[FEAT BC Admin]

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[Deleted User]

Jemma – First, I've spoken with Jonathan and he says he hasn't met Mike Lake anywhere along the way, so he doubts that there are any pictures of him and Mike Lake together, however if there are so be it. To the more important point about improving the support and services for our children, typically there is no more passionate person to speak on their behalf than their parent, and parents should speak up at every opportunity. However, the voices of parents alone in bringing about changes are not enough. What families dealing with Autism need are the voices of all concerned Canadians from every walk of life. That was happening before Jonathan came on the scene. Having the voices with influence join our cause (e.g. Senators Eggleton and Munson, the Lieutenant Governor’s of Manitoba and Ontario, etc) is extremely important to achieving change. With his run Jonathan has added more profile to the cause of Autism, and if you saw his appearance on Global Morning Vancouver on December 17th you will know that he’s a very articulate spokesperson for the necessity of improved services and support (if you didn’t see the Global Morning interview it should be on the Run the Dream web site in a few days http://www.runthedrea.ca). The approach Jonathan has taken with Run the Dream is one of inclusiveness, not exclusion, and that includes talking to the people who don’t think that change is necessary (and there are some of those out there, including regrettably, some parents). How Jonathan talks to these people might be different from how you or I would approach it, but so long as his message is that “there is need for change, and this is the time that action is required” we should welcome him as one more voice in support of our kids, perhaps with access to some of the people we might not normally meet. John Kennedy made popular the phrase, “a rising tide lifts all ships”. Regardless of who speaks in favour of our children, it’s one more time that even the naysayers hear a positive word, and that helps everyone. With enough repetition of our message we are going to be heard and we are going to make changes. So I would ask you to consider not worrying about what you perceive as the cynical attitude of some politicians – or others – and rather be thankful that there are more than just us who would like to help out and speak out.

The more Canadians who join us with their voices the harder it becomes of our government and politicians to ignore.

Being apart of Run The Dream has brought people to my locations and such to want to learn and they say why isn't this Covered Under the Canadian Health Care Act? Although our many voices are fighting for that. It astounded me how so many people did not realize what we really need for our kids is not covered Under the Canadian Health Care Act and how many politicians ignore us at every turn. How our own government will spend millions and millions of dollars fighting us in court instead of putting that money to far better use in the way of Medicare for Autism. People getting an understanding of why each program for each child is so individual and must be designed for that child. Our fight to get what every parent wants for there child.

We need every voice and as much attention to our cause for CHANGE and Medicare for Autism as we can get. We weren't getting it before Run The Dream but it is certainly more in everyone's head now than ever before. Now we push harder and harder.

Please feel free to e-mail privately at wendy-durnan@shaw.ca should have further questions or concerns.

[Jemma Lee]

If any of you is likely to speak either to a crowd or to a politician at the Run the Dream gathering on Dec 18, please memorize every detail in the FEAT BC essay titled "Broken Promises":

http://www.featbc.org/penticton/brokenpromises.pdf

If you don't arm yourself with knowledge, you are just giving the corrupt politicians free publicity. If you're not trained on how to handle their scripted answers, you may as well not ask any question.

For most people, it's better to just not show up. A large crowd will attract news cameras, and those cameras will do more harm than good if they show nothing but our enemies being nice to Mr. Howard.

If Mr. Howard wanted to be really helpful, he would wear a "Medicare for Autism Now" T-shirt that day. You can call me a cynic, but I really doubt that will happen.

Jemma

[Jemma Lee]

Hi Wendy,

Yes, politicians are buzzing around Mr. Howard, and not talking to us. On the surface it seems like a great opportunity, but let's think about why they are reacting differently. Is it because Mr. Howard is not saying anything they don't want to hear? Is it because they get free publicity at an autism event without having to face anyone knowledgeable with difficult questions?

As an example, when Mike Lake was posing for the "I'm with Jonathan" photos, I would have wanted Mr. Howard to grill him about the following:

1. MP Andy Scott tabled a Motion for the creation of a National Autism Strategy. The House of Commons passed Motion M-172 on December 5, 2006. Unfortunately, Motions are not binding, and they were free to do whatever they wanted. In fact, they managed to use it as a great opportunity to deceive the public, by claiming that they implemented the Motion. What they really did was put up a stupid web site and hold a "by invitation only" symposium full of government groupies. Mike Lake was responsible for rewording the motion beyond recognition, basically watering it down to nothing.

2. MP Shawn Murphy tabled a Private Members' Bill to amend the Canada Health Act to include autism treatment in Medicare. If passed, this would have become law and forced the government to actually do something. This time, the Tories and the Bloc ganged up to kill Bill C-304 on February 21, 2007 before it even made it to the Committee stage for review after second reading. Mike Lake was one of those who voted against the bill.

