[FEAT BC Admin]

This area is for discussions in general topics.

Topic

[Jetty Kurniawan]

Hi Amber,

I am also just recently set up with direct funding and my son's birthday is in August. When I received back the contract from MCFD, they automatically extended the contract to Aug 2009. So, don't worry about it.
As far as the balance in the account, if you have a balance of $3400 (after all expenses submitted for the month) they will withhold the funding until you spend the money, but I've been advised by the CLBC Facilitator and the Funding Unit Rep to call the Autism Funding Process Unit to ask them taking off the hold and give them the reason why.
For the beginning they will be lenient and understand that it will take months to get things started. The best way to get clarification for everything in regards to funding is to call the Funding Process Unit at 1 (877) 777-3530.
You should get a call from the Autism Funding Process Unit Rep once your account is set-up and she/he will go over the contract with you.
In the beginning you will receive a cheque from them for the amount you are entitled to, then it will be directly deposited to your bank account.
Please make sure you have all receipts for your expenses because they prefer receipts (showing you have paid) as opposed to invoice.

Hope this help.

Jetty

[Todd Dea]

Amber,

I don't know specifically about 18 month contracts but I can't imagine it does anything other than delay the future date to renew your funding. It shouldn't take any longer to do up one.

As far as the funding goes (in our case) the government will send you cheques (or direct deposit) for 3-5 months each month and then stop unless you have sent them any receipts/forms to show them that you are spending the money. As long as you keep sending in receipts and the accounting forms they will keep sending you money. So the long and the short of it is if it takes you a few months to get up and running you will have money in the bank by then to pay for it. Just make sure you send in the accounting forms as you pay out money to therapists etc. and the government will keep sending you your monthly installments.

All the best
Todd

[Amber Armstrong]

I finally got everything together and went to CLBC to apply for funding, I should have an appt with the intake worker next week. My question is, I was advised since my sons bday is coming soon that I should request an 18 month contract. Have any of you had to do this? What if it takes a few months to get the program ready? Do you have to use the exact amount of money they give you each month or can you let some "roll over" into the next- and likely more expensive month? The woman at the desk pretty much told me that "they" like you to spend the money each month, this doesn't make sense to me, if the program isn't ready do they want me to waste money I KNOW I will NEED later??

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[Diane Slootweg]

Hello everyone,

This month we are pleased to welcome Sandy Anderson, facilitator with Community Living BC Nanaimo Branch, to our Mid Island ASBC community Group meeting.

Sandy will discuss her role as a facilitator and will be providing information on how Community Living supports families living with autism. This will be an informal session and will be an excellent opportunity to bring forth any questions you may have.

Mark your calendars for next Wednesday, April 16 at 7pm. The location is the Multi purpose Room at McGirr Elementary School located at 6199 McGirr Road, Nanaimo

Please respond to midisland.asbc@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Regards,

Diane

[Tyla Frewing]

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

A fantastic opportunity to work with Dr. Richard Foxx and Sharon Baxter is available. An ABA treatment home for a student who has been in an ABA program for a number of years, but continues to demonstrate challenging behaviour has been developed in Victoria BC. This is an excellent opportunity for experienced tutors to become involved in a challenging and rewarding position with a student with very unique programs and behaviour management systems. Excellent training and a high level of supervision will be provided.

Preference will be given to applicants with at least six months experience working in home-based ABA programming. The student being served at this treatment home is a very active 15 year old boy, and as a part of his behaviour management program staff are required to take him running, to the pool and to other community-based recreation activities. Therefore, it is essential that staff are in good physical condition and can participate in these activities with him; male applicants are preferred, as this student also requires assistance with personal care skills.

We are currently recruiting for auxiliary staff positions, with potential to move into regular part time or full time positions. Auxiliary undergo all full training and are required to work a minimum of one scheduled shift per month and attend all team meetings and consultations with the client’s behavioral consultants. Auxiliary staff will be included in an on-call list, and will be called if and when regularly scheduled shifts cannot be filled due to staffing shortages as well as if shift coverage is needed due to employee illness.

Interested applicants please respond by email with attached resume Attn: Tyla Frewing to tyla_frewing@yahoo.ca

[Sabrina Freeman]

Hi All,

For those of you new to the autism world who haven’t decided whether to spend your Saturday attending the lecture that Dr. James Mulick is giving, let me give you a brief background on this man. He is responsible for:

• the first published Cost/Benefit analysis that demonstrated that ABA is cost-effective for governments. His research found that approximately 2 million dollars could be saved by investing in Intensive Behavioral Treatment for children with autism.

