[FEAT BC Admin]

This area is for discussions in general topics.

Topic

[Janet Lirenman]

Reminder

Hello Everyone!
Next in the North Shore ASBC Parent Support Group series: "Halfway There " . We would like to welcome all parents, therapists, teachers and interested supporters.
We are pleased to have Dr. Glen Davies of ABLE Developmental Clinic as our guest speaker. We are so fortunate to have someone with his vast experience with children diagnosed with autism available to speak to us. Dr. Davies' dedication and compassion to helping our kids is truly a blessing.
Dr. Davies will discuss where he sees the state of our services for kids with autism. That is, huge gains from the past but only half way to what we want and need. He was going to talk about some of the gaps that still remain, e.g., Appropriate funding for <6>6,Chair in Autism, University Clinic, etc. He will also comment on ABA teaching homes.
Part of our session will be open to Q & A with Dr. Davies. So come with your questions.
Please come out even if you don't live on the North Shore.

Date: Tuesday, April 24th

Time: 7 -9 p.m.

Location: Peters Room in the West Vancouver Memorial Library, 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 Andrea at andreafinch@shaw.ca or to Eva at 604-218-3298.
Looking forward to seeing you there.

Cheers,

Eva, Andrea, and Janet
(Co-facilitators for ASBC North Shore Group)

[Joelle and Leighton]

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

For those with an interest in Education, Special Needs Children, Psychology, or any other career involving children:

We are seeking people that would like to join our Team to work with our son, Jordan. Jordan is 12 years old. He really likes the computer and math. He has some difficulty learning. Jordan has high functioning Autism. He is involved in a Treatment Program called Lovaas-Type Applied Behavior Analysis. He’s been in this program for 9 years. If hired, you would be helping Jordan carry on conversations; you would help him with his homework, social skills and help him with other learning deficiencies.

The job of Therapist/Tutor would require a commitment of 6 – 12 hours per week. Each shift would be 2 ½ – 3 hours long. Therefore, you could easily work around your university schedule. Experience working with autistic children would be preferred but is not mandatory. Training will be provided.

Enthusiasm, dedication, reliability and a willingness to learn are required. Energy and a positive attitude is a must.

We’re looking for people that are available to work after school hours and on weekends.
Therapy/Tutor sessions will take place in our home located in Chilliwack, B.C. A minimum of a one (1) year commitment is required. A current criminal record check will be required. Wages will depend on experience.

Our Consultant is Sara White.

If interested, please send a copy of your resume by facsimile at the Fax number listed below, or email it to joelle10@shaw.ca

Lovaas Therapy Job Offer

Abbotsford Facsimile: 604-853-5281 ATTN: Leighton

[Diane T]

Just a reminder with updated time/location:

Mid-Island ASBC Parent Support Group Meeting
Saturday, April 28, 2007
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Bldg 356. Follow the signs for the room.
Malaspina University-College
Nanaimo

A map of the campus is available at http://www.mala.ca/campusmap.htm

We are excited to try something new: an extended parent support group meeting on a Saturday.

This meeting will be open to parents, family and team members.

We are pleased to welcome Jean Lewis and David Marley as our speakers.

Topic 1:
11:00 a.m.
Children with Autism Can Play: Involving our Children in Sports

Parent Jean Lewis will share her experience at including children in community-based sports & athletics as a form of peer recreation. Jean will also take us through “Learning How to Ride a Bike the ABA Way” covering how to successfully include recreation & leisure skills as part of an ABA program, samples of breaking the targeted skills down, and how data collection works in this setting.

Topic 2:
1:00 p.m.
Autism Advocacy in Canada Today

We are pleased to welcome Jean Lewis and David Marley to discuss the latest about Autism in Canada and how we can become better advocates for our children. Among other topics, they will discuss:
• Pre and Post Auton Decision
• Pre and Post Hewko Decision
• The Canada Health Act
• Initiatives to Ensure the Future for our Children

Come with your questions. It should be an interesting day.

Please email diane_t @ shaw.ca (without the spaces) if you plan to attend so that we may arrange for seating and refreshments.

Please note that you will need to provide your own lunch.

Hope to see you there.

Diane

[Janet Lirenman]

Hello Everyone!

Next in the North Shore ASBC Parent Support Group series: "Halfway There".
We would like to welcome all parents, therapists, teachers and interested
supporters.

We are pleased to have Dr. Glen Davies of ABLE Developmental Clinic as our
guest speaker. We are so fortunate to have someone with his vast experience
with children diagnosed with autism available to speak to us. Dr. Davies'
dedication and compassion to helping our kids is truly a blessing.

