[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

[Deleted User]

Hi Everyone,

I think it is important that we develop a list of questions to ask school board candidates at the All Candidates meetings. Can we start a thread on this? Sabrina, any advice from you as well as from other parents and professionals would be great.

Thanks,
Cheryl
Mom to Allie and Angel

[Deleted User]

"The up-side to all of this, of course, is that such a "motion" acknowledges that the govt's cut-off age of six is discriminatory. Interesting times ahead, I'm sure!! "

Amen to that………

[Deleted User]

PLEASE, make sure that you go to the all-candidates meetings for school trustees, and put the hard questions to them — we need some hard answers. And, when a candidate answers favorably, make sure that you check that person's name on the ballot.

**REMEMBER** … YOU WILL NOT SPOIL YOUR BALLOT IF YOU CHECK ONLY ONE OR TWO NAMES — there is no need to hold your nose and pick a full slate.
By choosing a whole slate, that only serves to give the same leverage to the "hold-your-nose" candidates as it does for the one(s) you wish to support — it wipes out any advantage for your sincere choice(s).

[Deleted User]

That's the million dollar question — Surrey Trustee Stilwell was very careful to lobby for $ for the purposes of proper training that would enable existing staff to deal with the situation. At the very least, it is an admission that prior to now, CUPE has NOT properly accomodated our children …on MANY different levels, that essentially, CUPE has actively-denied our autistic children access to prescribed medical treatment. The chat-board is loaded with anecdotal testimony to such. The real question is then, will CUPE be able to continue to be the arbiters of what is best for our children, and on what grounds are they more qualified than medical professionals to override prescriptive treatment? The up-side to all of this, of course, is that such a "motion" acknowledges that the govt's cut-off age of six is discriminatory. Interesting times ahead, I'm sure!!

[Deleted User]

I think it's great that the school district 36 is trying to get MSP to help fund the children with autism. I however hope that they use who we wish to use in regards to Lovaas. Our consultants know the children best, work with our children and should be allowed to work in the classrooms to help the teacher, SEA work better with our child.

My opinion for what it's worth

[Deleted User]

Article from the Surrey Leader
http://www.surreyleader.com/

This was in the Surrey Leader and is on the main page of their website. Read on…..

Help us with autistic students, say trustees

By Sheila Reynolds
A court ruling upheld this week stating the government must pay for an early intervention program for autistic children has the Surrey School Board calling for assistance from the Medical Services Plan (MSP).
On Wednesday in the B.C. Court of Appeal, the province lost an appeal to an earlier ruling saying Victoria must fund a specific form of early behavioural therapy. The intensive, one-on-one treatment – called Lovaas – has proven beneficial for young children with autism, a neurological behavioural disorder caused by dysfunction in the central nervous system.
Parents of autistic children have argued that costs of up to $60,000 per year for the treatment should be covered, similar to other medical disabilities. Alberta does fund such treatment, and many families were having to move across the border to get affordable service for their kids.
Trustee Heather Stilwell introduced a motion Thursday, backed by all other trustees, saying that the court ruling has the potential of leaving school districts with overwhelming pressures in providing such specialized treatment.
She pointed to the growing number of autistic children in public schools, the increased pressure to provide classroom assistance, and seemingly perennial budget shortfalls that make dollars scarce for such specialized programs.
“It’s not that we don’t want to cooperate,” said Stilwell. “But we are offering a sort of medical service.”
The board is attempting to rally other B.C. school boards to call on the MSP to provide training and personnel to administer the medically recommended treatment.
“It’s not fair if school districts are left holding this,” said Stilwell.
“This really addresses the broader topic of the role of schools,” added Trustee Mary Polak.
Trustees will also forward information to the ministries of education and health outlining the problems faced by the district in delivering the service to autistic children.

[Deleted User]

"Where are the parents poem"? from Feat.org. http://www.feat.org/edpage/where_are_the_parents.htm It is good!

[Deleted User]

I need to vent these thoughts for a moment. Why are school boards so resistant to providing and specifying that an SEA be trained in ABA? Sure, some aspects of old studies are not, by today's standards, ethical…..but either was schooling during that point in time(straps, canes, dunce caps…)! What I am saying is why can't the powers that be realize that many techniques used in the schools today have a foundation in behaviour modification? Albeit, many techniques are more extensive than basic discrete trial drills. In classrooms you will find token economy system of rewards, spelling and other tests, in which students are informed of errors…("No") and correct answers are praised. Data is taken in the way of marks, anecdotal information, and observations.If it's the "Lovaas" name that instigates resistance, call it ABA then…
Thoughts from an educator, a therapist with several years experience, and someone who wants the best for these kids!

[Deleted User]

I have just finished speaking with the fourth parent this month calling for advice on battling with their local school district over their child's rights!!! I can not believe the stories I hear.

Do you have a horror story too? If yes, please share it with me privately by emailing me at Mkarren1@aol.com I will not share your story wiht anyone without your permission, but I would like to hear from you so we can join forces for our children.

I think it is time we unite and fight this battle together. I know we have shared some of our stories on this board already but I would like to take it a step further. We have begun speaking to a lawyer about this because our daughter was completely SCREWED over by our school board and are now starting to battle for our son's rights as he needs to start kindergarten next year.

Michelle

[Deleted User]

A Note to all Present + Future Kindergarten Parents Regarding Full Day Kindergarten + Afternoon Aide Funding.

Under Section 3 of the School Act autistic kids are eligible for "double funding" for an aide so that they may attend kindergarten full time. This apparently includes a full day kindergarten program; 2 half day programs; or a kindergarten program + a "private" program.

Special Needs Funding seems to work out as follows:
$5,000 – for head count
$15,000 – for diagnosis (usually for aide, SLP services, etc.)
$7,000 – optional "double funding" for full day kids at a reduced rate (i.e. less than half of 15,000)

Note: The School District must fill out Form 1513 by September 30 of the year that the child starts kindergarten. Applying for the money is entirely at the School Board’s discretion.

Want more information, or a copy of the School Act, call Access BC at 604.660.2421 and request policy information on "Full day Kindergarten for Special Needs Kids"

Good Luck,

t

[Author]

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