[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

[Jenny Obando]

This message is in response to Claudette Varley. My children too attended MEI and we had a wonderful experience.

I would suggest you talk to the principal and let them know you have a consultant that knows your child and an approach that works and is funded.

Feel free to use my name as a reference of what they previously accepted and supported with great success.
We moved in November 2010 so it is recent. I had two of my children at the school and the school was very supportive , we had an amazing SEA and Resource teacher.

It just might be that the new principal is not aware of it. Mr Jansen was the principal and I believe he is the superintendent now. Again feel free to mention my name Jenny Obando and the Worobey boys.

I hope it helps.
Jenny Obando

[Bev Sharpe]

A reminder to all:

The FEAT BC Discussion Group has been designed to discuss any topic relevant to home-based A.B.A. programs (including Government funding and school issues). When we use the term A.B.A., we mean discrete-trial-based interventions, also referred to as "Applied Behaviour Analysis" or "Lovaas-type" Intensive Behavioural Treatment for autism and related disorders. This is not an appropriate forum to discuss the latest, unscientific 'cure of the day.'or "Alternative therapies.|

ABA is the only scientific, data-backed, peer-reviewed treatment for Autism. Its efficacy is beyond debate. Parents, do your homework, read the data, spend your money, and your child's precious time wisely. Do what works: Applied Behaviour Analysis.

Beverley Sharpe
Proud parent of Miss A

[Mike & Jean]

It looks like this workshop is very timely….

Are you going in circles trying to get what your child needs?

Are you ready to hear what you really need to know?

Are you ready to take action?

If so, we’re back…by popular demand…

The Medicare for Autism Now! Society presents:

“Getting it Done!”
…an “on-the-job * hands-on * “this is how you do it”

Advocacy Workshop

Saturday, November 26th: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
Studio 3 Meeting Room –
W.C. Blair Recreation Centre
22200 Fraser Highway, Langley, BC
(coincidentally – just a hop-skip and a jump from the Langley School District Office)

Presenters: Jean Lewis and David Marley – founding directors of the Medicare for Autism Now! Society

$119.00 per person/$189.00 per couple (same family) – lunch included

All proceeds go to Medicare for Autism Now’s advocacy initiatives

Spaces are very limited, and due to demand, many have been pre-sold – so register today!

To register: email: mfanow@gmail.com or
call: 604-290-5737.

Topics will include:

Advocacy 101

“It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act.”

As the parent of a special needs child, you must represent your child’s interests at school, in the community, everywhere. You cannot leave this job to others! Advocacy is not a complex or mysterious process. It requires clarity, focus and persistence. It also requires certain skills:

This workshop will teach you how to:

• Gather facts, organize information, get ready
• Understand the Rules of the Game
• Plan and prepare for success
• Document, document, document…
• Ask the right questions…listen to the answers
• Identify problems and propose solutions
• Drive the process

Advocacy at School

“A good education is the next best thing to a pushy mother.” Charles Schulz

This workshop will teach you how to:

• Become your child’s case manager
• Understand your school district’s Rules of the Game…who are the players and decision makers?
• Overcome objections and pitfalls
• Create an effective IEP
• Create effective paper trails, prepare documentation and letters
• Prepare for and manage school meetings
• Understand and use the Hewko decision

Autism treatment funding – securing its future:

“If we don’t know our history, we are destined to repeat it”

The landmark Auton decision is the only reason any autism funding exists today. This funding is in jeopardy because there is no statute law to protect it. The decision to continue funding, or not, can be made on a whim by provincial politicians.

• Learn the history of the struggle to have medically necessary autism treatment universally accessible and covered by Medicare.
• Learn why we need a Canadians with Disabilities Act and an Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
• Learn about recent and future initiatives to enshrine autism treatment under Medicare.
• Learn why your children need you to get involved

We believe people learn best by “doing” rather than watching – so – be prepared to participate and receive on-the-job coaching. We promise – you have never had this much fun in the school principal’s office! Several guest players will join us in re-creating some of the most common and troubling “school scenarios” or nightmares for us to practice our newly-acquired advocacy skills.
Check our website at http://www.medicareforautismnow.org to see what parents who attended our April 30th workshop had to say. Don’t be disappointed – register today. This workshop is for parents only.

About the presenters:

Jean Lewis:

Jean has been actively involved in the autism treatment movement since 1996, when her youngest son was diagnosed with autism. She became the co-founder and leading spokesperson for FEAT of BC (Families for Early Autism Treatment of BC), an organization dedicated to obtaining science-based autism treatment (ABA) within BC’s healthcare system. Jean was the co-chair of the litigation steering committee for Auton, a Canadian landmark Charter disability case. She performed the same role in Hewko, litigation aimed at ensuring children with autism gain equal access to BC’s education system.

In 2008, Jean co-founded the Medicare for Autism Now! Society, a non-partisan, national advocacy group focused on making science-based autism treatment (ABA) universally accessible and covered under Medicare. Since 1996, Jean has advised hundreds of parents about advocacy, treatment and education issues related to autism. She has presented at numerous rallies, workshops and conferences in BC, Ontario and the Maritimes. Jean is also a member of Civil Rights Now! board of directors.

