[FEAT BC Admin]

This area is for discussions in general topics.

Topic

[Nancy Walton]

The next South Fraser ASBC meeting is Thursday December 15th, 7-9pm. For this meeting, we will just have a discussion group where we can discuss any issues that are currently concerning you. Then we can mingle and enjoy some refreshments.

New parents, this is a great opportunity to have some questions answered and get a boost of support for the challanges ahead of you.

The location is
Semiahmoo House Society
15306 24th Ave
South Surrey

Hope to see you there,

Nancy Walton

[Diane T]

Thanks, Cathy, for continuing to collect signatures.

Please consider asking your MP to table each time you have two filled pages. This will maximize the impact you make by raising the issue in Parliament as many times as possible.

Cheers,
Diane

[David Chan]

Thank you jennifer for keeping our eyes on the ball. We need to savor those victories. Severe, mild, it just doesn't matter. A win, is a win. We always want just a little more, and yes I know that heart pounding feeling.

We like to think about this always….

I'm not sure, but I think it was Browning…remember I have ESL issues

"A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for"

keep up the great work
Thanks again Jennifer

Dave
Mr. P's Dad

[Cathy Fitzhugh]

Hi Everyone,

Just another post to thank everyone involved in the Vancouver rally last week. Each speaker was amazing (you all made me teary…) and it was nice to put faces to names. Know that there are many of us that appreciate all your hard work and dedication.

I did my best to help out. I think I gathered about 75 signatures…

The whole thing re-sparked my motivation and I'm contining to gather those signatures wherever I go- keeping a copy of the petition in my bag, and "hitting-up" folks along my day.

If more of us did this, I bet the names would add up quickly and we could all make a real impact.

I also wanted to take the time to thank 11-year-old Joshua Bortolotti for his excellent work and his amazing letter to the Prime Minister. Joshua- you rock. I admire you.

Keep up the good work everyone.
Our kids are lucky to have us.

Sincerely,
Cathy Fitzhugh

[Jenn Biddlecombe]

A good day…

I am the mom of an 8 year old boy with severe autism. My son does not fly through programs, rather he tends to plod through step by little step. Day to day the changes in his learning and behaviours seem impercetible. Then you get a day, like today, where you see how all the hard work and small changes add up to big things.

18 months ago taking my son anywhere in the community was a huge ordeal. The thought of a trip to the store or dinner at a family restaurant with friends would fill me with dread. Since living like hermits wasn't a good long-term solution, we started a community trips program in therapy. Small goals were set to start – in the door at Save-On and then right back out. These goals were increased step by step. Now going to the store, a restaurant, a movie etc is no longer a problem.

Today was the biggest test yet – "Disney on Ice" at the Coliseum. We practiced and prepped and we were ready for action (including seats on the isle in case we had to make a quick get-a-way). Despite the preparation my heart was pounding as we entered the building… a lot of people and a lot of noise… Well the prep and hard work paid off! My son was a perfect little gentleman and he had a fabulous time! He was completely engaged in the show and was as captivated by the magic as any other kid there. I am so thankful for ABA and that my son had the opportunity today to be an active participant in the wonder of childhood.

Jenn Geddes

[Deleted User]

Upcoming FEAT of BC Sponsored Workshops:

FEAT of BC will be sponsoring three workshops in the new year.

Januar 14th, 2006
Participants: new instructors, instructors with experience who would like a refresher, parents, SEA's, classroom teachers, anyone working with a child with Autism.
Basic Workshop – an introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis and Discrete Trial Teaching/Instruction ("Lovaas-style ABA"). This workshop will introduce you to the scientifically based field of ABA. Participants will learn terminology as well as recieve hands on practice implementing basic principles and strategies. Correct implementation of the discrete trial, basic prompting, reinforcement and data collection will be some of the topics discussed.

