[FEAT BC Admin]

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[Mike & Jean]

Attention all parents! The next F.E.A.T. of B.C. parent discussion meeting is on Monday, February 21, 2005.

Our guest speaker is: Eve Neely who is a Behavioural Consultant new to our area. Her presentation is: "How to use the science of A.B.A. to streamline your Lovaas program."

The meeting is at St.Francis-in-the-wood Anglican Church in West Vancouver. It begins at 7:30 p.m. and concludes at 9:00 p.m. Download a map off this website.

Please email me at jean.lewis@telus.net to reserve a seat.

See you on the 21st.

Jean

[J.Graham]

From The Schafer Report:

NBC Attacks Autism With “Autism: The Hidden Epidemic?”
A Week Long Series On The Networks of NBC News

“Today,” “Nightly News with Brian Williams,” CNBC, MSNBC, NBC Owned and Operated Stations, Telemundo and MSNBC.com will spend the week of February 21 – 26, 2005 looking at autism from all angles.

8:10 A.M. EST and 9:10 A.M. EST The Today Show Monday, February 21 and continuing each day through Friday, February 25, NBC will air a 10-part series on autism spectrum disorders.

TODAY will cover the signs and causes of autism, how it is diagnosed, what educational programs exist, how it affects families, and how parents of autistic children can better advocate for their children.

On Friday, February 25, the week long series will conclude with NBC Universal Chairman and CEO Bob Wright and his wife, Suzanne, appearing on “Today” to launch Autism Speaks, a new foundation created to raise awareness of and find a cure for autism. The Wrights will discuss how autism has touched their family since their eldest grandson was diagnosed a year ago at age two; and how they've been inspired by the determination of the autism community. Check “Today's” website for more details at http://www.today.msnbc.com.

Twice each day that week, MSNBC will re-run the Today Show segments, adding interviews about Autism with live guests. MSNBC will also air segments on autism throughout its news broadcasts all week long.

Nightly News With Brian Williams examines the science of autism: How much more we know about it today and what has changed in the past 50 years in diagnostics and treatments. NBC's chief Health and Science correspondent Robert Bazell revisits a family he profiled five years ago, and reports on
how a daughter's autism has affected the entire family; and “Nightly News” goes to Yale, to take a look at cutting-edge experiments aimed at figuring out the mysterious components of autism, how autistic people experience everyday life and why.

CNBC: At 12:30 p.m eastern time on “Power Lunch,” and 4:45 p.m eastern time on “Closing Bell.” Tuesday through Friday, February 22 – February 25, and also at 1:30 on Friday Feb 25, CNBC will air new pieces focusing on the enormous financial burden on families, funding and research, the rising demand for services, and job training for autistic teenagers. Hosted by “Power Lunch” co-anchor Sue Herera, the series will also discuss autism in the workplace, featuring a profile of a well-known person in business with
Aspergers Syndrome.

MSNBC.com will offer a series of original articles, including an introduction to autism, the latest theories about what has caused the dramatic increase in the disorder, what treatments are available and how
families can cope with a diagnosis. In addition, MSNBC.com offers multiple interactive features, ranging from a comparison of the different treatment options to what signs and symptoms parents should watch for in their
children. NBC's Robert Bazell will discuss the latest news in autism research in an audio Q&A available on line. All of MSNBC.com's coverage and the scripts and interviews from the “Today” show and “Nightly News” will all be available at http://www.autism.msnbc.com.

7 – 8 p.m. EST the weekend of February 19 & 20 (Viewers should check their local program listings for individual airdates), the 14 NBC owned and operated stations on the NBC Universal Television Stations group will focus on the rising autism epidemic.

Produced by KNBC in Los Angeles and hosted by anchor Michele Ruiz, the program will help educate viewers about the disorder and provide important information on possible causes, warning signs, treatments and therapies. The show also examines the enormous impact autism has on the entire family and
documents one family's personal struggles, frustrations and triumphs as they care for their autistic son.
In addition, many NBC affiliates will join this effort by producing local reports on aspects of autism in their own communities and running additional stories on this topic produced by NBC News.

7 – 8 p.m. Saturday, February 26, Telemundo will present “Autismo: Epidemia Silenciosa?” The show will provide viewers with important information on the disorder and explain how families can seek treatment for
their autistic children. KVEA anchor Lucia Navarro will serve as host of the program, which will also explore how the Hispanic community deals with autism and the social stigma that is often associated with mental illness.

Additional information about programming and when viewers can tune in for specific information can be found at http://www.autism.msnbc.com.

