[FEAT BC Admin]

In this discussion area, please feel free to share your experience in implementing A.B.A. programs in the school system. We would particularly like to hear from those parents who converted their school teams to A.B.A. We’d like to hear the nightmares as well as the success stories.

Any insight that can be shared by school-based special education assistants to help parents would also be very meaningful.

Topic

[Dione Costanzo]

Help us create a database of precedents in BC!

Knowledge is power! Parents need to know what precedents have been set in their school district.

Have you successfully implemented ABA in school? Please send us your story!

Send it to dione@abasupportnetwork.com

We are creating a database of precedents to publish so that parents are empowered with knowledge of what has happened in their district!

Parents Helping Parents please share your story!

Thank you to Sabrina Freeman for this fabulous idea!

[Dione Costanzo]

The BC-ABA Conference is this weekend and they have a special offer for parents!

The early bird rate of $50 to attend the Saturday March 15th Conference has been extended for parents until this Thursday (March 13) at noon! This special offer is for parents only and requires RSVP through the ABA Support Network.

Please RSVP to dione@abasupportnetwork.com

Payment will be collected on site on Saturday and this special offer does not include lunch.

We encourage all parents to attend. It is a great opportunity for education and for networking with families and professionals.

View the full conference schedule online HERE – https://bc-aba.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/BC-ABA-2014-Conference-Program.pdf

As well as a full day of great presentations and keynotes, the ABA Support Network is presenting a seminar:

ABA in BC Schools and Parent Advocacy
(11:15am on Saturday at the BC-ABA Conference)

Presenters: Nancy Walton, Dione Costanzo, & Jodie Wickens, ABA Support Network

Description: It is important for parents, BI's, consultants and paraprofessionals to understand the role parents play in improving ABA services in BC. This mini seminar will include a brief history of ABA funding in BC, access to ABA in the classroom and how parents were able to advocate for change. Then presenters will provide a blue print for how parents can advocate for their own child over individual issues. Lastly, we will discuss the importance of paying it forward so that a stronger ABA community can make it easier for families to advocate for their children.

To RSVP for the special offer of $50 for attending the BC-ABA Conference on Saturday March 15th (parents only) email dione@abasupportnetwork.com

THANK YOU to the BC-ABA for this fantastic offer for parents!

[Debra Antifaev]

Hi Everyone!

After attending a few parent workshops, over the last year, it has come to my attention that some parents either have moved, or are moving, into the Surrey School District to access the ABA Support Worker program.

I have heard from parents that support for our kids, in some Districts, is dismal. I have also had a school board trustee tell me he does not feel it is necessary to follow the directives of "Hewko" as "there simply isn't the same demand for ABA trained workers" in his district. I have a hard time imagining this is the case.

I know that privacy is a large concern for many people but I would like to get an estimate of how many families have been forced to move (or are thinking of moving)to access proper support for their child.(and, perhaps, even an idea of how many are forced to stay in a particular area, but are not pleased with the service provided)

Could you please email me at: dmantifaev @ shaw . ca ?

I will only use the number and the district and will keep all other information completely confidential.

Thanks so much :-)

Deb

[Amy Teng]

Hi,
My name is Amy. Just wondering if anyone has experiences of sending your child with ASD to a preschool in lower mainland with your own BI paid by supported child program. Would you pls let me know where and how you did it by email me at amy.abateam@gmail.com
Many thx

[Jenny Miller]

The supporters of Susan DeBeck, the teacher who was fired by VSB for standing up for kids with special needs, have created a Facebook page: Friends of Susan DeBeck. Show your support by Liking the page.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Susan-DeBeck/724189614267264?hc_location=timeline

[Dione Costanzo]

MEDIA RELEASE

ABA Support Network
Surrey, BC
http://www.abasupportnetwork.com
Jodie Wickens, Media Contact
Phone: 604-837-5634
Email: jbtwickens@gmail.com

There can be hope for children with autism in BC schools

Parents want evidence-based learning programs and supports established in all B.C. school districts.

February 17 2014, Surrey, BC: Recent news stories such as the Seclusion and Restraint report and most recently the story of Susan DeBeck, a Vancouver teacher who claims she was fired for standing up for her students with special needs, shows the education system is in a state of crisis when it comes to providing appropriate supports for students with special needs.

A local non-profit autism support group is reaching out to the Minister of Education and district administration across BC to educate them about Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), which is the scientifically supported gold standard in teaching and behaviour management.

ABA is a structured teaching method in which functional skills are broken down and taught one step at a time. That means that children with autism can learn and flourish in all areas including language and communication, play and leisure, self help, life skills and academics.

Families of children with autism often put ABA teams together to work with their children at home. Dione Costanzo, director of the ABA Support Network says that the results are worth the emotional and financial stress.

