AutismSA strengthening communities and skills for people with Asperger's

AutismSA, with the support of Community Benefit SA, are offering a unique computer training opportunity for people with Asperger's. To achieve this, AutismSA has teamed up with two very different community organisations to run a free training program for people who may have difficulty participating in other formalised training environments.

The result is an outstanding training course where participants learn real-world skills in computer construction alongside a fun social event. Participants will have the opportunity to apply what they have learned as well as to interact with peers in the broader community who share common interests.

Air-Stream Wireless is one of Australia’s largest DIY community wireless networks and for the last two years have been running a successful network gaming event in Adelaide’s northern suburbs called ASlan. The aim of the event has been educational and was designed to introduce wireless technologies and community wireless networks to people in the gaming community. ASlan events have become very popular with the gaming community as the organisers have brought a technology sharing culture to the event making them both fun and informative.

Network gaming events, often called LAN Parties, despite what most people might think, are extremely technical, challenging and demanding to run. Most gaming enthusiasts bring souped-up PCs in order to connect into a high-speed network of servers and other user built systems. Often running for 12 hours, they are very much a social gathering of people from a diverse range of backgrounds, knowledge and ages where computers are pushed to their limits.

The Air-Stream Wireless organisers bring real-world knowledge of technology construction from years of hands-on experience building and maintaining a broadband network that spans hundreds of square kilometres, as well as supporting many other regular technical events.

Another very different organisation is also offering it's support. SA Group Enterprises is an organisation who provide valued employment and vocational training for people with disabilities within a diverse range of small businesses including graphic design, manufacturing and computing. As a long-standing sponsor of Air-Stream and ASlan, SA Group Enterprises is providing professional advice in the development of the course and is also donating crucial software and network equipment.

Inquires about being a participant at one of the two courses please contact Katharine Annear at AutismSA on (08) 8379 6976