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[Mike & Jean]

Important announcement for parents and supporters!

Medicare for Autism Now's "One in 68" Campaign training sessions originally scheduled for Aug. 18th and 19th in Surrey and Vancouver are cancelled and are now going to be one session and available to everyone across Canada via webinar on Wednesday, August 19th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm PDT. Parents and supporters living anywhere in Canada can join us live to learn how to engage their local candidates to advance policy change which will make science-based autism treatment (ABA/IBI) universally accessible and covered under Medicare. It's as easy as following the instructions in this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/regist…/4708086068839319042

Can't join us live? Watch our facebook page at the end of next week to see where you can download the recorded session.
We look forward to meeting you and taking your questions on-line next Wednesday evening. Please share this information with all your parent/supporter groups.

[Mike & Jean]

Dr. Sherri Brown is a director of the Medicare for Autism Now! Society and campaign chairman for it’s “One in 68” political campaign. Her accompanying letter, published today in ASAT’s (Association for Science in Autism Treatment) summer newsletter powerfully explains why Canada needs ABA treatment to be covered under Medicare. Watch Medicare for Autism Now’s facebook page and website: http://www.medicareforautismnow.org for campaign information.

A Canadian Love Letter to American Autism Votes Supporters and (Specified) State Legislators: http://www.asatonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/SIAT-Spring-2015.pdf
By Sherri Brown, PhD

Dear Neighbours to the South,

First, an admission. We often walk around up here, north of the 49th parallel, with puffed out chests when comparing our universal and publicly funded health care system to your system. We may even sneer a little, “Can you imagine having to live in the US. where a private health insurance company dictates decisions about your health? Your child’s health?” When I began my postdoctoral fellowship in 2012 in San Francisco I certainly arrived at the airport full of this brand of arrogance. This was before my child’s autism diagnosis. This was before I realized how having a child with a disability could change everything you thought you once knew. Indeed, when we became increasingly concerned about our son’s development my first instinct was to race back home to the supposedly safe haven of Canadian healthcare. My arrogance and ignorance would end up costing us all dearly. Because much to my surprise health insurance in Canada does not cover ABA treatment for children with autism. Despite decades of research that have demonstrated ABA as a highly effective treatment intervention in reducing or eliminating symptoms of autism and yielding improvements in behaviour, communication, and social skills, Canadian governments do not see it as “medically necessary”. Some provinces provide partial coverage, but it varies widely and treatment waitlists can be as long as four years. Now, I know you have serious challenges with HMOs and private health insurance- I do not wish to dispute or minimalize this. However, from one neighbour to another, I want you to take a moment to congratulate yourselves for your hard won successes of having 41 of 50 states who have enacted insurance reform laws to mandate coverage for applied behavior analysis (ABA) treatment for children with autism spectrum disorders. By mandating coverage for ABA, state legislators have recognized and enshrined your children’s rights to medically necessary treatment. These state legislators, however, have largely come to this conclusion through sustained advocacy of parents like yourselves, and in particular through the efforts of Autism Votes. With 1 in 68 children in the US now diagnosed (we suspect autism prevalence is similar in Canada, but we have NO national autism surveillance program so we’re basically guessing), Autism Votes harnesses the power in numbers of voters in states (and Federally) to lobby and advocate for insurance reform, new legislation (the ABLE Act, for example) and other state and federal initiatives benefitting families and individuals with autism. You should be very proud of this, of Autism Votes, and of your state legislators who took seriously the very real threat of a large cohort of voters who presented them with a reform agenda. They listened this time. You have 8 states remaining (as of May 6, Hawaii is poised to become the 42nd state to pass insurance reform), but even when these states sign on, and I hope they will, the one thing I have learned in the short two years since my son’s diagnosis is that advocacy is chronic. None of us live in the kind of society yet that treats our children with the respect, support, and justice to which they are all entitled. A group of parents in Canada took their complaint regarding the absence of insurance coverage for ABA to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2004, and the Court ruled that while ABA was a "medically necessary" treatment, the Court was not in a position to compel the Government to pay for it. So, Canadian parents are now left to learn from and emulate your successful advocacy efforts; we must compel legislators to change the law (the Canada Health Act) to include ABA treatment for individuals with autism. I am a proud Canadian, but this pride will never override my love and concern for my disabled child. I wish we had stayed in California. I wish I didn’t have to fight this fight. I wish I could simply parent my child with the knowledge that his disability is well supported with effective treatment interventions. Raising a disabled child is difficult enough without having to assume another full-time job of chronic advocacy. But you, dear neighbours to the south, have shown me change is possible, and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for renewing and sustaining my hopes for a better future for our children.