However, once a child with autism enters school in a district that does not have supports for ABA programs, the results achieved at home can be severely compromised, says Costanzo. “All the successes achieved can grind to a halt and often the child regresses.”

ABA is widely considered to be the most effective, evidence-based learning approach for children with autism yet Surrey is the only school district in B.C. that has an established system for hiring ABA-trained teaching aides.

Costanzo says that the ABA Support Network and parents are on a mission to change this.

“Children have a right to an education and ABA is the best method to achieve this for children with autism,” says Costanzo. “Implementing these programs, and training and hiring more ABA teaching assistants is the right thing to do, and it's the law.”

According to the landmark Supreme Court of BC ruling – Hewko v. B.C., 2006 BCSC 1638 – what is required for children with autism to access an education is adherence to their established ABA programs, and the availability of teaching aides that are trained to carry it out. In most B.C. school districts, ABA programs are not accommodated nor do teaching aides have the proper training to support these programs.

Costanzo says that implementing the ABA programs is a cost-neutral exercise, it just requires the political will.

“Getting an appropriate education system for children with autism in place with ABA-trained teaching aides requires political will and leadership,” she says. “It will not increase costs but it will be utilizing existing funds more effectively.”

The ABA Support Network is a parent-led, non-profit organization whose mission is to improve access to ABA support and services for individuals with autism.

For information about the ABA Support Network contact Dione Costanzo at dione@abasupportnetwork.com or 604-817-1526. Anyone interested in learning more about autism and ABA in Schools can visit the ABA Support Network website at http://www.abasupportnetwork.com

[Mike & Jean]

What do children/adults with autism, people with physical disablilites, seniors or anyone who is vulnerable and subject to "government care" have in common? We live under the illusion that they share the same rights and protections as the "rest of us" or as I like to say, "the temporarily abled" Wrong! NO law exists which gives these vulnerable groups practical force and effect to the equality provisions of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Without such law, every service, including treatment funding, our kids/adults receive are completely discretionary and can be stopped tomorrow. That's why I encourage you to join us at Civil Rights Now! and find out what you can do to protect your kids and future generations.
You can begin by tuning into The Bill Good Show tomorrow morning at 9:30 to hear Ivan Sayers and former FEAT-BC, Medicare for Autism Now, and Civil Rights Now! director, Jean Lewis discuss why Civil Rights Now! exists and why it is having the Radical Rags fundraiser. Find out what it means for your family and all British Columbians with disabilities. The Bill Good Show can be heard on CKNW @980 AM. Call in to join the conversation and win free tickets. Order tickets and find out more about Civil Rights Now! @ http://www.civilrightsnow.ca

[Jenny Miller]

This is a letter written by Susan DeBeck, the beloved University Hill Elementary School teacher who was fired by the Vancouver School Board because she said teachers need better training to teach kids with special needs effectively, and because she complained about how a boy with autism was forcibly dragged down the hall for extended crying. She asks that concerned citizens write the VSB Trustees whose emails are at the bottom:

Dear Colleagues and Parents of University Hill Elementary and other Concerned Colleagues and Citizens,

I feel the time has come to explain my absence from University Hill Elementary since September 2012. I was terminated as a teacher with the Vancouver School Board on October 29, 2013 for insubordination and unprofessional behavior. Until my termination, I was instructed by the VSB not to speak with anyone about my case so I could not communicate with you, the University Hill community.

I wrote letters to the Superintendent and School Board Chair in June/July of the 2012. I had no idea these letters would result in my termination. What were my issues? I asked why students from the Acadia Road catchment, at that time in portables at Queen Elizabeth School, were denied their cross boundary rights and denied entry to openings at University Hill Elementary in 2011/12. The province and the Vancouver School district have a policy stating all students have a right to cross boundary if there is an opening at a school within the district. To arbitrarily change the policy and treat such action as inconsequential undermines the stability of the system. I believe transparency of governance is crucial to prevent the abuse of power invested in the Board and ensure that all students are treated fairly and equally. I was silenced when I questioned this.

My second issue centres on students with special needs. First, I wanted the School Board to address issues regarding the behavior management of students with special needs. I witnessed one of my students with special needs being dragged down the hall by his armpits when I asked for assistance after the child had been crying for an extended period of time. The Board upheld this action as coming under the protocols of Crisis Prevention Intervention training. I have CPI training and disagreed. The CPI states clearly that physical intervention is to be used only as a last resort and only if the child is doing harm to himself or others. I, as a teacher, cannot ask for and be assured by the Board that students with special needs will be treated in a respectful way when behavior problems arise.