Mike Lake, under Mr. Harper's direction, has exploited his son's autism to the max, for the sole purpose of deceiving the public. Harper wants people to think a rational parent will not want the government to provide treatment, and Mike Lake takes every chance he gets to promote himself as a "fellow parent." I get furious when I see people give him that chance without making him pay a price.

Now that's all in the past. For the event in Victoria, has anyone knowledgeable taught Mr. Howard what questions to ask, and more importantly, what answers to reject? Has anyone told Mr. Howard who the enemies are, so that when they say "I'm with Jonathan", he can say "no you're not, but you can be"?

Jemma

[Deleted User]

Please Join us:

Everyone is welcomed to the front steps of the Legislature in Victoria on December 18 at 12 noon to join representatives of the BC Government and members of the local community as they welcome Jonathan Howard to Victoria, congratulate him on his outstanding run from St. John's Newfoundland to Victoria – 8,020 kilometres in 199 Running Days – and show their support for the Autism community.
http://www.runthedream.ca

The reception from the public, the Autism community, and politicians along the way has been fantastic! Let’s show Jonathan our support as he brings it home!

Let's make the politicians see what we is a necessity for our children. Premier Campbell has been avoiding calls and meeting with Jonathan all the calls put in have been excuse after excuse. Including the calls and e-mails I have sent there is either no response or "He is NOT AVAILABLE"
He has had opportunity to meet with him here in locally and Vancouver. Let's see if he shows in Victoria.

Please feel free to e-mail me at wendy-durnan@shaw.ca

[Deleted User]

One of Jonathan's main points in doing this is Autism is not a Behaviour Disorder as our government wishes to treat it. It needs to
Fall under the Canadian Health Care Act because it is a medical Condition. ABA/IBI is treatment that works and needs to be covered Under the Canadian Health Care Act. It needs National Strategy.

His Run is for exactly that. By meeting the politicians and etc they are faced with what we as parents are saying through him and It takes on new meaning because Jonathan has no ties to children with Autism. That is what makes this special and it certainly Got Mark Warawa's attention. As I had invited to attend at Willowbrook Mall. He did not respond back however, was there.

I could not even get him to return my calls before.

I think it extremely important to mention that Terry Robinson a two time Paraolympian ran part of this with Jonathan. Terry has cerebalpalsy and is in a wheelchair. Terry is still very much still involved in raising awareness and funding for Autism.

Terry was diagnosed at age one and was told basically he would never do much. He is a stubborn man and pushes himself to go long.

All involved in Run The Dream have heard the voices of Parents and Families across Canada for National Strategy and a treatments that should be covered completely under the Canadian Health Care Act.

They are meeting with Jonathan and in some locations with Terry as well. They won't blow them off as they are us.

The awareness has to start somewhere people politicians are listening to him. Parents getting behind him and Terry makes this so much more real to their faces.

To anyone who can reach the politicians and get them as ali on ourside I take my hat off.
Politicians for having our kids covered under the "National Health Care Act" is what it is all about. Putting ABA in schools is also a goal.

They are already have one in school in Calgary and are building a second one in Calgary as well.

Please feel free to e-mail me with concerns or questions wendy-durnan@shaw.ca

[Super Dad]

*** UPDATE ***

North Shore ASBC Lecture Series

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the lecture by Katie Allen will be postponed to 2009.

For tomorrow, the North Shore ASBC Support Group proudly presents:

From an experienced parent: starting up, maintaining, and generalizing an ABA home program
by
Jean Lewis, Director of FEAT BC
on
December 16, 2008

Jean is one of the most highly respected members of the autism community. She is one of the Auton litigants to be thanked for the individualized funding we have today. She is also a founding member of FEAT BC, and the leader of the Medicare for Autism Now Society.

As director of FEAT BC, she has spent countless hours teaching families how to run ABA programs. When I first started running a program, I never missed a chance to hear her speak, and I never walked away without learning something that would greatly benefit my child.

DATE: Tuesday, December 16, 2008
TIME: 7 – 9 pm
LOCATION: West Vancouver Memorial Library (Peters Room), 1950 Marine Drive in West Van. (between 19th and 20th Streets).
The library is easily accessible via Highway #1 Upper Levels, taking either the 15th Street or 20th St. exits.

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

Please RSVP to Carol at colemanmoser@hotmail.com

Looking forward to seeing you there!

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

[Jemma Lee]

Re: Jonathan Howard & "Run the Dream"

He's been posing with Mike Lake? I am not just concerned. I am furious.

Mr. Howard is either completely clueless about the damage he is doing, or he doesn't care. May be all this is just a clever way of getting enough exposure to be elected to parliament.

While we are working so hard to expose the hypocrisy of the politicians who screw our children, Mr. Howard is helping them perpetuate their deception of the public.

This campaign is supposed to raise $2.5 million for unspecified "autism services." Do people realize how insignificant that is, compared to the amount that the government is wasting on all sorts of "autism services"?

