[FEAT BC Admin]

Please use this section to advertise for things that are needed or are available for sale (or free). For example, ads for specific A.B.A. therapy materials, therapists, & baby-sitters are welcome. Your message will be distributed to members of the Discussion Group.

Topic

[Camila Monzon]

WANTED

Lead Therapist
Junior Therapist
Experienced Therapist/Tutor with potential to take on a Teaching Assistant position ASAP in Burnaby

For: A Newly established ABA Lovaas Team under Kim Kirsh of EAP
Sweet, smart, high functioning Grade 4 turning 9 years old boy

Have experienced in working with school age kids in an ABA program
Have genuine interest in children and seeing them succeed
Have positive, motivated, creative, engaging, energetic, fun, honest and reliable

Our ideal candidate will be dependable and willing to commit to at least one year

Each session is 2 to 3 hours in length and we require at least 1 or 2 sessions a week or on the weekend.

Pay based on experience and skills.

Please send your cover letter and resume to: smartaba@shaw.ca

[Dione Costanzo]

Surrey, November 22, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MCFD Payment Policies put Autistic Children in Jeopardy

Over 100 autism treatment service providers have complained they have not received payment for services within 30 days of invoicing the Autism Funding Unit (AFU) within the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). There is already a shortage of these service providers and those currently practicing are being forced to rethink their career choices. Families now risk losing current therapists and cannot attract new ones willing to put up with such financial uncertainty.

In September 2009 the Hon. Minister Mary Polak eliminated a Direct Funding option where parents could pay their service providers through a trust account. At that time, parents were assured that late payment problems would be dealt with. In the year that followed, these problems, in fact, worsened.

When contacted on October 4th, 2010 about the poorly managed AFU the Hon. Minister Mary Polak responded by saying "I know we've cleared the backlog and are continuing to work to solve other issues as they are raised by families and providers". However, featbc has confirmation that the problems are not resolved and service providers continue to not get paid within 30 days.

There are over 6,000 children in this province with Autism Spectrum Disorder who require therapy. Accessed through MCFD, this treatment will directly affect a child’s future. The difference between treatment and no treatment can also mean the difference between lifelong independence versus institutionalization.

Since autism treatment is not covered under Medicare, the amount of therapy a child receives depends directly on what families can afford to pay beyond the inadequate funding provided through MCFD. Despite its mandate to protect these children, current MCFD policies are actually interfering with access to treatment.

All attempts to communicate this to MCFD have fallen on deaf ears.

Last week British Columbians became painfully aware of what can happen to BC’s most vulnerable children when the Ministry for Child and Family Development drops the ball. MCFD indifference is allowing more of BC’s vulnerable children to fall through the cracks. Meanwhile, families trying to cope with the stress of autism are living nightmares every day as they struggle to keep therapists for their children.

-30-

(For further information contact Louise Witt at (604) 538-1370 or spokesperson@featbc.org)

[Susie Morantz]

ABA THERAPIST NEEDED IN RICHMOND!!!

We have an opening for an experienced ABA therapist who is fun, engaging and energetic to join our 4 year old son's in-home ABA program in Richmond! He is a fun, social, little guy who is verbal, loves people and learns fast! Our program has been in place for two years and is under the supervision of our Behavioral Consultant, Michele Shilvock and Harmony House. If you love kids, have great play skills, are responsible and dependable and can commit to 5-10 hours per week, then please join our team.

You will work one-on-one with our son with a focus on peer play facilitation and advanced social skills including material from Michelle Garcia Winner. Therapy will take place both in our house and in the local community.

All training will be provided on site with ongoing monthly supervision. This is a great opportunity for applicants who welcome frequent overlaps and opportunities to further develop their skills. You must be at least 19 years old and have a criminal record check completed prior to starting.

Experience in ABA would be great but is not essential. Experience with children preschool age and having a fun and positive attitude is very important!

Please email Susie at asd.richmond@gmail.com to apply & make a difference in a child’s life.

[Dione Costanzo]

The ABA Support Network monthly meeting is this Thursday, November 25, 7:00-9:00 PM

Surrey Sport and Leisure Centre
16555 Fraser Hwy
Use Arena entrance and go up stairs to MP Room #2
Time: 7:00PM – 9:00PM
RSVP: dione@abasupportnetwork.com

(map available online http://www.abasupportnetwork.com/calendar.php)

Topic: Social and Friendship Skills
Guest Speakers: Michele Shilvock, M.Ed. and Bohdanna Popowycz Kvam, B.Sc.

This talk will focus on:

* Social skill development for school aged children.
* The ins and outs of how to work collaboratively with the school to build in generalization and growth of social skills for children of all skill levels.
* We will be addressing strategies for both elementary and high school settings.
* We will also focus on providing strategies and tips parents can leave and apply right away.

Bohdanna Popowycz Kvam, B.Sc. is a behavioural consultant specializing in Lovaas style ABA for children with autism. She trained and worked with a Lovaas Replication Site for 10 years and was involved in opening clinics in the United States and in the U.K. In September of 2007 Bohdanna and colleagues opened Harmony House Preschool, an inclusive preschool for children with autism and their peers.

