[FEAT BC Admin]

This area is for discussions in general topics.

Topic

[Deleted User]

To Beverley re: your post with the comment:

"heck, even other kinds of treatment who tried to snake their way on this very website".

I guess it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out what you are referring to.

I am offended by that comment and quite frankly would like to know just what qualifications you have to criticize other types of ABA treatments??

I have not nor do I intend to judge other people's choice of therapies and I would appreciate it if you could at least show some kind of maturity and intellect to do the same and show other families who have chosen other types of treatments the respect that they deserve.

PS – the "other" type of therapy seems to be doing just fine!!!!!

Oh, by the way – does this mean that my priviledges are now revoked??

Oh, gee, I am devastated.

[FEAT BC Admin]

To all parents of children with autism.

Seven years ago, Sabrina Freeman spent many hours of her time on the phone with me, patiently answering my questions, and calmly, methodologically explaining what the science was behind Lovaas ABA treatment. This invaluable information educated me and gave me the tools to make the decision to start a Lovaas ABA program and to be a proper advocate for my daughter. It is the best and most important decision I have ever made. Thank you Sabrina.

Realizing just how many parents need this information, and realizing just how little time everyone who is running a Home Treatment Program has, Sabrina has prepared a lecture. "How to Evaluate Autism Treatments – Make Sure Your Child Gets What Works." I heard this lecture at the FEAT meeting in December. This easy-to-understand, comprehensive, and straight-to-the-point lecture will give you the tools with which to question the other kinds of treatment that you will come across, heck even the other kinds of treatment which tried to snake their way onto this very web-site.

Understanding the science behind the treatment, being able to discern data from anecdotes, being able to understand control group, peer-reviews, scientific ethical standards, and "n" values, are just a few of the points which Sabrina defined so well and clearly at her lecture. Sabrina's down-to-earth, straight-talking approach is the best way to learn the science behind the Lovaas treatment, and it will enable you to respond to any nay-sayer that crosses your child's path. I encourage all parents to attend. Attending this lecture will save you countless hours of reading and cross-referencing – a great opportunity for you all. See you there!

Beverley Sharpe
(Allison's Mom)

[Mike & Jean]

F.E.A.T. of B.C. Meeting, Feb. 16th

The next F.E.A.T. meeting will be on Monday, Feb. 16th, 7:30p.m. – 9:00p.m. at St. Francis-in-the-Wood Anglican Church, West Vancouver. (download a map off this website.)

Our topic is of tremendous interest – "Lovaas A.B.A. and the Real World or … programming for commonly overlooked skills."

Your child maybe involved in or about to start a Lovaas A.B.A. program. They are learning all sorts of new skills from matching and object labelling to math, reading, writing, conversation skills and peer interactions, but…what about the details or the skills required to do everyday life?

For example: Leisure activities – do they have any they can do competently? Can they ride a bike? swim? ice skate or participate in any community of family leisure activity? Can they behave appropriately in restaurants? in stores etc.? School – How independant are they in school? Can they line-up, hang-up their coats, get our their books etc. without prompting? Do they exhibit behaviours which exclude or limit their participation in certain classes or activities? Do they eat their lunch properly? Are they independent in the washroom? Do they act appropriately in circle times or school assemblies? Do they get invited to birthday parties? Do they have a peer group of typically developing kids? Do they look "cool"?

Skills, skills and more skills which are absolutely essential for our children to possess for their dignity,meaningful inclusion and independance. These tasks, just like every other task in a Lovaas A.B.A. program must be programmed for and taught to a mastery criteria.

Come and hear a panel of parents of children across the age range and autism spectrum share some "programming" ideas for you to discuss with your Behavioural Consultant. This meeting is open to all parents and therapists. Consultants are also very welcome to attend

Please e-mail me at jean.lewis@telus.net to confirm your attendance.

See you on Feb. 16th.

Jean

[FEAT BC Admin]

VANCOUVER SUN
Latest News

Vaccine additive linked to brain damage in children Mercury-based preservative tied to autism, ADHD, U.S. resaearchers say

Sharon Kirkey CanWest News Service
Thursday, February 05, 2004

OTTAWA — After assuring parents that additives in vaccines don't cause brain damage, scientists have found what they believe could be a "smoking gun" linking these additives to autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.

