[FEAT BC Admin]

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[Mike & Jean]

ATTENTION ALL PARENTS…..

When F.E.A.T. of B.C. was formed in British Columbia in 1996 our mission was to: ensure that children with autism had access to publically funded medically necessary treatment. To enjoy the same right to health care as every other Canadian child.

Let me assure you all that today our mission remains the same. We parents have been left alone to right this wrong.

We will continue the work until our children have what they deserve.

Planning the next steps is in the works and will be communicated in the near future. Right now however, each and every reader of this board should download the petition available at the home page. Get 25 signatures and send or deliver it to your MP.

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

Jean Lewis,
Director, F.E.A.T. of B.C.

[Susan Burns]

hi everyone……just a huge thank you to everyone who helped James have what he has had to date……………..'a writer I am not' but our gratiude is genuine….you know who you are…keep up the good work.

Susan [James mom]

[Jenny Obando]

Is anyone from Maple Ridge going to the meeting tonight in West Vancouver ? Would you be willing to car pool ?

please give me a call Jen 604-460-9047

[Jenn Ralph]

Barb – I have sent the letters to all 3 of those papers' editors.
And thank YOU, my dear, for all you have done over the last several years. My daughter is benefitting because of the tireless efforts of you, Jean, Sabrina, and all of the other "pioneer" families, many whom I don't even know who you are, so to all of you, again, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

[Jenn Ralph]

me again…we also sent the following letters to the CBC.

From: Doug Ralph [mailto:Doug@terra-nova.ca]
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2004 10:46 AM
To: 'sunday@cbc.ca'
Subject: Autism Story 112004

As a parent of an autistic child, I welcome any media attention portraying the plight of affected children and how they have been discriminated against. The better the understanding of the injustices, the more the governments across this country would be persuaded to do its part. That being said, after your story I am more frustrated than ever.

You, like the Supreme Court itself, have entirely missed the point and the core issues of autism and ABA therapy have gone overlooked once more. I am dismayed at the almost unanimously description of ABA therapy as a therapy “that some parents feel helps their autistic child.” Without a true representation of the therapy and the clinical data that supports it, the treatment is marginalized and not represented accurately.

Lovaas ABA has been proven by empirical data to be effective at treating this neurological disorder. The proof of its effectiveness is indisputable and this proof has been upheld in BC Provincial Court and the BC Appellate court where it has been deemed medically necessary treatment. The Supreme Court did not dispute this fact.

The discrimination is clear to anyone who knows these facts. The fact that the Auton case had been skewed and morphed into a constitutional issue where the government could defend itself with technicalities and antiquated definitions is a joke. Perhaps the most ironic thing of all, and typical of the many injustices parents of autistic children face, is that the case in the Supreme Court became an issue of the rights of the government. The right of government to spend their dollars the way they want. I thought it was supposed to be the rights of disabled children. Congratulations, Mr Plant. Well done. For he has not only won and protected the rights of the poor downtrodden government, he has muddied the issue sufficiently to deflect attention from the facts and to deflect attention from the plight of the children and the parents trying to care for them.

I expected more from your program. Your story did little to represent how many facts go unheard and just how shameful the government’s position is.

Doug Ralph

Richmond, BC

I had sent this one to Checkup@cbc.ca:
Please do a story on this recent ruling and the effects it will have on the current and future generations of children with autism and other disabilities.
So much is not being said….that the provincial gov’t in BC promised to fund valid autism treatments but didn’t – that parents go bankrupt trying to give their child what should be their right….that Geoff Plant and Gordon Campbell say they are currently funding autism treatment – if so, then why are we all going bankrupt, both financially and emotionally, constantly having to fight for our children’s rights?
The Supreme Court, the provincial governments and the attorneys general have all deprived these children of what should be their charter right – access to medical treatment for their core health need: autism.

I am no longer proud to be Canadian, and my daughter’s future is now more uncertain than ever.

With sincere thanks,

Jennifer Ralph

[Monique Vickers]

Hi my name is Monique and I am a 3rd year psychology student as well as an Early Childhood Educator. I have 5 years experince working with children with autism and special needs. I am curious about the training in ABA and would like to work with families in the Burnaby area or families close to the skytrain. I am a very dedicated and passionate person when it comes to the education and empowerment of children. My number is 604 783-6223.

[Sheila Hotra]

Hi, regarding the time-released Melatonin, I know GNC in Canada carries it but it is their own house brand.

Not sure if brand matters for you or not, our pediatrician has recommended that we only use the Twinlab brand, and unfortunately I have only been able to get that from the states.

Hope that helps, Sheila

[Marie and Dwight Anglehart]

We're looking for timed-release Melatonin. Has anyone found a Canadian supplier for these?

[Olga Guitelmakher]

We are looking for therapists and lead therapist for starting up ABA program for 5 y old boy. Our consultants will be Liza Winz and Mishelle Auton.
My e-mail is ogmakher@hotmail.com, my phone (604) 436-91-88 Olga

[Mike & Jean]

ATTENTION ALL PARENTS!!! The next F.E.A.T. of B.C. discussion group is on Monday, November 15th at 7:30 p.m.

Our guest speaker is: Sharon Baxter, M.A., BCBA. Behavioural Consultant. Many of you know of Sharon's excellent work in the field of A.B.A. We are extremely fortunate to have Sharon as our guest.

Her presentation will be on behaviour using the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis. Topics will include the ABC's of behaviour – the antecedent, behaviour, and consequence; functions of behaviour, and the use of positive reinforcement and other behavioural tactics to produce behavioural change.

We will start at 7:30 p.m. and conclude at 9:00 p.m.

The meeting is at St.Francise-in-the-wood Anglican Church in West Vancouver. Download a map from this web-site.

This meeting is open to parents, therapists, consultants or anyone else who works with children in Lovaas A.B.A. programs.

Admission is by donation. Please email jean.lewis@telus.net to reserve a seat.

See you on Nov. 15th

Jean

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