Michele is a Behaviour Consultant who has worked in the field of autism for over 11 years. She is very dedicated to the training of individuals in the community and continues to work with families and school teams to assist in the facilitation of team oriented working relationships. Michele works closely with children in the home and school settings, working collaboratively with families and community members. She is also responsible for the development of Harmony House’s internship program and works closely supervising clinical staff. Michele graduated from UBC with a Masters in Special Education/Counseling and Psychology with emphasis in autism. She is now working towards her BCBA certification. In addition to running the internship program, Michele also maintains a caseload of children diagnosed with Autism, providing monthly supervision for their home-based treatment.

Please join us for refreshments, information and discussion!

ABA Support Network
http://www.abasupportnetwork.com

[Dione Costanzo]

Further to the Support Meeting information just posted:

For more information or to RSVP please contact:

Tracy Hewgill, BA
Family Support Worker
Ridge Meadows Association for Community Living
11641 224 Street, Maple Ridge BC
Phone 604 467 8700 ext 119
tracy.hewgill@rmacl.org

[Dione Costanzo]

A message from Ridge Meadows Association for Community Living:

SUPPORT MEETING
For Parents and Family Members Who Have a Child with Autism

Please join us for refreshments, information and conversation:

ABA in Schools….What it can look like

The presentation will include a brief history of ABA in the Surrey School District. There are currently more than 60 well trained ABA Support Workers working in an ABA supported environment in the Surrey School District. We will hear about the process that the district and parents went through to achieve this working relationship. Lots of examples (including video) of the design and implementation of ABA programs in classroom settings will be provided.

Presented by:
Sharon Baxter – Board Certified Behavior Consultant, and
Nancy Walton – Teacher and Parent

Tuesday November 30, 2010
6:00 – 8:00 pm

11641-224th Street, Maple Ridge
Downstairs Boardroom

Meetings are held the last Tuesday of Every Month
No meetings in July or August or December

[Heather Burke]

WANTED EXPERIENCED ABA THERAPIST TO TEACH SOCIAL SKILLS – NEW WESTMINSTER (Queens Park Area)

We are looking a positive, energetic person to work with our funny and charming 7-year-old son, William. He is very sociable and is a quick learner who loves learning. . He is doing well in school, has made friends, has just learned to swim, and is taking karate.

Currently, we are focusing on refining his social skills primarily through play with friends and community activities. He generally does well one on one with his friends but struggles to balance his attention among a larger group and be flexible in playing with a group.

William has made amazing gains in treatment over the last three years through ABA therapy under the local direction of experienced behavioural consultants, Michele Shilvock and Gabrielle Stignant.

This position involves shifts Monday to Friday from 2:45-6:00 and is a great opportunity for someone who is looking to advance their skills as ongoing supervision is provided.

Our ideal candidate will be dependable and willing to commit to at least one year. (Most of our staff have stayed beyond one year due to their attachment to William).

Wage will be based upon skill level and experience.

If you are responsible, energetic, creative, and motivated, we would like to hear from you. Please email Heather Burke at hburke@telus.net

[Bev Sharpe]

Hello and attention everyone.

Civil Rights Now!, formerly Paladin Advocacy League, is a not-for-profit, 100% volunteer organization whose goals should be of interest to anyone with a child who has autism.
CRN advocates for public policy changes which will provide all Canadians with disabilities equal access to the equality provisions of our Charter.

VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES WANT CIVIL RIGHTS NOW!

Langley, BC, November 12,2010

The Langley Pos-Abilities Society is hosting a meeting for the public on Saturday, November 20, 1:30pm to 3:30pm, at the Langley Seniors Resource Centre, 20605-51B Avenue, to discuss the Civil Rights Now! campaign.

Zosia Ettenberg, the President of the Langley Pos-Abilities Society and the 2008 recipient of the Courage to Come Back Award, will be moderating the discussion with Civil Rights Now! Executive Director Paul Caune and his Board. “ I was horrified to find out how far behind BC’s legislation is compared to other Western countries,” said Ettenberg.

Civil Rights Now! is a not for profit, non-partisan, all volunteer society that thinks the way the government of BC delivers services to voters with disabilities strips them of their freedom and dignity.

Civil Rights Now! is organizing a campaign to persuade the provincial Liberals and NDP and other parties to make a commitment that if they win the next election they will pass legislation to truly empower voters with disabilities.

The Langley Pos-Abilities Society is hosting a meeting for the public on Saturday, November 20, 1:30pm to 3:30pm, at the Langley Seniors Resource Centre, 20605-51B Avenue to discuss the Civil Rights Now! campaign.

Civil Rights Now! website http://civilrightsnow.ca/

[Sharon Baxter]

Edmark Reading Level 1 and/or 2 (Print Version) Needed!

We are also looking for the print version of Edmark Level 1 and/or 2. If you are finished with your copy and you are wanting to pass it on to another family, we would like to buy it from you.

Please email Sharon if you want to sell your Edmark program(s) – sharonbaxteraba@yahoo.ca

Sharon Baxter

[Tyla Frewing]

Needed: Edmark, Level 1 reading curriculum.

If you have an Edmark Level 1 reading curriculum that you are not using anymore and are willing to sell it secondhand, please contact Tyla at tyla_frewing@yahoo.ca.

Thank-you!

Tyla

[Author]

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