Download full story here:
https://featbc.org/downloads/Vaccines_040205.pdf

[Phemie Mayhew]

We finally got things up and running for our son, Liam…We now need to put together a contract for our therapists…only we're not sure how to word it…Does anyone have a copy of a contract they would like to share with us?

Thanks…Phemie

[Deleted User]

RE: Masters in ABA in Vancouver

New information has been posted on the website http://www.behavioral-solutions.com regarding the satellite Masters program in ABA.

If you are interested in pursuing a masters in this field, I would recommend exploring this option.

[Deleted User]

RE: Masters in ABA in Vancouver

New information has been posted on the website http://www.behavioral-solutions.com regarding the satellite Masters program in ABA.

If you are interested in pursuing a masters in this field, I would recommend exploring this option.

[FEAT BC Admin]

This question is posted on behalf of a member of our discussion group:

"I would like to know if anyone has ever gone on stress
leave from their jobs under Employment Insurance as a result of trying
to cope with setting up and run an ABA program while continuing to work
full time. I would appreciate any comments people have"

[Louise Watson]

Hi everyone i was wondering if anyone could tell me of anyone who can teach piano and guitar lessons for an autistic child. preferrably from nanaimo northward as we live in Parksville. he is 4 years old. thanks Louise

[Stephen Paperman]

This just in from the Globe and Mail. You could change a few place names and the story is oh-too-familiar. A positive decision from the Supreme Court can't come too soon, for all our kids' sakes across the country.

————-
Carly's parents vs. the school board

Outside a 'very, very narrow definition of what it is to be a student, there's nothing for you'

By CAROLINE ALPHONSO EDUCATION REPORTER
UPDATED AT 12:07 AM EST Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004

Carly Fleischmann celebrated her ninth birthday last Monday. There was a lot to celebrate: She is learning to play Mary Had a Little Lamb on the piano, she is writing her name, and she can point to symbols in her picture book when she wants a glass of juice or a particular food.

But most importantly, Carly celebrated a judge's ruling just days before her birthday that allows her to keep her special-needs assistant in the classroom — at least for now.

It was yet another battle that she, like other children diagnosed with autism, has had to face to get the support she needs in school.

"If you fall outside a very, very narrow definition of what it is to be a student, there's nothing for you, or you end up rattling too many cages and it's just too much work," said her father, Arthur Fleischmann, president and partner at a Toronto advertising agency. "You have to jump through so many hoops and •••• off so many people to get the job done."

Autism has increased at such a rate that the Autism Society of Canada estimates one in every 286 children in the country is afflicted with some degree of the neurological disorder. Children and adults diagnosed with autism typically have difficulties communicating and socializing with others.

Parents in Toronto and across the province have been fighting to get their children the help they desperately need, a battle that can be a financial and emotional nightmare. Twenty-nine plaintiffs are in court seeking to overturn a provincial policy that halts access to a government-funded autism program after the age of 5. Mr. Fleischmann and his wife, Tammy Starr, are among 15 parents who have launched injunctions to get money for treatment, and 50 human-rights complaints have been filed against Ontario's position on autism funding.

Schools don't understand how to handle autistic kids, and administrators more often than not refuse to let in outside therapists, critics say. Like other parents, the Fleischmann-Starr family barely have enough money to fight for their daughter. Still, Mr. Fleischmann said, "We have stopped being parents and started becoming advocates. You can't just be a parent any more."

Carly, a twin, was diagnosed with severe autism when she was 2. The pretty girl with big brown eyes and bangs reaching down to just below her eyebrows can't speak, yet she's affectionate. She constantly moves around her Toronto home, unable to sit still for long.

On her birthday, she takes a moment to sit at the piano. Three of the piano keys — the ones needed to play Mary Had a Little Lamb — have pictures of an ice cream cone, popcorn and a bag of chips. Her therapist, 23-year-old full-time student Howard Dalal, has a laptop on top of the piano. As each picture flashes on the screen, Carly hits the appropriate key to play the song.

Carly wouldn't learn such skills if her parents weren't pouring thousands of dollars into her treatment, something they say the school board has tried to shut out of the classroom.

