[FEAT BC Admin]

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[Debra Antifaev]

Hi Everyone,

Love your work, Monika…you are very spitfire-ish (not actually a word!)
I, too, have taken to stealing other great writing and (without your permission), sent the following email to Ms. Reid. I don't think I would be breaking any confidences when I point out the irony of the fact that some of these Government folk have VERY obvious self-inflicted medical conditions that the rest of us tax-payers will be on the hook for forever. It is too sad that tax money is diverted away from our children in this manner.
Here's the email:

Dear Ms. Reid,
It has recently come to my attention that you are still confused about what
constitutes "ABA Therapy"
The Lovaas protocal developed by Dr. Ivar Lovaas is ABA.
I realise you used to work for one of those Government agencies so the lack
of updated, factual, information is to be expected.
Please read the following attachment and perhaps a few pieces by either:
Dr. Richard Foxx
Dr. Bobby Newman
Dr. Bridget Taylor
Dr. Ivar Lovaas, himself
Books by Ron Leaf & John McEachin
It would be foolish for someone in your position not to have access to the
most recent science.
Remember, this is all about what is best for the children not about
personality struggles within the different ministries.

Sincerely,
D.M. Antifaev
mother of a child with autism

From the FEAT chat board:
>How about this quote, followed by the David Suzuki quote (on
>FEAT website in Brief to MPs – something to the effect of
>"it used to be considered a life sentence, but now we know
>it can be lifted"). Credit to FEAT for most of the
>following quote too (I can't believe my plagiarism is a
>reoccurring theme; how very very embarrassing!):
>
>"A highly effective treatment exists to treat autism. This
>treatment was pioneered and developed by Dr. Ivar Lovaas at
>the University of California. Lovaas treatment, officially
>termed "Applied Behavioural Analysis Treatment' (or ABA) has
>been scientifically proven effective in treating young
>children with autism. 47% of children who begin this
>treatment before the age of four lose their diagnosis.
>Another 40 percent will pass their grades in school and
>function independently as adults. In other words, an 87%
>success rate. It should be noted at this point that ABA is
>the ONLY scientifically proven effective treatment. The
>current autism industry in BC is neither scientifically
>proven nor effective – it carries a rehabilitation success
>rate of about 2%, which is the same success rate experienced
>spontaneously without ANY intervention."
>

[Super Dad]

I just sent this:

Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2004 03:58:02 -0500 (EST)
From: leomom2004@yahoo.ca
Subject: Let me hear your voice

Dear Pastors,

On Nov 8 I sent you an email seeking help to raise awareness of autism and to get more people involved in ABA therapy. It was not an easy thing for me to do, because I was risking my child's privacy. I was also afraid that if I reached out and no one cared, I would feel quite insignificant. However, I went ahead for the sake of our children.

On November 19, the need for awareness suddenly became an urgent matter. By now you must have read about the Supreme Court of Canada's decision against children with autism. As before, my first reaction is to reach out to other Christians. My feelings are similar to those of Jean Lewis (another parent) who said:

"I have personally found that asking the following question usually puts this issue into a perspective that anyone, particularly anyone of faith can understand: 'Will this judgement help those affected with autism, or will it harm them?' If our answer relies on the principles of any faith – the answer is clear – the moral obligation to right this terrible wrong. I am not aware of any faith which endorses the notion of the strong and mighty turning their backs on or ignoring the suffering of the weak."

If there is ever a good time to speak out on behave of the helpless, this is it. Please, let me hear your voice!

Your can help stop the government from ending their support for treatment, by getting people to sign this online petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?andap1

To learn more, visit:

http://www.featbc.org

Please spread this message as widely as possible. I thank you on behalf of thousands of children and their families.

Remember these words from Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Leo's Mom

p.s. Here are some excepts from the previous email, with some minor corrections.

Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2004 21:01:15 -0500 (EST)
From: leomom2004@yahoo.ca
Subject: Families desperate for help

Dear Pastors,

I have only been going to your church for a little while, so you do not know me yet, but I am hoping you will be willing to help. My family is one of many who are desperate for help but do not have a good way to spread the message. We are families with autistic children. What we need is people willing to accept training and take part-time jobs as therapists to save our children.

Here is some background information:

Let's start by learning a bit more about autism. Most people have lots of misconceptions and very little knowledge. Unlike the stereotype, autistic children are smart and affectionate. All parts of the brain may be healthy, but have difficulty exchanging signals. Many tasks that people take for granted, such as learning to talk, require several parts of the brain to work together. The disconnection causes multiple disabilities. One result is diminished communication skills. Many children become withdrawn not because they do not want to communication, but because they cannot. Due to the suicide rate among autistic people, many parents see the diagnosis of autism as a death sentence.

The fact is the diagnosis does not have to be a death sentence. Autism is treatable, and there is now a treatment method that offers a great deal of hope. (This is the opposite of what you may hear from the government, who is unwilling to pay for the very expensive therapy.) In fact, there are numerous documented cases in which therapists have completely lifted children out of the autistic spectrum! (The most famous case is documented in the book Let Me Hear Your Voice, by a mother named Catherine Maurice.) The earlier we start the treatment, the better the prognosis, so we are in a desperate race against time.

A child's brain adapts well to challenges, and with proper therapy at an early age, you can actually rewire the brain. There is a scientifically proven method called Applied Behavioural Analysis, which involves highly structured and intense training to exercise the child's brain, much like the way a physiotherapist trains a child's muscles. The method focuses on: a) presenting ideas to the child in a very logical way, and b) using operant conditioning to systematically combine the required teaching with positive reinforcement. Research shows a child can learn at an amazing speed if you follow the proper treatment protocol.