• an important book that analyzed a large variety of treatments for autism. As an academic, he did much research into the science behind various treatments. If you have questions about treatments in general or a specific treatment, he would be able to tell you about the state of the science regarding the treatment (not just answer questions about ABA).

In addition, Mulick is an ABA specialist; therefore, he would also be able to answer questions about behavioral programs. This is a day well worth investing in for two reasons: 1) it is a very reasonable price for a speaker of this caliber; 2) you don’t have to get on to a plane and fly to a conference to hear him speak.

Unfortunately, it is rare to have decent speakers come to our corner of the world. In my experience, most of the so-called experts who come to the lower mainland, are actually not experts at all. I’ve wasted many Saturdays going to speakers of dubious quality. If you are planning to go to one lecture this year on autism, this lecture is most probably going to be the most worthwhile.

Just my two bits…

Sabrina Freeman

[Mike & Jean]

Hello all,

Now the Spring Break is over and there may be a moment of time in your day this is a reminder to get your registrations in as soon as possible for the ASBC presentation of Dr. James Mulick on April 19th.

The info has been posted before but you simply go to the ASBC web-site at http://www.autismbc.ca and download the information brochure/registration form. The conference information is down near the bottom of the home-page.

Not that you need any further encouragement to attend this important and informative event but we are pleased to advise you that we have received confirmation that the registration fee is an acceptable expense within the parameters of your Autism Funding from MCFD.

Hopefully we will see you on April 19th.

Regards, Michael and Jean

[Mike & Jean]

Today is "World Autism Day" and lots of organizations and individuals are participating in varous ways. Senator Jim Munson is holding a press conference this morning on parliament hill calling on the federal government to recognize April 2nd as World Autism Day. He plans to introduce a Private Member's Bill in the Senate to ensure that Canada officially recognized Worl Autism Day.

As it happens, another Canadian from Ontario, Toronto to be precise has joined the "Medicare for Autism Now!" initiative. She is Deborah Coyne. Deborah has spent her life engaged in public policy work. She is a lawyer, university professor, constitutional activist, public servant, wrtier, small businessperson and the mother of two childre, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. She has often been at the centre of the great public debates of our times -she became a leading figure actively engaged in the constitutional debates that unfolded involving the Meech Lake Accord and the referendum on the Charlottetown Accord. She is currently a policy analyst with an international consulting practice. She will also be one of the speakers at our "Medicare for Autism Now!" event on Saturday, April, 19th in Oakville.

Deborah has written a paper-Autism on the National Agenda. You can access it by going to her blog: http://www.canadianswithoutborders.blogspot.com

It is long, but very worthwhile reading. She nails two key points: 1) There is no constitutional barrier to a national autism funding arrangement, the Canada Health Act can certainly be amended, and 2) the main impediment is POLITICAL WILL….

Have a read…and welcome to the "Medicare for Autism Now!" team, Ms. Coyne

[Khiat Kurniawan]

Talking about Autism in workplace
**********************************
I am a father of 31 months old boy who just recently diagnosed with mild Autism. I am quite surprise with the diagnose because I never think my son has Autism condition. My son acts like a normal kid except that he has delay in speech. I even more surprise when I found out that MSP doesn't cover Autism. Fortunately, we will start treatment for my son next month.

I wonder how many people understand what autism condition is. Has anyone talked about Autism in workplace? I talked to HR in the place that I work for and they agree to have lunch and learn informational session on Autism. If a lot of people interested with this topic, there is a possibility to have the company provide donation.

I appreciate any comments or suggestions to this matter.

Thanks,
Khiat

[Theresa Jouan]

Hooray- we have a few seats left for tomorrow's workshop!
If there is anyone who would like to attend but was not sure if you would be able to, please come!
We have had two cancellations due to illness so will be able to accept a few walk-ins tomorrow.

We have a huge focus on group work and application of the theoretical concepts so are anticipating that there will be lots of 'take home' information for everyone.
Here's the details:

FEAT of BC Intermediate Workshop!

This event is taking place on Saturday, March 29th from 10am-4pm.

Cost: $35 per person

Location: Guildford Rec Center, Surrey, BC
Craftroom #2

Topics that will be covered:
– Task analysis
– Total task presentation
– Chaining
– Shaping
– ABA History
– Prompting Methods
– Reinforcement (including schedules of reinforcement and law of consequences)

Topic content has been altered to allow for additional group work time as the focus of the workshop will be the application of these theoretical constructs.

Individual feedback to attendees by presenters will also be provided.

Registration form can be found at: https://featbc.org/downloads/ibtw.pdf

Please note the new mailing address, fax number and email address for this workshop only.

Hope to see you all there!

[Author]

Replies