The second part of the evening will be open to Q & A with Dr. Davies. So
come with your questions.
Please come out even if you don't live on the North Shore.

Date: Tuesday, April 24th

Time: 7 -9 p.m.

Location: Peters Room in the West Vancouver Memorial Library, 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 Andrea at andreafinch@shaw.ca or to Eva at 604-218-3298.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Cheers,

Eva, Andrea, and Janet
(Co-facilitators for ASBC North Shore Group)

[Monika Lange]

You could ask for respite (8 days per month is what parents get where I live), child & youth care hours (this is usually about 2 hrs per week… the person is hired by the Child Dev't Centre here, and will take your child to the pool for a swim, etc., or do whatever is decided upon), and you can get a daycare subsidy if you don't already get it… they cannot tell you to use your ABA funds for daycare. They will try to make you jump through hoops, making the whole process of applying sound sooooo complicated… but it is actually never so (in my experience). Play dumb if you need to and make them do the work for you. That is, afterall, their job.

[J.Graham]

Hi all,

I had a call from the Greater Vancouver Community Living office last week (I live in Burnaby) and apparently my son was put on a list for more services by his new Social Worker last year.
They are coming by my home tommorrow afternoon to speak about what I might need fo my son in the way of services.
I was wondering if someone could give me a heads up on what to expect and what best to ask for.

Normally, I have had to chase down/beg for services for my son and I guess I'm a little out of my element and a tad leery on this one.

Thanks,

Jen

[Kendall Hansen]

Re: ABA Trained Caregivers

Respite Caregivers available! Both my husband (Josh Neufeld) and I have been working in ABA for several years. I have been working as a therapist for 5 years, and Josh has for 2 years. We both work on home programs, and in the classroom. We also have experience with physical disabilities, and other special needs. We live in Abbotsford, and are available for weekdays or weekends.
Kendall Neufeld

Phone: 778-241-3103
Email: kendallneufeld@gmail.com

[Dubravka Skrijelj]

Re: ABA trained respite caregivers:

Beside the question how possibly we can leave our children with someone whom we don't know and we can't trust, I have another question:
How possibly any moment of supervision or care to our children can be done without using the ABA principles?

A couple of years ago when I started to use my respite hours for the first time, I couldn't find anyone who was ABA trained for this purpose. My choice was to register one of my therapists who did such great respite time for me, first of all because I trusted the person and I could relax or go anywhere I needed, leaving my child alone with my therapist at my house or outside in the community, and secondly, because the therapist was properly ABA trained and knew exactly what to do with my child.

Up to date, the Association sends regularly their questionnaire asking us how we are satisfied with their service. Unfortunately there has never been a question about the necessity for ABA trained personnel.

Up to date, it was always my initiative to find a trustful caregiver and provide the person with ABA training first, prior to any work done with my child. It is my choice, based on some negative experience from the past, that my daughter can't be supervised with anyone who is not properly trained in her specific ABA protocol.

All parents who have chosen the ABA for their children, why should we choose differently when considering to send our children to summer camps? This is not only from the safety reasons but also because they can and will learn something new in that environment as well. Our children will not lose their autism there, they always need appropriately ABA trained shadows wherever they go.

Thanks All.

[Lis Louwrier]

Apologies for my previous post. Is should have read as follows:

Dear Nancy,

Thanks for the advice. I contacted the Association here on Friday so I would ask that anyone living on Vancouver Island to contact their Association for Community Living requesting that ABA therapists be paid for so that our children may attend camps. As we all know the 500 dollars a month we get for over 6 does not even cover their basic therapy costs.

I feel that we need to argue that it is inappropriate to be matching our kids with complete strangers, especially when they are not properly trained. Social outings are stressful enough for children on the spectrum, we should not allow more obstacles to come their way nor should we be forced to keep them at home because we have been bankrupted paying for their treatment costs. How does this meet the basic criteria for inclusion?

Thanks to everyone in advance.
Lis Louwrier
Victoria, BC

[Lis Louwrier]

Dear Nancy,

Thanks for the advice. I contacted the Association here on Friday so I would ask that anyone living on Vancouver Island please contact their Association for Community Living requesting the same service so it is taken seriously. As we all know the 500 dollars a month we get for over 6. Please get the word out. It is inappropriate to be matching our kids with complete strangers. Social outings are stressful enough for them, we should not allow more obstacles to come their way We should not be forced to keep them at home because we have been bankrupted playing for their treatment costs.

Thanks to everyone in advance.

Lis Louwrier
Victoria, BC

[Author]

Replies