[FEAT BC Admin]

This area is for discussions in general topics.

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[Peter Wong]

Monika,

Just let you know that I had the bicycle disallowed issue as well (one year later). So I needed to return the money…..

Peter

[Monika Lange]

I'm going to bat for this because it affects others too. And because I also think these guys are "on the prowl". Let them know you won't be an easy target. I'll let you know the outcome….

Ms. Linda Bull
Manager, Autism Funds Processing Unit

Dear Ms. Bull:
Re: Equipment Purchases

Today I was advised that the expenses of a bicycle and piano are not allowable. However, in the past, funds for a trampoline were approved. This leads me to believe that the policy is not being applied consistently with respect to equipment purchases. I would appreciate receiving clarification on this matter. In the meantime, I will submit alternate receipts instead (which I have because costs always exceed autism funding) to close out the current fiscal year’s contract and not compromise my son’s eligibility for full funding. However, I am dismayed that this issue has held up the release of my fourth quarter funds, as this has made it necessary for me to incur personal debt for allowable expenses during this period.

I doubt I can add to the Occupational Therapy letter already submitted regarding the expenditures in question, but I will try. Everyone knows that equipment purchases are important to a child with severely compromised fine/gross motor skills, and significant sensory issues. The equipment I purchased was carefully selected in terms of its value as a tool to engage him in a library of appropriate skill building activities, rather than the destructive behaviours that his disability makes him prone to. Equipment that allows any child to experience success, achievement, and participation is important to emotional and physical development. This is especially true for a child with autism who is limited in terms of full inclusion in school and community resources. All of these needs must be addressed therapeutically accordingly to a child’s individual requirements. I would submit that parents, along with professionals, such as occupational therapists, who work closely with a child in his community, are qualified to assess a child’s individual therapy needs and suitable solutions. Perhaps more so than a policy analyst behind a desk in Victoria.

The Premier made it clear he designed this funding to give parents “choices”. I think it’s reasonable to conclude that he meant this policy objective to meet each child’s unique individual needs. As a parent, I spend a lot of time trying to figure out new ways to help achieve that objective for my son. Accordingly, I hope you do not mind me saying that I take the denial of my expenditures to imply that I’m seeking a government “freebie” and this offends me. But perhaps the point I need to stress is that I have met all of the paperwork requirements to legitimately claim these equipment purchases. So long as that is the case, it is not appropriate for officers in your branch to arbitrarily deny them. Play by your own rules please.

Yours truly,
Monika Lange

[Monika Lange]

Thanks for the note. Yes, I had an extensive letter from my OT. I suspect they're tightening up the interpretation of the policy. This is an issue because expenses are claimed after the fact. I was encouraged to seek permission prior to making expenditures and said, no way… that's a transparent effort to move me towards the invoice form of funding. The onus is on them to make their policy clear, and not simply interpret it to their benefit after the parent incurs the expense. We must keep control of direct funding.

[Deleted User]

Debra
Will you attend the rally that is upcoming in March? I heard that it should be March 2nd. I want to be there to experience it and my be out there with husband and kids. I am going to post something on our school board if I can to get the word out.
That is the only way I see that we can do to show the people that we will not tolerate anymore. I know it will be hard to have them with me but my kids should know how many people care about them.

Talk to you later.
Mr. M's mama
email: yipee@shaw.ca

[Deleted User]

Monika

Did you ask your OT or medical professional to write a letter of recommendation? When they do that usually the funding unit will make a decision to include it if I am not wrong.

BTW, I have heard of one case where whipping cream became an expense because that child had sensory problems so they needed to run fingers in whip cream to satisfy his need. That calmed him down.

But try that and see if will help because they need to know if it is related and why so? Does that make sense?

Regards,
Mr. M's mama

[Monika Lange]

Anyone had a problem with equipment being a disallowed expense? In past, I've had a trampoline approved, but just recently a bicycle disallowed. Has anyone else had experience with this inconsistency? I would appreciate your advice. Please email me at monika.lange@hotmail.com

[Debra Antifaev]

Isn'•••• sad?
Veronica's story is, in fact, very common. It seems that the 13 million the Government claimed to have "put into supporting children with Autism" has been actually put into a new bureaucracy of well-paid paper shufflers who phone every so often to tell you your documentation is all wrong.
I had a similar problem.
It seems the Ministry FOR Children and Family Development would rather we put our children into care………they try so hard to make that the easier option.
It is all so very frustrating, there are literally hundreds of people making money on the backs of our children and they don't even seem to realise that they are the reason there is no money left to trickle down to the families.
Try to count all of the agencies that claim to "Support Special Needs Persons"…..then count their staff…….no mathmatical genius required here…..

[Dave Collyer]

Hi Vanessa,

It is interesting how the Funding Unit has proceeded with regard to "interns" who are working under supervision of qualified Behavioral Consultants. On the one hand the Ministry appears to recognize that there is a "capacity" issue – we simply do not have a sufficient number of skilled Consultants – and on the other hand by restricting funding they seem to have failed to recognize that "interns", working under supervision, may in fact be the best way of addressing this "capacity" issue. One would have thought that they would have embraced this model of training as it serves to ensure supervised practice (which is lacking in programs that are simply academic in nature) and supports the development of "capacity" within BC as more people complete the requirements for BCBA credentials. I would hope that the Ministry would revisit this issue so as to support this effective means of building capacity within our community. Failure to do so will simply propagate the status quo.

With regard to receipts… I had a similar issue. Bank Statements, Invoices and printed copies of cheques are not sufficient. Get your people to sign, date and indicate "Paid In Full".

[Debra Antifaev]

Hey all!

Theresa T., I have the wrong email for you. Could you please email me at
dmantifaev@shaw.ca to confirm whether or not my new tutor is registered in your Jan 26th Workshop?

Thanks a bunch,

Deb

[Dione Costanzo]

Message for Heather Burke:

I have lost your last email and phone # please send again!

Thanks
Dione

dionec@shaw.ca

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