Second, this mishandling of my student implied broader issues regarding the education of students with special needs. The incident points to the lack of important skills some classroom teachers and administrators have both in the behavior management and specialized teaching requirements of students with special needs. I explained to the Board that although I am responsible for the student’s program, because I have no training in special needs, I did not feel adequate to the task of meeting the needs of the students with special needs in my classroom, in particular those with autism. I had realized when observing some specialized programs and learning environments dedicated to the education of students with autism that my skills fell short and that as a result my students with special needs were being shortchanged. I asked that the district apply the findings of research with regards students with special needs and empower classroom teachers so we can provide more informed learning environments for our students with special needs. I have seen this as a systemic problem since 1982 when students with special needs were first introduced into the regular classroom. Over that period, I personally, have not had, as a classroom teacher, a single professional development day at a school devoted to special needs. Nor in my memory has the district offered such a professional development day. Although students with special needs are welcomed into public school classrooms, duplicities abound. I suggested to the Board that dismissing me dismisses my concerns regarding students with special needs, concerns we can only address together in a spirit of cooperation.

I suggested to the Board that classroom teachers are afraid to talk about the challenges and difficulties they have with students with special needs because to do so is easily misinterpreted as prejudice and not supporting integration, such as it was in my case. After expressing my concerns regarding teaching students with special needs in my letters, I was told there was doubt I could teach students with special needs and doubt I was wanted in the employ of the Vancouver School Board. As a consequence of this and what was deemed my insubordination, I was terminated.

We as educators consider critical thinking to be one of the most important skills we can instill in our students yet the Board tells me that as an employee, I am not to criticize my employer, that to do so undermines public education. A healthy system is one where communications are open and receptive and responsibilities are shared. The atmosphere I found myself in over the past two years was not this. I never once engaged in a dialogue. There was no interest in my professional concerns, though I know, they are shared by many educators.

My treatment says much about the values of the Vancouver School Board. How those in power treat those with less power is significant because at the end of this chain are our students, your children. I have included the emails of the Trustees who voted to terminate me. I invite you to offer them your thoughts in an effort to open dialogue on these important topics. PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO ANYONE YOU THINK MIGHT BE INTERESTED in sending their opinion to the Vancouver School Board.

Thank you, sincerely, Susan DeBeck

EMAIL ADDRESSES OF THE VANCOUVER SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES:
Superintendent Cardwell:
scardwell@vsb.bc.ca

School Board Trustees:
patti.bacchus@vsb.bc.ca

mike.lombardi@vsb.bc.ca

ken.denike@vsb.bc.ca

allan.wong@vsb.bc.ca

rob.wynen@vsb.bc.ca

fraser.ballantyne@vsb.bc.ca

ken.clement@vsb.bc.ca

cherie.payne@vsb.bc.ca

sophia.woo@vsb.bc.ca

[Dione Costanzo]

Susan DeBeck is a Vancouver teacher who claims she was fired for protecting a child with autism.

Here is the CTV news story from last night – http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.1687775

This is an opportunity for the ABA community to comment and educate those involved about ABA. You can post a comment here:
http://bc.ctvnews.ca/teacher-claims-she-was-fired-for-standing-up-for-student-with-special-needs-1.1687840#commentsForm-485595

My comment:
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a structured teaching method in which functional skills are broken down and taught one step at a time.

That means that children with autism can learn and flourish in all areas including language and communication, play and leisure, self help, life skills and academics.

Families of children with autism often put ABA teams together to work with their children at home. And the results are worth the emotional and financial stress.

However, once a child with autism enters school in a district that does not have supports for ABA programs, the results achieved at home can be severely compromised. All the successes achieved can grind to a halt and often the child regresses.

ABA is widely considered to be the most effective, evidence-based learning approach for children with autism yet Surrey is the only school district in B.C. that has an established system for hiring ABA-trained teaching aides.

Children have a right to an education and ABA is the best method to achieve this for children with autism. Implementing these programs, and training and hiring more ABA teaching assistants is the right thing to do, and it's the law.

According to the landmark Supreme Court of BC ruling – Hewko v. B.C., 2006 BCSC 1638 – what is required for children with autism to access an education is adherence to their established ABA programs, and the availability of teaching aides that are trained to carry it out.

In most B.C. school districts, ABA programs are not accommodated nor do teaching aides have the proper training to support these programs. Getting an appropriate education system for children with autism in place with ABA-trained teaching aides requires political will and leadership. It will not increase costs but it will be utilizing existing funds more effectively.

[Dione Costanzo]

Calling all parents in New Westminster

Are you interested in connecting with other families in your area? Please contact dione@abasupportnetwork.com and I will connect you.

Parents with school age children – what kind of support is your child getting in school? Has anyone been successful in getting ABA support in school? We would love to hear from you! dione@abasupportnetwork.com

[Author]

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