A spokeswoman at the Toronto District School Board declined to comment on Carly's case because it is still before the courts.

That case is to determine whether Yifat Barmapov, who has worked with Carly since the 2002 academic year, will stay on as her special-needs assistant while the young girl attends Summit Heights Public School.

A special-needs assistant is employed by the school board to work in a classroom or one-on-one with a particular child. The school board pays the salary of the assistant, but Carly's parents have paid for Ms. Barmapov's continuing training in special methods to help autistic children.

Carly's parents went to court recently to seek a temporary injunction to stop the school board from letting Ms. Barmapov go because she was a temporary employee. Ms. Barmapov was told by the school board that the employment of all temporary employees was being terminated as the board attempted to balance its books.

An Ontario Superior Court judge granted the injunction, however, and Carly's parents have asked the court to rule on whether Ms. Barmapov can stay on permanently. A date has not yet been set for the hearing.

"There can simply be no dispute here but that a change of the person who works essentially one-on-one with Carly Fleischmann on a day-to-day basis will be difficult for her," Madam Justice Jean MacFarland wrote in her decision. "Common sense alone, in my view, would suggest that any change for this child's routine should be carefully planned."

Carly's ordeal is long and complicated, but it speaks volumes about what parents have to go through to get assistance for their autistic children.

At one point, they were told not to bring her back to her neighbourhood school, John Ross Robertson Public School, because it did not allow the use of applied behavioural analysis, the only treatment Carly's parents say works for her.

They had been using ABA since their daughter was 4. It is a system of behaviour modification that uses basic principles of psychology — positive reinforcement, where children "work" for rewards such as candy or toys — to teach autistic children language skills and how to play appropriately.

Carly's parents moved her to a special-needs class at Summit Heights Public School in the fall of 2001. When Carly's special-needs assistant went back to school, Ms. Barmapov was hired by the school board and trained by Carly's parents to use ABA.

But things began to unravel. The teacher at Summit Heights had a change of heart and didn't allow Ms. Barmapov to use ABA in the classroom. Carly was regressing because proper behavioural management was not being applied, her parents said. She was not sleeping at night and did not stop moving for about 18 hours a day. At one point, she flooded the upstairs bathroom.

At her parents' request, Carly was moved into another special-needs classroom at the same school, where she still is now. ABA programming was allowed by the teacher. The transition was difficult, but Carly soon adapted to the more structured atmosphere.

All was going well again. But then in early November of last year, Ms. Barmapov was told by the school principal that she had only a couple more days on the job because she was considered by the union to be a temporary employee.

Mr. Fleischmann and Ms. Starr were concerned because there was no transition in place for Carly if Ms. Barmapov were to leave.

Even the judge noted this in her decision. "It is apparent that the woman who would replace Ms. Barmapov initially was only to be there on a temporary basis in any event and she too would be replaced," she wrote.

Carly's parents are hoping the school board will let Ms. Barmapov stay for as long as their daughter is at Summit Heights, without the need for further court intervention.

"I don't expect the school board with its limited financial resources to be able to provide a private one-on-one program to each kid," Mr. Fleischmann said. "I don't even find that reprehensible. What I find reprehensible is when a parent is actually willing to meet them more than halfway to pay for the training, to pay for the program, to make an integrated program, they put up barriers."

Despite the continuing fight for Carly, Mr. Fleischmann and Ms. Starr try to normalize their lives as much as possible. On Monday, they went out for dinner as a family to celebrate the twins' birthdays.

But the battle is never far from their minds. On any given day, there are at least four cars in the driveway. Each Thursday, Ms. Barmapov meets with Carly's therapist, Mr. Dalal, and a speech pathologist at the house.

"Everything that happens in Carly's life has to be set up for her to succeed at," said Ms. Starr, taking a one-hour break with her husband to chat about their struggles.

Ms. Starr has been diagnosed with cancer. She tries to be there for her other two children, but most of her time is spent fighting for Carly.

"We would rather be doing almost anything else," she said. "This isn't fun.

"For other parents, their kids get up in the morning, they walk them to school, they may have the occasional issue to discuss with the teacher. But that's it," she said. "It's hard enough to have a child like this, and then to have to fight these battles . . ."

[Author]

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