Love,
One Canadian Autism Mom

Dr. Brown is a lecturer at Simon Fraser University with research interests and experience in the politics of access to health care and treatment. She is the mom to five year old Quinn, a nonverbal 5 year old boy with autism spectrum disorder

[Bev Sharpe]

The Association for Science in Autism Treatment is committed to improving the education and treatment for people with Autism.

Sign up now for your free membership which means you will automatically receive their quarterly newsletter. Their latest newletter is a must-read. It is available at this link:

http://www.asatonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Summer2015.pdf

ASAT is a not-for-profit organization of parents and professionals committed to improving the education, treatment, and care of people with autism. Their board of directors and advisory board are comprised of parents of individuals with autism and highly trained professionals and practitioners working in multiple disciplines, such as pediatricians, scientists, academicians, clinicians, educators, speech therapists, and financial experts. ASAT also has dozens of additional volunteers who work tirelessly to support their mission. Collectively, they have hundreds of years of experience and training related to autism treatment. ASAT has the expertise to disseminate sound recommendations, share resources, and make a difference in the lives of individuals with autism and their families.

[Mike & Jean]

Hey Parents! Circle November 14th for Medicare for Autism Now's “You can Hewko, too” Advocacy workshop. Eight weeks into the new school year is more than enough time for parents to experience a dose of school reality and be perfectly primed to learn the necessary skills to ensure their child is getting what they need in school and the community. Advocacy is not a complex or mysterious process. It requires clarity, focus and persistence. It also requires certain skills which you will learn in this highly interactive session. So, circle the date and watch our facebook page and website:http://www.medicareforautismnow.org for location and other details. Stay tuned because spaces will be limited.

[Rhea Yang]

We are seeking a BI to join out current ABA home team for our 14 year old
boy going into Grade 9 every week for 2 hours. Team meetings are monthly. Salary is dependent on experience. Training will be provided by our BCBA consultant, Colby Anderson and supervision by Sara White. Ideally for have some ABA background BI or college students especially those in psychology, social work, special needs or education.

Applicants must:

– Be patient, self-motivated, extremely reliable, enthusiastic and
possess excellent communication skills.
– be at least 19 years old
– have experience or enjoy working with children
– have a clear criminal record check
– have the own transportation
– Be willing to make a minimum 2 years commitment
– want to make a difference in a child's life

This excellent opportunity may lead you to the Surrey school board to work with my son at school next year if you have very close to fulfilling the 1000 documented hours of
home ABA experience required.

Interested applicants are asked to send their resume to
xiaoyuy@hotmail.com or phone at 7789605908, Rhea Yang

[Dione Costanzo]

Upcoming Events Presented by the Autism Support Network:

July 13th – Welcome to Autism : A Special Presentation for Parents
Langley Events Centre, 101 – 7888 200 Street, Langley, 6:30pm

Special guest speakers Jodie Wickens, Parent and Michele Shilvock, BCBA will discuss the journey from assessment through diagnosis and navigating the myriad of information that comes with an autism diagnosis.

The focus of this presentation is on supporting parents to identify the components of an evidence based therapy program that will best suit their child, including evaluating and hiring service providers.

