[FEAT BC Admin]

This area is for discussions in general topics.

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[Anna Aquino]

Another good place for wooden puzzles…WINNERS and WALMART. They sell them a lot cheaper than Scholar's Choice. But nothing beats consignment stores and garage sales, of course ;-)

ANNA

[Nancy Walton]

An excellent example of GENERALIZATION:

Casey has just recently finished a Shapes program in his therapy. This morning after a few grunts on the toilet, he got off and looked in to see what was there. Excitedly, he exclaimed "MOON…MOON…MOON!!!"

I went up to the toilet and looked in. Sure enough, there was a little moon shaped poo.

Nancy

[Nancy Walton]

For Elaine and anyone else,

Discovery Toys is in our local phone book in the white pages. If you can't find a local agent in your area, our agent in White Rock is Tracy Harris 535-8697.

If anyone is looking for WOODEN PUZZLES, there are some in Save On Foods. One is an alphabet puzzles. Also, Toy Traders in Langley has tons of separate piece wooden puzzle (new).

Nancy (Casey's mom)

[Linda Cucek]

Again if you want to attend the conference the webpage is: http://www.autism2002.org or you can call:
604-299-4001 or 604-878-0138.

Dates: 27, 28, 29

Place: Executive Airport Plaza
7311 Westminister Highway,
Richmond, BC

I believe the last day of registration is
Sept. 15th.

[Linda Cucek]

August 25, 2002

To whom it may concern:

I am a recently retired junior high school teacher (30 years of teaching!) and presently I work part-time at a music store -Tom Lee's
Music in Coquitlam. A frequent visitor to the store is James Cucek, who often comes in with his mother, Linda Cucek, or a care worker. James is
a very gifted musician, and he enjoys playing the pianos and keyboards in the store. Although he has been diagnosed as autistic, he has never
caused any problems or had any behaviour difficulties in the store to my knowledge. He has always been polite, cheerful and co-operative with me, and I enjoy his visits.

His mother, Linda, tells me that he is due for “ABA” – Behaviour Treatment therapy, but apparently there has been difficulty in finding
care workers who are trained in these techniques. I feel that James has a great deal of potential and I find it very disappointing that bureaucratic complications could prevent him from getting a treatment which would help him realize his full potential and lead a much more
fulfilling life. Thank you for your attention.

Yours truly,

Walter Coates

A friend of James Cucek's at Tom Lee's, the Youth Care worker says his behavior is out of control, this is twice now she has not told the truth another time at the doctors office she said James slapped her, and my son Brian and mom were present and didn't witness James slapping her, why is she making up these stories, now James is back in the hospital due to side effects again for the 100th time, its like a roller coaster from hell.

Linda Cucek "James Mom"

[Catherine Cooper]

Hello,
I am interested in attending the conference in Sept, but can't seem to find the web address which provided all the information. Have checked the archives but am not having any luck. If someone could email me the web address or post again that would be much appreciated. Email addrss is catherine_cooper@sunshine.net.
Many thanks
Catherine
(Sam's mom)

[Deleted User]

Wow, Linda! — good on you for your success in bringing Fran and Kim Peek here; lets hope the impact is significant enough to move this govt toward positive, inclusive policies for "children" of all ages.

Hi Norrah; I think what you are doing back east is imperative, keep it up! I also think that if govt is going to restrict meetings to "one-on-one" encounters, that you enter those meetings with all of the required source-materials, including a tape-recorder to place between yourself and the Minister (or whoever) — after all, there is no one else there to take "minutes" for you, and a tape-recording of the meeting would ensure an accurate account of the meeting, avoid misunderstandings, and maybe even lead to further follow-up meetings if, upon listening to the recording afterward, there are "points of clarification" that need to be addressed. Certainly you would have to be non-confrontational, and even positive about recording such, because it shouldn't be a tool of intimidation, it should be a tool representative of the good faith between yourself and the govt agency whose mandate is to resolve existing challenges for autistic children — a copy of the tape ought to be offered to the ministry as well, for the accuracy of their records too….just a thought.

[Deleted User]

re: " I
spoke to a Laurel worker one time and his attuide was that parents don't know how to handle the kids most of the time." –
this means when the child has behavioral difficulties. I also know that's why we go to consulants because their is no training manual. That said Laurel in my opinion is not where I would want my consulant.

