[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

[Mike & Jean]

There are two excellent newspaper articles in today's, Vancouver Province and Victoria's Times Columnist that I recommend everyone read.

The Times Columnist, "Why care about therapy for kids with autism"? written by Chris MacIntosh. He very accurately lists some of the most important and obvious reasons for treatment funding.

The Province, "There's not enough funding for autism treatment" written by our very own Dione Costanzo. This well written and concise essay begins by identifying the biggest problem for people with autism and their families in Canada today…"autism treatment is not covered under Medicare". She goes on to outline how the government's limited funding, (which exists because of the Auton litigation) can be removed with "the stroke of a pen". Well said and how true, Dione! I encourage you to read both articles because they accurately define the most fundamental obstacle to our children's well-being and basic human right – access to healthcare.

Like every other Canadian, our children should have a right to access all the equality provisions including health care, as prescribed in our Charter. Litigation and focused, purposeful, political advocacy have been successful in securing limited funding in BC. However, as Dione accurately points out – it is not protected and is already being eroded by the "invoice payment plan" which many of us "old-timers" warned and railed against when it was devised one year ago. I, along with others predicted the outcome we see today…and…sadly folks, I fear there's more "erosion" on the way. So – Parents, what's the solution? Purposeful and focused political action or more plainly – get active! First and foremost, our children's treatment must be enshrined and protected from the whims of bureaucrats/politicians. It needs to be universally accessible and covered under Medicare. Secondly, we need law/legislation which protects our children's basic human rights, similar to the ADA (Americans with Disabilites Act) in the US. How do we achieve these things? By getting informed and getting active! "Medicare for Autism Now! exists for the sole purpose of securing what the name states. The Civil Rights Now! Society, formerly know as the Paladin Advocacy League was created very recently to advocate for ADA-type law in BC. If you want to take action, rather than wait for the bureaucrats to decide your child is no longer worthy of treatment, education etc., I encourage you to get involved. In BC, parents have won some strategic battles to end the discrimination against our children but, there are more battles for us to win before we are victorius in the war our own government is waging against our children.

[Super Dad]

Reminder…

North Shore ASBC Lecture Series

The North Shore ASBC Support Group proudly presents:

a presentation on
Your Child’s Legal Rights in the BC School System
The School Act and the Hewko Decision

by
Mike Hancock, parent and lawyer

at
7:00pm, Tues Sept 21

in the
Cedar Room
in the North Building of the
Delbrook Recreation Centre

GUEST SPEAKER:
Mike is a parent of a child with autism, and a former in-house counsel for the Vancouver School Board. He has also previously worked in private practice with a focus on education law. He will review our children's right under the School Act.

DATE:
Tuesday, Sept 21, 2010

TIME:
7 – 9 pm

LOCATION:
Cedar Room, in the North Building of the Delbrook Recreation Centre
(600 West Queens Road, North Vancouver)

For those going north/west on Highway #1: take exit 17 for Westview Dr, turn right at Westview Dr, and then turn right at Queens Rd. For those going east on Highway #1: take exit 17 for Westview Dr, turn left at Westview Dr, and then turn right at Queens Rd.

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

Please RSVP to Carol at <colemanmoser@hotmail.com>.

Carol and Tony
(Co-facilitators for ASBC North Shore Group)

[Dave Collyer]

Section 11 of the School Act.

This applies to Appeals to the Board 11 and Appeals to the Superintendent of Achievement 11.1 in case folks don't know what Andrea is referring to •••••. 11 process" (although if you been down that path I can't help but think that you would know about what she is referring to).

http://www.studentappeals.gov.bc.ca/process.htm
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/legislation/schoollaw/revisedstatutescontents.pdf (page C23)

[Andrea Finch]

** Calling all parents of school-aged children ** – really – don't be shy….

Hi everyone – your silence has been deafening! Please take a minute to consider responding to this post if it applies to you.

As many of you know, the North Shore parent support group presents a yearly talk for parents about navigating the school system. Many of you have probably heard this information either through North Van. or another parent support group.

As one of the parents who has helped coordinate that presentation in the past, I'm wondering if anyone out there (a) has had direct experience with the s. 11 process and (b) is prepared to share those experiences. I think it would be helpful for parents in different districts to know what strategies work best where they live. If you have confidentiality concerns we would certainly respect that too, though obviously one goal is to tailor the presentation, while another is to be able to share stories as much as possible if parents are willing.

If you feel you have a story to share that would help other parents, please contact me privately at andreafinch@shaw.ca. Thanks in advance for paying it forward to all of us who are getting ready for "Back to School" season.