Our "dream" is to divert some of that money into science-based autism treatment. Can Mr. Howard tell us exactly what "dream" he is running for?

On the other hand, what am I supposed to do, when thousands of parents are worshipping him?

Jemma

[Louise Taylor]

Re: Jonathan Howard & "Run the Dream"

I have been following Mr. Howard's run for several months now and was initailly very enthusiastic. I was very touched that he cared enough about Canadians with autism that he would actually run across the coutnry. However, when I started seeing him pose with various politicians (Mike Lake and our PM, for example) who showed up for the photo-ops, I became quite concerned about what is really being accomplished here. It will certainly be interesting to see which politicans show up this Saturday. Just my thoughts…..

[Kandi Kilgour]

My name is Wendy Durnan. I have an 11-year-old son who is autistic. I very honoured to invite all of you to Willowbrook Mall on Saturday, December 13, 2008 just down from Sport Chek.

To see and support Jonathan Howard who is taking a stand for our kids and saying “OUR KIDS MATTER” I think it important to mention Jonathan no family members who are affected by Autism.

Run the Dream, http://www.runthedream.ca, is a solo cross-country run by 25 year old

Jonathan Howard of Mississauga, Ontario, in partnership with Autism Society Canada, to

raise public awareness about Autism. Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) affect 1 in 166

children born today and 25% of Canadian families, are complex in their nature, and

require a continuum of care to meet the lifespan needs of those affected by an ASD.

This is the first-ever cross country effort of this nature in support of Autism. Jonathan

started his run in St. John’s Newfoundland on March 25th and is today in Princeton,

having already completed over 7,500 km of his approximate 8,000 km journey which

will culminate in Victoria on December 18.

Jonathan’s dedication to the cause, and commitment to successfully completing his run,

is remarkable not only in the physical endurance of the feat but even more so given

that he has no direct family connection to Autism. When a person takes a year out of

their life and braves two Canadian winters to raise awareness of the barriers faced by

people with an ASD and their families, as Jonathan is doing, it is the kind of exemplary

service to community and country that makes all of us proud and helps motivate all of

us towards national solutions.

Notwithstanding the staggering rise in recent years of the incidence of newly diagnosed

cases of Autism Spectrum Disorders among children, Canada does not yet have a

national health care strategy to deal with Autism and provide research, therapy, and

support for individuals and their families who are affected by this mystifying condition.

At present there are regrettably only fragmented and inconsistent programs from

Province-to-Province and typically substantial costs for parents to provide care for their

children.

Currently a team of volunteers headed up by Wendy Durnan is preparing a number an

event for December 13 when Jonathan will be in Langley. We appreciate any

sponsorship assistance you may be able to provide to Ms. Durnan and her team in

connection with the Run and these activities. The Best Western Langley Inn is already

generously sponsoring the accommodation for Jonathan and his road team while they’re

in the area but other types of sponsorships that would be appreciated are meals for

Jonathan and the road crew, fuel for the escort vehicles, cash, or any other item that

Wendy or her team identifies.

Tel: (888)-507-5885 ext. 2 bill.robertson@runthedream.ca Fax (888) 748-5577

Any sponsorship offered will be gratefully received and acknowledged by Run the

Dream on our web site, in our media releases, and at our local events.

The public and political reception that Jonathan has received along the way has been

very good including meetings with the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor

of Ontario; the Honourable Lincoln Alexander, former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

and Honourary Patron of the Run; Senators Jim Munson and Art Eggleton; Prime

Minister Harper; the Premiers of many of the Provinces; various Mayors and other

officials; and members of the public and Autism community throughout Canada, all of

which is reported on the run web site.

Thank you for considering our request.

Sincerely yours,

Bill Robertson

Chairman

[Super Dad]

*** REMINDER ***

North Shore ASBC Lecture Series

The North Shore ASBC Support Group proudly presents:

Leaping Over Quicksand: common pitfalls in starting up, maintaining, and generalizing an ABA home program
by
Katie Allen, BCBA
on
December 16, 2008

We are very pleased to have Katie Allen from the ABLE Development Clinic as our guest speaker.

In this presentation, Katie will talk about:
* understanding what type of ABA program you're running;
* how to know what to expect from your involvement and outcomes, including common roadblocks;
* how data collection and functional analysis can help prevent some of the most common pitfalls;
* practicing true evidence-based intervention as opposed to just running ABA procedures.

DATE: Tuesday, December 16, 2008
TIME: 7 – 9 pm
LOCATION: West Vancouver Memorial Library (Peters Room), 1950 Marine Drive in West Van. (between 19th and 20th Streets).
The library is easily accessible via Highway #1 Upper Levels, taking either the 15th Street or 20th St. exits.

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

Please RSVP to Carol at colemanmoser@hotmail.com

Looking forward to seeing you there!

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

[Author]

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