David Marley:

David has spent his professional career as a trial lawyer, public policy analyst or senior political advisor at both the federal and provincial government levels. Since 1972, he has performed leading roles in over a dozen election campaigns in BC or Ontario. David’s political activity has involved organizing and presenting at many campaign schools and constituency association training sessions.

Throughout his career, he has served as a director of various not-for-profit organizations including, Medicare for Autism Now! and Civil Rights Now!, providing them with strategic counsel. In 2005 and 2008, David designed and helped implement a national political strategy for FEAT of BC and is a co-founder of the Medicare for Autism Now! Society.

[Claudette Varley]

Here is my personal E-mail if anyone wishes to respond to my earlier post concerning POPARD….
chloesaul@hotmail.com

Thanks,
Claudette Varley

[David Chan]

Hi Claudette, could u post our email please.

Dave
Mr. P's Dad

[Claudette Varley]

Here is our problem. I have worked very hard with my son with home based ABA therapy over the last 2 years with great success. I was planning on homeschooling him but I could clearly see he was ready to try to go school. My son is 6 1/2 and is in part time Kindergarten at MEI(private Christian School) in Abbotsford.

So far he is exceeding our expectations and doing very well. I have met with the Special Ed Teacher, his SEA, homeroom teacher and my ABA Consultant a few times this year.

They have been receptive to his ABA therapy and his SEA (with instruction from our ABA Consultant) has done a fabulous job at maintaining consistenecy between our home based ABA therapy and school.

Our ABA therapist and myself do not see the need for POPARD as he is doing so well. I have our OT coming to the Schhol next week to help with sensory issues and that is the last person I feel we need added to our team. HOWEVER, the Special Ed teacher told us we had no choice with regard to POPARD and that if we wanted to continue to refuse the services of POPARD to meet with the Superintendent. We met with the Superintendent last Tuesday, Oct 4th and he basically told us that the use of POPARD is the schools policy and we can either use POPARD or leave the school. I then contacted POPARD and spoke with the Director herself who stated without our permission POPARD services could not be utilized. SO here is where I am stuck. What I am trying to figure out is if the School has the right to dictate the use of POPARD?

Who else could I contact that would have knowledge in regard to the BC School Act or Private School Act? I have read and understand the " Hewko" case so I was thinking of contacting the Lawyers who helped the Hewko family.

Any suggestions, advice etc would be greatly appreciated.

Thnak you again,

Claudette Varley

[Stella Li]

Reminder of the Autism Society Burnaby group meeting this Friday the 30th at 10am. If you need support on school issues particularly the use of Special Education Assistant, and you can come out during school hours but not the evenings, this meeting is for you.

Our upcoming ASBC Burnaby Support Group meeting details are as follows:

Date: Friday, September 30, 2011

Time: 10am to 12noon

Venue: Board Room, Autism Society of BC, #303-3701 East Hastings, Burnaby

We’ll have a video presentation with handouts on Kathryn Theroux’s presentation on "Use of SEA support — pros, cons and how and when to reduce support?” followed by discussion and parent connections.

Topic:
Kathryn will present a brief summary of research on the use of educational assistants to teach children with special needs. She will also review recommendations on the most effective ways to employ special educational assistants (SEAs). When and how to reduce SEA support will be discussed in very specific detail, with many opportunities for audience questions and comments.

Speaker on video:
Kathryn Theroux, M.Sc., RCC, ABLE Developmental Clinic, is a behavioral consultant and counselor specializing in the treatment of children with pervasive developmental disorders and their families. Kathryn worked for three years at the New England Center for Children, teaching children with autism using the principles of applied behavior analysis. She received her master's degree in clinical psychology at Long Island University in New York and moved to British Columbia in 2007. In addition to her private practice, Kathryn teaches in the ABA Support Worker program at Surrey College and co-directs Summer Social, a summer camp for children with social deficits, with registered SLP Jenny Gorton.

Coffee/Tea and snacks will be provided. Donations are greatly appreciated.

Please RSVP to shui@autismbc.ca ASAP.

[Camila Monzon]

Fellow Parent's

I am trying to find better school and home schooling for my child.

URBAN ACADEMY in New Westminster.
Anybody who has experiences and information regarding their services(school or home schooling) please let me know.

Your help would be appreciated.
Please e-mail me @ smartaba@telus.ca
Thanks.

[T. Chiao]

If you have experience with Vancouver Christian School (VCS) and/or their application process, I would appreciate your feedback, advice and tips.

Any information with regards to the school's philosophy around autism treatments and ABA teaching in their school would also be helpful.

Our son is 3 years old and we are looking ahead to apply to VCS for his Kindergarten year.

Please kindly email me at:
tchiao@hotmail.com

Thank you in advance!

[Camila Monzon]

Fellow Parents,

If you have experiences with home schooling under Self Design please give me info., feedback how to start and how's their services look like. If I will go to Self Design Schooling they have a list of Consultants which I do not have idea which one or whom to pick. If you know somebody to recommend from their list of consultants please let me know. I live in Burnaby.

I have to put my son in home schooling so badly, due to he still out of school until now. Due to horrible experiences we're encountering in his school right now. Please help me.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Please e-mail me back @ smartaba@telus.net

[Author]

Replies