Have a new diagnosis? Not sure if the therapy program your child is currently in is the right fit? This presentation is for you.

This is a free event. PLEASE RSVP to so we can plan for space and refreshments.

RSVP for Welcome to Autism – https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/welcome-to-autism-a-presentation-for-parents-tickets-17639854279

Parent Networking Opportunities:

It's Summer time and some of our regular Neighborhood Network Meetings have turned into Parents' Night Out! These no host events are casual evenings for parents to get together for discussion and enjoy food and drinks at local establishments.

Experienced parents will be in attendance. If there are any particular topics or issues you would like to discuss or information that you need please include this in your RSVP. We are Parents Helping Parents!

These are a no host events and there is no charge to reserve a seat. We request an RSVP so that we can hold space at the restaurant and prepare for any particular issues or questions that are submitted.

Thursday, July 9th – Parents Night Out in the Tri-Cities
7pm at Brew Street Craft and Kitchen, 3224 St. Johns St, Port Moody, British Columbia V3H 2C9
RSVP for Parents Night Out Tri-Cities –https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/parents-night-out-in-the-tri-cities-tickets-17640115059

Friday, July 24th – Parents Night Out South Surrey
7pm at the Pacific Bistro and Convenience Store, 102 382-175A St, South Surrey BC
RSVP for Parents Night Out South Surrey – https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/parents-night-out-south-surrey-tickets-17681992315

Wednesday, July 29th – Parents Night Out Vancouver
7pm at the Craft Beer Market, Salt Building – 85 West 1st Ave, Olympic Village, Vancouver
RSVP for Parents Night Out Vancouver https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/vancouver-parents-night-out-tickets-17640053876

About the Autism Support Network:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMnYOYO1rxs

Watch for Neighborhood Network meetings and other events for Surrey, Langley, Burnaby, Vancouver, North Vancouver, Tri-Cities, Mission, Nanaimo and more coming this fall!

Are you looking for support, information or want to connect with other parents? Follow us!
https://www.facebook.com/austismsupportbc and Twitter @autismsupportbc
and on our online calendar on our website – http://autismsupportbc.ca

[Mike & Jean]

News Release
June 25, 2015

For Immediate Release

Vancouver, BC – Today, the Medicare for autism Now! Society (“MFAN”), a non-partisan, not-for-profit, all volunteer organization, announced the launch of its nation-wide One in 68 campaign. “We will be holding a Campaign Kick-off this Saturday, June 27th, at Douglas College, New Westminster, between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm,” said MFAN director and campaign manager, Dr. Sherri Brown, “It will outline the rationale for our initiative and lay-out our action and advocacy agenda leading to the federal election on October 19th, less than four months away.”

The MFAN campaign takes its name from the fact that, currently in North America, one in 68 children are being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). “There is a national epidemic of staggering proportion happening in Canada,” said MFAN director, Jean Lewis, “And, unlike the situation in the United States, our federal government has to date failed miserably to demonstrate long overdue leadership in addressing this major and growing national health care challenge.”

The One in 68 campaign will seek firm commitments from those who wish to hold elected office in Ottawa to vote in favour of necessary changes to the Canada Health Act so that persons living with ASD across our country will have science-based treatment for their core health need covered by Medicare. MFAN intends to focus its efforts on a limited number of highly competitive electoral districts in various parts of Canada. In Metro Vancouver, these include: Burnaby North-Seymour, Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam, Delta, Surrey Centre, Surrey-Newton, Vancouver Centre and Vancouver Quadra.

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For further information, contact Jean Lewis at 604-290-5737 or at jean.lewis@telus.net

[Mike & Jean]

Today, the Medicare for autism Now! Society (“MFAN”) announced that Harold Doherty, of Fredericton, New Brunswick, has joined its board of directors. “We have had a long and valued association with Harold,” said MFAN director, David Marley, “We are extremely pleased that an individual with his skills and passionate commitment to the cause of helping persons living with ASD and their families has become a director of our organization.”

