[FEAT BC Admin]

This area is for discussions in general topics.

Topic

[Peggy Boon]

Are there any more details regarding the NOv 16th workshop in Cloverdale? I would like to have a time/location before I present this to my son's school. Thanks.

[Jenny Obando]

Hello can someone please let me know when and what is the next Feat meeting going to be about.

Thanks Jen

[Deleted User]

Our social worker has helped us convert our supported child care funding.

We are the "employers" and so get the cash ($500+ per month)to pay a "worker"(therapist). This has been going for several months now. :-)

We also have access to respite funding $3500. per year. Goes to a therapist :-)

Our School District (47) is also taking its additional funds for our childs diagnosis and putting it towards our ABA consultant fees this year. We are doing without an SEA but have a therapist that we pay as a "shadow" for our child in the school setting. :-)

Our child does not 'qualify' for funding of his treatment as he is now 8. But that doesn't mean it doesn't work. He has a new lease on life!

We are very fortunate so far but are also aware that we could lose these "services" at any time. Just thought some families who are fighting to fund their ABA for their child would like to know.

[Debra Antifaev]

Dear Parents,

I think we need to send EMAILS to Ministers Hogg,
Reid, and Deputy Minister Haynes also.
gordon.hogg.mla@leg.bc.ca
Chris.Haynes@gems1.gov.bc.ca
linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca

We need a response as to what these people intend for our children TODAY. We have all waited long enough.
The misinformation in the MCFD is horriffic.
At a speech at the Centre for Ability, a couple of weeks ago, Minister Linda Reid actually said that if Lovaas were the treatment for autism, then there would be no more Autism!! Here's a news flash ….
A treatment can only work if it is USED. Most people cannot afford Lovaas Treatment!
MCFD has repeatly told new parents that Lovaas is "cruel and invasive" "the wrong one" or simply too expensive for them to contemplate and then the MCFD uses, as their argument, that not all parents want Lovaas ABA. No kidding, who would want to use a treatment, that you were just told was cruel, on your child.
MCFD has repeatly told people, and the media, that the lawsuit was about children under six and that the Judge approved of their EIBI program.
THESE ARE LIES!!
I cannot state this more strongly. Justice Allen wrote her judgment BEFORE the Government EIBI opened, unless she is a time traveller there is no way she could endorse it. She said that ALL children, regardless of age, had had their Charter Rights breached.
Don't let these Ministries get away with this misinformation any more.

Puffing and panting and filled with righteous indignation and wondering where we go from here….,

Deb
Ben's Mom

[Debra Antifaev]

Dear Parents,

Just as an addendum, (and a continuation of this "love-fest"!) we should all remember that many, many, years ago Dr. Ivar Lovaas started with just an idea.
It took years to perfect his technique and, some may say, it is a work in progress.
We still have a great way to go in changing the minds of Government workers, MLA's and various bereaucrats who still labour under the belief that there is no TREATMENT for autism. Partially, I believe, because they do not really see the "worth" in these children and partially because they make their salaries denying the effectiveness of Dr. Lovaas' methods.
Minister Reid and the MCFD are so very wrong on this count.
Today they lost their appeal of our lawsuit.
Today they were proven more WRONG than ever!
Congratulations FEAT!
Congrats especially to Sabrina and Jean, I know how much you have personally sacrificed to make this a reality. I owe you a huge debt of gratitude.

Gratefully,

Deb
Ben's Mom

[Deleted User]

From the "flukey, pre-Lovaas parent":Thank you for your kind words Debra.

I just want to say, that thanks to the sophisticated and scientific approach, and advocacy, that FEAT is taking to benefit "today's", and "tomorrow's", autistic children, I am relieved to think that perhaps parents will not have to bumble around like I did, and endure some of the hardships (both systemic and diagnosis sourced-hardships) that we encountered. You're doin' good! Keep it up!

[Bohdanna Popowycz]

Hello

I just wanted to add a post regarding video modeling. As an ABA service provider I have seen some great benefits from this form of 'teaching'. Most recently I have used it as a tool to teach a child how to react to social and behavioural situations (answering the door when someone rings, answering Mom when she calls for dinner and losing a game graciously)

Mom and the team videotaped several strategies in how to accomplish these tasks appropriately. For example: you may want to answer the door right away if it is mom or dad, you may want to get a parent if you see that it is the postman etc. These models of behaviour were taped by the staff and then the child watched them. A discussion followed. Another side of the tape was used showing the staff member ignoring the bell and NOT answering the door. This again was shown to the child in order to discuss why this does NOT work or is not the correct way to address this area of concern.
After this discussion a tape was made of the child in the 'role'. He was guided through the situations and then viewed himself.

It has turned out that this little boy has learned to sus out situations and will even say "that is the wrong way or that is the right way" He has learned to use more appropriate language and is also more aware of other people's feelings.
Again, this tool can be used for many situations and for many different children. Some other ways include having a teacher in the school give 'instructions' on the video to be viewed at home. This could give a child a 'leg up' in seeing the teacher (in the classroom environment) as someone to be 'listened' to. It also gives the teacher the tools or language that works for that individual child.
For any further videos ideas please refer to your provider and bravo to the parent that had such great success with the videos into toy representation!
Bohdanna Popowycz Kvam

[Debra Antifaev]

Dear Anonymous,

You may call it a fluke because, as we know, all our children are different and that is why our ABA programs are taylored, by professionals, to each particular child.
I think that you are one of those wonderfully intuative (spelling?) parents, from the age before Lovaas, who saw an opportunity and took it.
I, myself, have NO imagination what-so-ever and could never have designed such a program.

Good for you and thanks for sharing !

Deb
Ben's Mom

[Deleted User]

Wow! Just goes to show how social/behavioural/intellectual/physical considerations must be incorporated into each target-activity toward both "comprehension" and "generalization" — I never experienced the kinds of problems you describe — guess I fluked out by just sitting and watching the videos with my son and playing/modelling out the "script" myself in a rather informal social context re: the interaction between myself and him, and of course, all of our little character-type friends!!

[Rachel Russell]

Hi- I just wanted to add a few notes to the post re: video modeling for play scripts. I was involved in similar research at the Lovaas Institute in NJ replication site with Tricia Donahoe of LIFE who presented her findings at ABA in New Orleans last year. In her study- we presented the kids with a particular video script for a certain number of days and the kid simply watched it. We then presented the video and then gave the child a limited time period of access to the same toys independently. Eventually, we faded out the videos and simply gave access to the target toys. (the child never got open access to the target toys during the video stages- only at the end). What we saw was that the child I worked with appeared to love the videos and quickly learned to request them (but again- access was not permitted unless we were running specific research trials)We found that he quickly learned (within a few days) to act out the script with the toys in the home. He acted out the script with specific detail and precision- never varying from the exact video script. The child I worked with created rituals out of the videos and tried to re-enact them all day long, with or without the toys in sight. If an instructor attempted to interact with the child and the toys- the child would scream and abandon the play. If the instructor attempted to change the words in the script, add a new idea, or simply take a role in the scripted dialogue- the child would scream. We had created a long and complicated video stim and could not get rid of it or break it! And he now knew 5 of them! A year later when I left New Jersey- the child would still mutter the scripts under his breath when unsupervised. That said- I still feel video modeling has huge potential. Our mistake was not to build in major variability from the first video showing. We did not build in interaction, novelty and unpredictability. I have not read the studies from Dr. Eric Larsson who is very amazing and I am sure he has done some amazing things to fix the problems that we had 2 years ago! I would love to read the study he presented at ABA in Toronto of Michelle has the journal and date! Thanks for the great info- Rachel

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