Cheers,
Andrea Finch

[Joanna Ng]

Dear Feat readers,

Burnaby parents' group will be meeting again. Our focus is to start a support group to help our children have a better and more supportive environment in school.

Venue: Bob-Prittie {Metrotown Public Library]
6100 Willingdon Ave. [meeting room]
Date: Wednesday, September 15th
Time: 6:30-8:00pm

Hope to see you there!

[Super Dad]

We’re back!

North Shore ASBC Lecture Series

The North Shore ASBC Support Group proudly presents:

Your Child’s Legal Rights in the BC School System
The School Act and the Hewko Decision

by
Mike Hancock, parent and lawyer

at
7:00pm, Tues Sept 21

in the
Cedar Room
in the North Building of the
Delbrook Recreation Centre

GUEST SPEAKER:
Mike is a parent of a child with autism, and a former in-house counsel for the Vancouver School Board. He has also previously worked in private practice with a focus on education law. He will review our children's right under the School Act.

DATE:
Tuesday, Sept 21, 2010

TIME:
7 – 9 pm

LOCATION:
Cedar Room, in the North Building of the Delbrook Recreation Centre
(600 West Queens Road, North Vancouver)

For those going north/west on Highway #1: take exit 17 for Westview Dr, turn right at Westview Dr, and then turn right at Queens Rd. For those going east on Highway #1: take exit 17 for Westview Dr, turn left at Westview Dr, and then turn right at Queens Rd.

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

Please RSVP to Carol at <colemanmoser@hotmail.com>.

Carol and Tony
(Co-facilitators for ASBC North Shore Group)

[Joanna Ng]

FYI: The Provincial government's 2011 Budget Consultations are in Vancouver Sept 15th . Registration opens at 8am on the 9th .Hearings are also scheduled for other dates in other communities around the proviince.

Please circulate this and encourage groups and individuals to register to speak about any concerns they might have about budget cuts and underfunding for education, special education, autism & other early intervention pprograms, supported child care, adult group homes and other community living services etc, etc

Here is the link:

http://www.leg.bc.ca/budgetconsultations/public_hearing.asp

It is really important that MLAs on the committee hear loud and clear that British Columbians want to see vital supports and services for children and adults with developmental disabiliteis restored. If you can't present in person, the committee also receives input via email or online.

[Andrea Finch]

** Calling all parents of school-aged children **

Hi everyone – as many of you know, the North Shore chapter of the •••.B.C. presents a yearly talk for parents about navigating the school system. Many of you have probably heard this information either through North Van. or another parent support group.

As one of the parents who has helped coordinate that presentation in the past, I'm wondering if anyone out there (a) has had direct experience with the s. 11 process and (b) is prepared to share those experiences. I think it would be helpful for parents in different districts to know what strategies work best where they live. If you have confidentiality concerns we would certainly respect that too, though obviously one goal is to tailor the presentation, while another is to be able to share stories as much as possible if parents are willing.

If you feel you have a useful story to share please contact me privately at andreafinch@shaw.ca. Thanks in advance for paying it forward to all of us who are getting ready for "Back to School" season.

Cheers,
Andrea Finch

[Dione Costanzo]

Hi

I am looking for parent contacts in SD#83 (North Okanagan/Shuswap).

Please contact me dionec@shaw.ca

Thanks!
Dione

[Dione Costanzo]

Celebration of Life for Dr. Ivar Lovaas

Save the Date – September 23, 2010 7-9pm

Lovaas, a distinguished professor of psychology at UCLA, a pioneer in the research and development of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to treat children with autism, and the founder of the Lovaas Institute (http://www.lovaas.com), died on August 2nd at age 83.

Parents and professionals in BC will gather on this special evening to pay tribute to Dr Lovaas and review the history of his work and ABA as a treatment for autism.

Hear from the parents who founded FEAT of BC, brought ABA treatment into this province and continue to fight for universal access to science based treatment for all individuals who need it. Thanks to litigation by parents in the past we are able to access funding for autism services today.

Share your own story about what Lovaas and ABA has done for you and your family.

Topic: Celebration of Life for Dr. Ivar Lovaas

Guest Speakers:

Dr. Glen Davies, Director of ABLE Developmental Clinic

Dr. Sabrina Freeman, Parent and Founding Director of FEAT-BC

Jean Lewis, Parent and Founding Director of FEAT-BC

Location: Surrey Sport and Leisure Arena – Meeting Room #2

RSVP: dione@abasupportnetwork.com

[Author]

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