Autism statistics are alarming: the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is reporting that as many as one in 166 (60 in 10,000) children in the United States will be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. A decade ago, the figure was 1 in 2,500. On February 9, 2005, the CDC announced that autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States.
Currently, it is estimated that 1.77 million Americans are affected by
autism.
And while it is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States, with no known cure, autism is very responsive to early intervention. Awareness of its symptoms is vital information for parents,
and can literally change the lives of the children and families affected by autism.

During the week of February 21, a national campaign led by the CDC and partner organizations will be launched called “Learn the Signs: Act Early.” It aims to educate parents of young children about developmental milestones, signs of developmental delays such as autism and the need to discuss concerns with their child's doctor or nurse. http://www.cdc.gov/actearly

[Brief commentary: The tragic irony about the CDC programs as mentioned above is that the CDC itself may be the leading suspected source of the autism epidemic. If mercury poisoning is the assault that leads to autism, then it has been the CDC’s mandatory mercury-laced vaccine program for infants and toddlers that is the agency of the epidemic. The CDC has increased the amount of resources for research that agency has committed to finding the cause of autism. None of it, of course, investigates their own vaccines. Unlike the NIH, the CDC does not require their scientists to divest their financial interests with pharma. As long as those conflicts persist, very little coming from the CDC should be taken at face value.

Also, there is a question to how deep NBC will go into the controversies surrounding the cause(s) of autism, promotional headline “NBC Attacks Autism” notwithstanding. Since there has been no signs of the CDC or the FDA scrambling to do media damage control – reactions one would expect to see from them as a result of any serious examination of the issues, one should not get one’s hope raised too high that these matters will not get glossed over – otherwise mention of the CDC would be at the head of this press release, where it should be, not at the end. Silent epidemic, still? We’ll see. –L.S.]

[Elna Sund]

Hi everyone
I was wondering if there are any therapists in the Vancouver/Richmond area who will be attending the March 12 workshop with Bobby Newman?
I am interested in attending but would very much like to car pool with a couple of therapists.
I live by the oak street bridge.
Please email me if anyone is interested in giving me a ride! Thanks in advance
elna@abatherapists.com
Elna

[Mike & Jean]

Attention all parents! The next F.E.A.T. of B.C. parent discussion meeting is on Monday, February 21, 2005.

Our guest speaker is: Eve Neely who is a Behavioural Consultant new to our area. Her presentation is: "How to use the science of A.B.A. to streamline your Lovaas program."

The meeting is at St.Francis-in-the-wood Anglican Church in West Vancouver. It begins at 7:30 p.m. and concludes at 9:00 p.m. Download a map off this website.

Please email me at jean.lewis@telus.net to reserve a seat.

See you on the 21st.

Jean

[David and Barbara McLeod]

Hello Feat Friends,

I want to add my encouragement to all to attend the conference on March 12. To add to Nancy's thoughts of the other day, I highly recommend Joanne Gerenser's presentation as a must see. I had the opportunity to hear Ms. Gerenser at a FEAT workshop in Washington a couple of years ago. It was so encouraging to hear a well-respected SLP talk about the importance of science and ABA in working with children with autism. It can be difficult to find an SLP to work with our children who understands ABA and can work in concert with our home programs. Ms. Gerenser was a breath of fresh air on that front. Don't miss the opportunity to hear her in person.

If you have been looking at workshop costs in the last while, you will know that the early bird registration fees (by February 25) for this calibre of presentation are more than reasonable. Make it your "must do" workshop this year. Be sure to invite any school or community folks who are involved with your children to attend as well. Let's get the 'science message" out to all.

I look forward to meeting many of our FEAT families in person. See you on March 12!

[Loriane Frewing]

Thank you Jean for bringing this to our attention. I have written my letter to the editor. I couldn't believe the article. My letter was very strong.

[Mike & Jean]

Below you will find the text of an editorial run today in the Calgary Herald. I am sickened by the tone and inaccuracies it contains. I would refer you to the last paragraph which contains the line "and a bucket of water to drown this monster at birth" What comes next from these idiots – drown the autistic at birth?

If you Google the Calgary Herald and go to their web-site there is a link on the left that lets you send a letter to the editor. I suggest we bury them with our indignation.

Michael

Something in the Ontario water?
If judges tell government how to spend your money, watch out

Calgary Herald

Thursday, February 03, 2005

Despite last fall's Supreme Court of Canada decision tossing out an attempt by a B.C. group to have the province pay for a specific treatment for their autistic children, the Ontario Superior Court wants to keep the issue alive.

