael Fieldhouse from HPE has been leading the charge to ensure that people with autism have career opportunities afforded to them within corporate organisations in Australia.
In conclusion, OTARC has had another successful year thanks to the stellar efforts of our staff and students, and our partners who collaborate with us to achieve better outcomes for people with autism and their families. I hope you enjoy reading this Annual Report which charts our activities, research and otherwise, throughout 2016.
#WAAD2017 Expend art exhibition: Artist’s Talk Audio & Video
Recordings
If you missed Prue’s talk at La Trobe Art Institute, Thursday 4 May 2017, the video below shows her performing ‘Expend’ the feature piece in her exhibition at Writer’s Block, Borchardt Library, during May; or you can view her talk slides or listen to a recording of the talk.
Video
Audio
(40+ minutes)
Slides
Download the Powerpoint slides from Prue’s talk
(note: 7.5mB file)
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Prue Stevenson, ‘Expend’, Acrylic on Wall (Mural),
240cm x 180cm, ©2014
Acknowledgement: Prue gratefully acknowledges
the financial support of this exhibition
provided by the Autism CRC
Join fine artist, singer, autism advocate – and 3rd Dan Taekwondo Black Belt – Prue Stevenson, in a special free talk at the La Trobe Art Institute (LAI), along with Alex Aulich from OTARC.
World Autism Awareness Day
Exhibitions #WAAD2017
Acknowledgement: Prue gratefully acknowledges the financial support of this exhibition provided by the Autism CRC
Expend – works by Prue Stevenson
Writer’s Block Cafe, Borchardt Library, La Trobe University Bundoora – Saturday 1 April to Sunday 21 May 2017
and
Artist’s Talk: Thursday 4 May, 5.30pm, La Trobe Art Institute, 121 View Street, Bendigo
Happy Birthday ASDetect!
Our early detection of autism app turns one
Since its release in February 2016, ASDetect has been downloaded close to 14,000 times across 26 countries, with 7,000 children registered, and 5,000 assessments conducted. Two surveys of users (n = 208) indicated that 60% of parents whose children returned a ‘high-likelihood’ result arranged a follow-up appointment with their doctor, highlighting its immediate impact on families.
Read more “Happy Birthday ASDetect!”
Director’s Report – Autumn 2017
A belated Happy New Year to all our readers! This is a particularly special year, as La Trobe University turned 50 (as of 8th March, 2017). The event is being marked by a year-long list of activities, and in the midst of submitting applications for grants, I have been attending some of these – I was at the La Trobe Expo hosted in the Queens Hall, Parliament on Wednesday 8th March, and on Wednesday 15th March, I accompanied Mrs Tennison at the 50th Anniversary Campaign Launch Dinner, held at the Regent Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne.
For more details on La Trobe University’s 50th anniversary: 50years.latrobe/events
News from the Margot Prior Wing (ASELCC – Vic)…
2017 is living up to our expectation that it will be a huge year! Our usual centre-based program is well under way, with the NDIS now facilitating services to several of our children. Working with the NDIS has been somewhat challenging, and we are very fortunate to have the opportunity to “ease” into the NDIS, as our core program is funded by the Department of Social Services through until the end of 2018. Read more “News from the Margot Prior Wing (ASELCC – Vic) Update – March 2017”
A wedding gift that gives twice
When Jaclyn Alburey planned her spring wedding this year, she knew that she didn’t want traditional gifts. Instead she encouraged her 50 guests to donate funds for research at OTARC.
Director’s report – Summer 2016
Welcome to the Summer edition of Another Piece!
Our first appointment at OTARC was Dr Elfriede Ihsen, a long-time colleague and developmental psychologist. Soon after she joined us, Lisbeth Wilks, our Administrative Officer, joined as well. Lisbeth has had responsibility, amongst other things, for delivering our quarterly newsletter, Another Piece, to you, our readers and supporters. Together we worked to establish the Centre and successfully launch it in mid-2008. Elfriede and Lisbeth have been the backbone of much of what we do at OTARC. Both will retire this year, and I would like to acknowledge their dedication and generous contributions to OTARC over many years. Read more “Director’s report – Summer 2016”