Harold, a labour lawyer, became an autism treatment advocate shortly after his second son, Conor, was diagnosed with severe autism. He has published an internationally-read, award-winning blog, “Facing autism in NB”, for over a decade. Together with others, Harold successfully pushed for a provincial early intervention programme, which includes the provision of autism specific, ABA therapy training for education aides and resource teachers.

He has worked extensively on the promotion of national Medicare coverage for science-based treatment of autism, including helping MFAN in its last federal election initiative. Harold’s close work with members of Parliament resulted in the passage of a private member’s bill calling for a National Autism Strategy.

“I look forward to my work as a director of MFAN as our country approaches an important federal election,” said Mr. Doherty, “We have a clear focus on securing during the campaign an unqualified commitment from one or more national political parties, as well as individual candidates, to vote for the provision of Medicare coverage for evidence-based autism treatment.”

[Stella Li]

Please note the change in day/date (from Fri June 12th to Wed June 17th) for our ASBC Burnaby Support Group meeting.
Let me know if you can attend: shui@autismbc.ca.

Hi everyone,

Time flies. Summer will be here in less than three weeks! Below is our ASBC Burnaby Support Group meeting details:

Date: Wednesday June 17, 2015
Time: 10am to 12noon
Place: Board Room, Suite #303 – 3701 East Hastings, Burnaby BC
Parking: free street parking on Hastings, at the back street (Albert) or side street (Esmond).

Topic:
What do we do in the Summer?
Have you planned for your child’s/your summer?
How do you choose summer programs for your child/yourself on the autism spectrum?
In this meeting, we’ll explore options, provide info, tips, share and discuss our plans for summer programs for children, teenagers and adults on the autism spectrum.
Here to have a fun summer for you and your family!

Coffee/tea, refreshments and handouts will be provided.

Please RSVP to shui@autismbc.ca ASAP.

[Super Dad]

North Shore ASBC Lecture Series

The North Shore ASBC Support Group proudly presents:

Legal Documents to Protect Your Child’s Future
Your Will, Representation Agreement, Power of Attorney, and Other Important Items

with
Mary Hamilton
Davis LLP

a recipient of the
Trusts and Estates Lawyer of the Year Award

at
7:00pm, Tue June 16

in
Welsh Hall West
downstairs in the
West Vancouver Memorial Library

GUEST SPEAKER:

Mary Hamilton is associate counsel with Davis LLP and leads the firm's Wills, Estates and Trusts group. Mary has 25 years of experience in matters relating to wills, trusts and estate administration. She has held senior positions with the various wills, estates and trusts groups in Vancouver and was named Vancouver Trusts and Estates Lawyer of the Year 2011 by the Best Lawyers organization.

Mary is generally considered the best lawyer available for advising executors, administrators and trustees about the probate process, and for administration of estates and trusts. She is also highly sought-after for the preparation of powers of attorney, nominations of committee and representation agreements, and for advising attorneys, committees and representatives about their roles and responsibilities.

Mary lectures frequently to client groups and to lawyers on topics pertaining to wills, estates and incapacity. She also shares her expertise with other lawyers in British Columbia by co-authoring an annotated precedent book on Wills, and co-editing practice manuals on both Estate Planning and Estate Administration. Mary is a past member of several advisory committees creating and editing course material, booklets, or precedent documents for the Continuing Legal Education Society and the Law Society of British Columbia.

TOPIC:

The presentation will cover the following documents:

* Will
* Living Will
* Nomination of Committee
* Representation Agreement
* Enduring Power of Attorney
* Insurance Declaration or RRSP Designation

DIRECTIONS:

The West Vancouver Memorial Library is at 1950 Marine Drive:
http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=1950+Marine+Dr,+West+Vancouver,+BC+V7V+1J8

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 (but not required).

Please RSVP to <asbcnorthshore@yahoo.ca>.

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

[Author]

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