January 21st, 2006
Participants: instructors with at least 3 months of experience, parents and/or those who have attended our basic workshop.
Pre-requisite: attendance at a FEAT of BC basic workshop or that of a Lovaas style consultant. Please abide by this pre-requisite. We would encourage you to attend our basic workshop to ensure that you are familiar with the terms and terminology that will be used in this workshop.
Workshop: We have revised this workshop to focus on the intermediate level instructor vs. the Senior level instructor. This workshop will focus on advancing knowledge in areas such as prompting, reinforcement, technique, self-evaluation, working with older children and/or complex situations and program implementation will be discussed. This is a small seminar based workshop, allowing extensive one-to-one with the instructors.

**NEW**
In early February, date to be announced, we are pleased to announce we will be offering a Senior Level workshop.
Participants: this workshop is strictly limited to those who are currenty working as a senior instructor/therapist or those who are training/aspiring to become a senior insructor. Parents are ALWAYS welcome.
Pre-requisite: attendance at our basic workshop or recommendation by your consultant, preference will be given to those participants who have attended our intermediate workshop in the past or who are registered and attend our intermediate workshop in January. This pre-requisite is in place to ensure that all can participate in the discussions in this workshop. Participants who are not familiar with the terminology will find that they have great difficulty in participating in the discussions and time will not be allocated for basic review.
This workshop has been offerred previously under specific consultants. The focus of this workshop is on using ABA principles to train and manage staff. One of the greatest deficits in home programming is the lack of training and supervision home based staff receive. The quality of a child's program is dependent not only on the quality of programming but also on the quality of implementation. Through this open forum discussion, we guide participants through scienficially based approaches that will assist in strenghtening the participants leadership as well as the performance of a team. Issues worked on through hands on practice include training from introduction of concepts to overlapping, leading effective staff meetings, ongoing training of staff, training instructors to leadership. self-evaluation and training, working effectively with parents and consultants, organization and its role in effective programming, problem solving common problems and data analysis.

We encourage those Seniors who have attended these sold-out workshops in the past to attend again. Each senior workshop we teach has varied in content and those who have attended all of our previous workshops have found that they learn more each time.

As we are currently securing our location(s) for these workshops, these dates may change. Registratin details will be posted once arrangments are finalized.

Please do NOT contact FEAT and attempt to pre-register! All registration will take place once the registration form is posted. Registration will be on first come, first serve basis, upon receiving payment.

All workshops will be taught by Michelle Karren and Theresa Tournemille. Both Michelle and Theresa have 5+ years experience in the field including home and school based programs and have worked with children ranging in age from toddlers to teen-agers. Both currently work as senior instructors and overlap instructors in the field and have trained and worked with a great number of instructors. Additional Bio informationn will be available with registration materials.

[Julie Ng]

Hello Surrey Members,

Thanks Roxanne for bringing those candidates names up on this board. I didn't even know that my brother (Lawrence Pang) was running for the Surrey School Board.
My kid (Son) been doing Lovaas ABA successfully for the last 4+ years. I guess Lawrence has had first hand account of how ABA can help a child and I believe he will be more open to those types of issues that affect our children in school. My son's in grade 2 in Vancouver and everyone know's how difficult it can be if you don't have the right people listening. Fortunately my son's progressed even with the lack of full time ABA SSW support.

Joachim Pang and Julie Ng (604.253.1725)

[J.Graham]

I haven't had a chance to attend any candidates meetings for Burnaby. Does anyone know if any trustees in Burnaby are willing to go to bat for our children?

[J.Graham]

I haven't had a chance to attend any candidates meetings for Burnaby. Does anyone know if any trustees in Burnaby are willing to go to bat for our children?

[Shelin Tkatch]

Posted on behalf of Roxanne Black

Municipal Election: Get out and vote!

The election of your future school board trustees occurs tomorrow. It is critical to populate the boards with trustees who are willing to educate themselves and fight for the right of our children to continue to receive ABA services from their home consultants and therapists once in the school system. If your school board members have not been responsive in this matter then it may be time to elect new ones! After attending an all candidates meeting in SURREY and taking the time to question potential candidates I believe that STEVE MOORE and LAWRENCE PANG deserve consideration of your vote for School board trustees in Surrey. Regardless of whom you believe deserves your vote, you must get out and vote or live with the trustees elected by those who do.

Posted by S. Tkatch on behalf of Roxanne Black

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