Same anon as 845 am, just wanted to clarify.

[Deleted User]

Linda

I am the anon from yesterday and I wanted to say a few things to you. I agree with you as well and your son will do fine with a mother like yourself. I know it's hard and keep going. Well the good news is that if people don't want funding they have a choice. I know in the world of autism so many people jump at MCFD funding to only wish they hadn't. The problem is if you don't have someone who is a expert it can create more behavioural difficulties in the child.

Also, if we want our children with us til we die that's our right. We don't have to take who the government says we take, and they don't want to give it. I spoke to a Laurel worker one time and his attuide was that parents don't know how to handle the kids most of the time. Well my thoughts are these

First of all- all other disablities in this province get way more support then us. There is no real support centre set up, even the ABA consulants agree with this. Also, who wants the babysitters which can do my harm then good. Then there are all the school issues as they age. The school system is no better then the Laurel group in my opinion. They aren't set up to handle autistic kids. It's sad. My thoughts are if you get sick of the school system homeschool. Parents that do this have less stress. It's not the autism that is stressful it's the way unexperienced people handle them.

[Deleted User]

Linda ,

That is distressing to hear, however sadly not to surprizing that your Provincial Government did that to the Commission. It never ceases to amaze me that we both live in the same Country yet seem to come from two different planets with respect to our provinces.

Our former MFCS ( MCSS- you can change a name but that doesn't mean the attitude changes) Minister , also the Minister Responsible for Children, publically said that he wished parents of disabled children in Ontario were more like the ones in the states ( referring to proaction), and actually equated us to the terrorists of 9/11, no I am not kidding wish I was. This at a downtown Toronto speaking engagement. I guess he doesn't like the fact that I know where the former Minister Responsible for Children vacations and what kind of explaining publically he would have to do with that one. One day dear Johnny one day.

Not two months ago, we went to Queen's Park, and I will be the first one to admit that day I lost my cool or what little there is of it left after four years of listening to false promises and lies. The newly and conveniently appointed Minister for MFCS promised to have a sch. meeting with us, after meeting with a group of us on spot due to the massive media coverage that day. SHE offered us the meeting, and we have compiled a multi-disciplinary team to go to the table, mostly health care professionals, well respected people in this province to show the government in a proactive way ( see that Johnny B) on how they can get themselves out of this mess they have burried themselves in. We have very methodically and carefuly with proper consultation from various fields come up with a plan to implement ABA into the school system, although it is 100% independant of school contract employees and it works with policy's already in place. We have done careful financial projections, and have gone so far as to find where money could be rerouted to deal with the peak costs which would hit in three years and then start to decline in ten.
And what of their PROMISE to meet. They now refuse to meet with more than ONE person, well you know too many witness's yadda yadda…and oh another whole host of stipulations. And to add injury to insult they are prepared to offer 30 mins of the Minster's time…for the life and welfare of children, of which by the way she is now responsible for as her dual role as Minister RESPONSIBLE for children ( dear Johnny's former post). I wonder how long Mrs. Elliot takes for Lunch?
The Minister of Health whom she PROMISED she would invite to the table, I mean sheesh if they are all that busy we thought getting them all to the table at once was being very prudent, I mean after all we thought he was concerned being that he in his campaign promises for the recent Premier Election we had, said he was going to re route funding sources to provide ABA to children over the age of six…. but he can not make the meeting, he is alledgedly too busy working out at the U of T gym during the business day because after all we are just talking about children, nothing important of course. Certainly not as important as a firm stomach.

Well elections are coming up and with the mess our educational system is currently in , government taking over school boards, because boards refuse to make further cuts to children's futures, all while the government sings their favorite rendition of " children are our highest priority la la la and look at what we have done la la la we are wonderful people la la la for finally recognizing the needs of children struggling with autism la la la 40 million we have given for christs sake la la la…" excuse us we must pre-empt our song, we have to go and build a 10 million dollar tennis center now to host the tennis championships.

G_d help the children, truly.

thank G_d for Sabrina Freeman and FEAT of BC…
its often the only chance I think our precious highest priorty children have.

truly sad, so very truly sad.

[Author]

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