Unfortunately, unlike obvious disabilities such as blindness, autism is an "invisible disability." Due to the lack of public awareness, there is very little government funding, so autism is largely ignored by the medical community. No doctor will spend any time treating an autistic child. Usually the only resource available is the education system, full of special education teachers not trained to provide medical treatment. Parents are therefore forced to become experts and to hire therapists on their own. The most difficult part is finding and keeping good therapists, and a parent's heart sinks every time a good therapist leaves. You can help by spreading the message and getting people to apply.

[Laura McGill]

Hi everyone, i think that its about time there is a petition started in my neighborhoof as well, but as i am new to thins, im not quite sure how to do that, if anyone has an outline for a petition or any suggestions for me, please let me know! you can either post or e-mail me privatley. Thanks everyone!

lauramae_mcgill@hotmail.com

[Deleted User]

RE: walkathon

There are other FEAT groups in the US who do organize walkathons… I believe one of the groups in Texas does or Oregon… can't remember. CHeck out http://www.feat.org and you will find links to all chapters.

If they can do it, we can!

[Mike & Jean]

ATTENTION- PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS:

Now is the time for people of all faiths to speakout in their communities of faith.

Speak to your priest, minister, rabbi, pastor, spiritual leader etc. about this perversion of justice.

Take copies of the petition to your congregations for signatures, advertise in your church bulletin, take 10 minutes during the service to speak about this to the people. Ask your spiritual leaders to take an "official and public stand" on this issue.

Many people don't "get autism" unless they are touched by it. I have personally found that asking the following question usually puts this issue into a perspective anyone, particularly anyone of faith can understand: "Will this judgement help those affected with autism, or will it harm them?" If our answer relies on the principles of any faith – the answer is clear – the moral obligation to right this terrible wrong.

I am not aware of any faith which endorses the notion of the strong and mighty turning their backs on or ignoring the suffering of the "weak".

This is a call to action for all Canadians.

Jean

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of
evil is for good men to do nothing."
– Edmund Burke

[Deleted User]

I've bee thinking.
What about a walk-a-thon? The issue is in the public at the moment, and now would be the time to raise our voices. The CIBC supports the walk for cancer, we may be able to gain support from a larger corp. If it were well organized, we may be able to enlist the help of other FEAT members accross the country. We may be able to get media coverage, and certainly we could raise funds….
We could approach student bodies at universities/colleges
Amie

[Avery Raskin]

My daughter has had dental work in Children's Hospital because
she needs to be sedated and our experience is that it was fine.
However, you should understand she still had her work done by
her own dentist, who went to Children's that day to to the work.
As long as you have the dentist who knows your child doing the
work, and he/she is comfortable with Children's as a venue, it
should be fine.

Cheers!

Avery

[Deleted User]

Hi there sorry this is off topic of what is going on, but i wanted to know if anyone has had any experience with their children having dental work in the Childrens hospital? I am having to take my son there for dental work in January/February and was just curious if anyone had any good or bad experiences and any tips you may have for me! thanks so much

Alison sassarella@shaw.ca

[Deleted User]

Just a quick thank you to Dr. Davies and Dr. Ursula Lee. I thought the segment with Michael Campbell on CKNW was very informative. I felt that the information that Campbell was asking for and allowed each of you to provide was exactly what the public needs to hear. Hopefully some of the myths spread by the government were dispelled for listening canadians.

Television and radio are simply not suitable for the type of detail and research that is needed to understand these issues. Its important for all of us who plan to speak on radio talk shows, on TV or in newspaper interviews be prepared to pack in as much information as possible into a quick "sound byte".

Short, succint and informative… make the most of our time in the light as the media is fickle and they will forget us and our adorable children if we do not remain active.

[Debra Antifaev]

Thanks for the 'phone calls of support from Karen and Monika…not many people talking to me lately…feel like there has been a death in the family!
Anyhoo..
Now that I have taught myself to cut and paste (yes, Sabrina you would be proud!!) here is another letter to the Peace Arch News (our local rag)that Karen asked me to share.
I don't know if either letter will be printed

Ed,
I must take exception to a couple of comments by "Sam from White Rock" to Bill Good on CKNW radio today (Nov 24, 2004)
Sam found the comments of a mother of a child with Autism to be rude when she referred to the politician who had lied to her about medical treatment for her child as "slimey"
The all due respect, Sam, the woman had just heard that her child didn't count in this country. I am sorry we cannot all be as respectful and calm and collected, as you obviously are, when faced with this knowledge.
I also find your comparing Autism treatment with the fact that a $20 PSA test for prostate cancer is not covered by medical either, is like comparing apples and oranges.
First, there are other tests to detect prostate cancer.
Second, you can get a check-up EVERY year, covered by medical, whether you are in a high risk group or not.
Third, the sum of $20 is hardly going to deny a huge portion of society access to the test.
And finally, if you are ever diagnosed with prostate cancer, the country is not going to ask if YOUR life is worth saving.
I have personally endured many rude comments, with regard to my son, ranging from "retard" to "the Romans used to chuck those kids off the cliffs", so anytime you think that other mother has the corner on the market on rude and disrespectful comments, feel free to give me a call. I'm in the book.
The ruling against children with Autism was horrific and it will impact many lives whether or not you personally believe they are worth wasting the money on.

Sincerely,
Debra Antifaev
South Surrey

[Author]

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