A similar Ontario group has applied to the court to order the Ontario government to pay for ABA/IBI, a treatment credited in some circles for significant improvement in autistic children. Pending a future decision, the Superior Court has issued an injunction obliging Queen's Park to pay $60,000 a year for each of the three children.

The Superior Court's stance is surprising. When the Supreme Court decides, that is supposed to settle things, and in the so-called Auton case, it rightly ruled it was the job of provincial governments, not the courts, to set health-care priorities. If it seems presumptuous for a lower court to ignore a higher one, it is, though the litigants are now arguing that if the right to treatment cannot be based on health, it should derive from education.

However, that too is a provincial jurisdiction. So, the question remains: Who shall make government spending decisions: politicians or judges?

The Constitution gives the job to elected, and therefore accountable, officials. They know their budget and must allocate it among competing demands — not merely setting medical priorities, but deciding among health, education and other necessary functions. They may not always be right. But, unlike judges, they can be voted out.

Now, parents of autistic children have a tough job, and deserve every sympathy.

But, hard cases make bad law. It is all very well for judges to feel sorry for afflicted children, but nothing in their training makes them competent to decide ABA/IBI — or anything else — is appropriate. Certainly, the Supreme Court called it unproven, a sufficient indication that lawyers should leave medicine to doctors, and vice-versa.

Worse for taxpayers, though, is that having made such an order, a judge is not responsible for finding the money to pay for it. In theory, nothing would prevent non-elected judges ordering expenditures elected governments couldn't afford, with the best represented groups getting to the front of the queue. This stands the principle of responsible government on its head.

The Ontario Superior Court will rule on the case later this year. We trust the Ontario government will be standing by with an appeal, and a bucket of water to drown this monster at birth — on behalf of all Canadians.

© The Calgary Herald 2005

[J.Graham]

NBC Series Focusing on Autism

Beginning February 21, 2004 (see specific dates/times in program description)

The description of this series was excerpted from the URL http://www.autismcoalition.org/index.asp

NBC's Today show is preparing a 10-part series that will run the week of February 21 airing at 8:10 AM and 9:10 AM. The series will look at autism from a variety of angles, with segments exploring topics such as etiology, diagnosis, treatment, educational programs, affect on siblings, and how to be an advocate for your autistic child. Be sure to tune in for the "How to be the Best Advocate For Your Child" segment airing on February 24 featuring Autism Coalition board member, Gary Mayerson. He will be interviewed on his new book, "How To Compromise With Your School District Without Compromising Your Child."

In conjunction with the Today show series, CNBC is airing a four-part series from Tuesday through Friday, Feb. 22-25. Segments will air at 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM during CNBC's Power Lunch program. Titled "Autism: Paying the Price," the CNBC series will focus on the financial implications of the disorder, with segments on the financial impact on families, the roles of government and private funding for research, the opportunities in healthcare and pharmaceuticals and autism in the workplace. Both the NBC and CNBC series will feature interviews with leading members of the autism community, from researchers and physicians to activists, educators and parents.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one's thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. Frederick Douglass

The primary role of the grassroots is to send a message to policy-makers that an issue is critical to them. Bobby Silverstein

[Kandi Kilgour]

Hello everyone:

I want to tell you about the wonderful experience I have gotten from the Langley Gymnastics Foundation (604)532-1022.

My daughter was in their program last year for the parent and tot and it did her a world of good. It helped with her coordination and when the Consultant came from New Jersey she said that she did not need physical therapy because she was doing so well in gymnastics.

This last September they offered a special needs class in the morning for the little ones. They already offer a special needs class in the evening for older children/people.

There wasn't enough people registered so they cancelled it and they put her in a regular class and had special teachers in the class for her assistance. She is a very hyperactive child and this helped to work off some of her energy too. She did great!!!

She is registered in it again on friday mornings at 9:00 and if you have an under 6 child and want a WONDERFUL physical experience it is the place to go.

They do a lot with special needs people and I can't say enough good things about Geoff and Jenn.

Hope this helps somebody who wants to put their child in a physical activity.

Kandi
(Maisie's Mom)

[Deleted User]

Attention those attending the Intermediate Workshop at Douglas College tomorrow:

I have found a map on their website which shows where room 1620 is! Go to http://www.douglas.bc.ca/cguidenwa.html It looks like a bit of a maze so we will try to have send the early birds to a few spots to direct people. Sorry for the late notice on this, I just stumbled across this map.

Incidentally our workshop was full but we have received 2 cancellations, if you would like to attend tomorrow we will have a minimum of 2 spots and we can sometimes squeeze in one or two more people – hope to see you there!

[Author]

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