“Le Cheval Bombers Ghost” fundraiser a failure? No way!
After “Le Cheval Bombers Ghost” failed to attract a bid at the recent Toowoomba Stock Horse and Quarter Horse sale, some people would see this as being a failure. Although it was disappointing for all involved that no money was raised, as I've said in previous articles this is not just about my son Delaney. This venture attracted articles in three National magazines, which is a fantastic way of raising awareness of Autism in this country. So a big thank you to Tony Halpin and the guys at Associated Auctioneers for their efforts.
There are currently 30,000 children that have been diagnosed with Autism in Australia. That means there are potentially 60,000 parents who are faced with the same dilemma. If the government can't afford to educate my child then how can I? Do I try to do something about it, or do I just let my child spend his or her days at school staring into space wondering what the hell is going on? Or worse let my child go through his education labeled as a problem child because of behavioral problems?
I can't speak for all parents who have children, with Autism I can only speak from my own experiences as every child is different and their needs will vary. For my son Delaney to have a full time teacher's aid in the classroom the annual budget is just over $30,000. After the New South Wales Education department makes its contribution there is a shortfall of $25,000 per year. Amazingly up until a few weeks ago next years contribution from the education department was going to be substantially less after it was announced a new formula was coming into effect that would no longer look at individual children's needs. Funding would be based on the amount of children that attended the school. In our case there are only 60 or so students attending Delaney's school, there are two children there with special needs. Potentially with the information I have at hand the funding for Delaney's case would have been slashed by 66%. Fortunately this plan has been postponed another twelve months after a huge backlash. Yet another example of governments not doing what's best, but doing what they can get away with.
While I'm standing on my soapbox I might as well just keep on going! In the unlikely scenario that Delaney will need a full time teacher's aid until the end of high school the total budget would be $365,000. That's a lot of money, but it is well documented that early intervention at this present time is the only known way of getting positive results from these children. To put this $365,000 into perspective, it has been reported that the $42 billion Rudd stimulus package has cost $1.5 million per job created, anecdotal information indicates that there are tens of thousands of
households that are now the proud owners of a new telly and I can tell you on a personal level that my $900 actually went to paying a teachers aid, thanks Kev. On top of that, the $14 billion of that $42 billion that went to the school building fund prompts me to ask Mr. Rudd and co a few questions. There have been revelations that a one student school received enough funding to build a library. How many extra teachers aids would that money have employed Australia wide Kevin? I'd also like to ask the government how much money did you spend on Mr. Rudds recent trip to the US complete with staffers, security, first class accommodation etc?
Have you not heard of conference calls or web cam? We're in recession haven't you heard? I ask the bean counters in the government how much would it cost if Delaney had to spend all of his Adult life on unemployment or disability pensions? Tell me Mr. Rudd do you not see the potential these kids have as contributing adults. Let's face it Kev it's well known that it's these kids generation that will in all likeliness be paying for your package. I think they're going to need all the help they can get mate. Will new buildings do that for them? And Kev in case you have little faith in the potential of these children read on.
It is well documented that people with Autism are ideal employees Danish entrepreneur Thorkil Sonne formed an IT company that hires mostly people with autism, ferreting out software errors for companies like Microsoft and Cisco Systems. The reason: people with autism have excellent memories, strong attention to detail, and are good at following structure and routine.
One client found that Sonne's workers were five to 10 times more precise than other contractors. Another trait of people with Autism is that they can't lie, it would interesting if one or two of these kids became politicians! So Mr. Rudd any money spent on these children is an investment in the future.
Phew! Sorry about that folks had to get that off my chest. Now it's time move to forward. David Banks once again has donated a Service to his Stallion Little Smarty Oak with the funds raised being deposited into Delaney's school fund overseen by the Tyalgum Public School head master Peter Meadows. Little Smarty oak needs no introduction he is an NCHA money earner and his foals are now only coming of age. By Smart Little Diablo this showy Palomino is the first Quarter Horse Stallion to qualify to export semen worldwide. For more information about Little Smarty Oak click here. To make a bid click here.
Here's a small list of famous people who fall
somewhere on the Autism Spectrum.
*Daryl Hannah, an American actress best known for her roles in Splash, Blade Runner and Kill Bill was diagnosed as a child as being 'borderline autistic' Christopher *Knowles, American poet
*Matthew Laborteaux, actor on Little House on the Prairie *Dan Aykroyd, comedian and actor: Aykroyd stated he has Asperger's, but some feel he was joking.
*Richard Borcherds, mathematician specializing in group theory and Lie algebras
*Craig Nicholls, frontman of the band The Vines
*Gary Numan, British singer and songwriter
*Jack White frontman of the white stripes.
*Dawn Prince-Hughes, PhD, primate anthropologist, ethologist, and author of Songs for the Gorilla Nation
*Judy Singer, Australian disability rights activist
*Vernon L. Smith, Nobel Laureate in Economics
*Satoshi Tajiri, creator of Pokémon
*Michelle Dawson, autism researcher and autism rights activist who has made ethical challenges to Applied Behavior Analysis
*Temple Grandin, a designer of humane food animal handling systems.
*Hikari Oe, Japanese composer
*Dylan Scott Pierce, wildlife illustrator
*Stephen Wiltshire, British architectural artist
*Alonzo Clemons, American clay sculptor
*Tony DeBlois, blind American musician
*Leslie Lemke, blind American musician
*Jonathan Lerman, American artist
*Thristan Mendoza, Filipino marimba prodigy
