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[Janet Lirenman]

Hello everyone,

The North Shore ASBC Parent Support Group series is back!

Are you new to ABA? Do you have an established team but are looking for ideas to make it even better? Our first session may well help: the topic is Starting and Maintaining a Successful ABA Team.

Date: Tuesday, October 24th from 7 -9 p.m. :

Location: Please note that we have changed our location this year and are back at the Peters Room in the West Vancouver Memorial Library, located at 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.

The discussion will include:

* Sifting through all the information
* Hiring a Qualified Consultant
* Interviewing/Hiring Therapists
* Resourcing ABA Material
* Funding Issues
* Networking with other Parents
* Privacy and Confidentiality
* Integrating Home Program with School

This session is restricted to PARENTS ONLY. Get
ready to learn and ask your questions.

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

Please RSVP to Andrea at andreafinch@shaw.ca or to Eva at 604-218-3298

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Cheers,

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

[Dave Collyer]

Another direct link to the MP3 download.

Q&Q MP3

Dave.

[Cathy Fitzhugh]

Feedback to the Quirks and Quarks Autism radio show:

http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/archives/06-07/oct14.html#4

[Cathy Fitzhugh]

Jon Stewart put on "Night Of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Benefit For Autism Education." It was two hours long, very funny, and broadcast live on the web last night. It raised a lot of money! (I couldn't find the exact numbers yet…)

There are videos up on the site:

http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/night_of_too_many_stars/index.jhtml

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/am-comedy1016,0,910618.story?coll=ny-entertainment-headlines

Thank You Jon Stewart!

[Ursula Lee]

Dave, thanks for pointing out that little nugget from Linda Reid. There needs to be an organized push to get the govt to increase funding. $20K has never been enough and now covers even less! Direct EIBI programs have always been funded at a higher rate -I have heard figures around $60K- which is entirely in keeping with current expenses. I can't imagine what sort of "research" they have done. They have only to do some simple math on the "reconciliation" form we submit at year end which shows how much we spend vs how much we get, just in case we didn't spend all the money they gave us and may want to return some! They must have some idea at least what therapists are paid, based on that survey they sent out earlier this year.
We need to challenge Ms Reid on her research.
We need to meet with our MLAs and continue to push for increased funding.

[Jacqueline and Dennis Bell]

The funding is not nearly enough. It covers at best half and realistically not even that. My consultant alone almost costs that. I do as much as I can to keep costs down – The resulting stress is distroying me and putting unreal strain on my family.

[Dave Collyer]

Hello all,

In the article that Pam is referring to Minister Reid asserts (page B2) that "…we've found that the majority of families affected can be served well with the allocations we've made available.". The article also indicates that "the ministry says, according to it's own research, the $20,000 and $6,000 annual contributions are adequate to meet the needs of most autisitc children, and it sees no reason to increase (funding)".

I am not sure if these asserrtions fit with the reality of most folks who are trying to provide quality home based intervention. Without doubt the funding is helpful. However, in my experience it covers significanlty less then half of our monthly program costs… So…Given the discrepency between the Minister's assertions and the fiscal reaility my family faces I'd thought I'd ask folks the following question:

"Do you find the funding provded by the ministry to be "adequate to meet the needs" of your child?"

Beyond this basic question I wanted to make an observation…. Numbers have been presented that suggest that children in the EIBI programs and in newly announced pilote programs are funded directly in the range of $40k-$70k (please do speak up if you have "tighter" numbes)… and that these programs also draw on Supported Child Development funds and may also possibly draw on Ministry of Ed. L2/3 funding if the child is K aged. Of course these observations and assertions lead to another question:

" If $20k is adequate… why are children who are enrolled in EIBI programs and pilote programs funded at significantly higher levels?"

I think that the conclusion that can be drawn is that the $20k is not adequate. Parents pay out of pocket when running quality home based programs and in the government run programs these additional costs cannot be hidden or passed on in a manner that will hide the true costs. $20k per child is not sufficient to run the EIBI programs… and contrary to the Minister's assertions I suspect it is not sufficient to run most quality home based programs.

I would love to hear from folks regrading these issues. I would also like to challenge the Minister to open her books for a general review. The numbers, the Minister's assertions and the reaility that many families face do not appear to be in synch.. Or so it appears to me.

Dave.
davecollyer1@mac.com

[Pam Browne]

HI everyone,
I ready the saturday sun today and I just want to say thank you to Roxanne Black and her family. You did good!

[Diane T]

The Mid-Island ASBC Community Group’s October meeting will be held:

Time: 7 – 9 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Location: Society of Organized Services, 245 Hirst Avenue, Parksville

Topic: Siblings

How are our neurotypical children affected by having a sibling with autism? What do our NT children understand about their sibling’s autism?

This will be an opportunity for parents to share their experiences.

Please email diane_t @ shaw.ca (without the spaces) if you plan to attend, so that we may plan appropriate refreshments.

Hope to see you there.

Thanks.
Diane

p.s. An accountant is scheduled to speak to us November 22 about tax-related issues.

[Nancy Walton]

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the heads up. I think it is extremely important that someone in Vancouver attends this meeting. Maybe several of you.

If anyone decide to go, feel free to e-mail me for soft copies of three studies showing the significant benefits of ABA over "eclectic" or "special education" intensive behavior intervention.

In fact, anyone planning to do any kind of presentation to a group, your MLA, your school board, your child's teacher, should be armed with these.

wiklo@shaw.ca

Nancy Walton

[Author]

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