[FEAT BC Admin]

This area is for discussions in general topics.

Topic

[Melodie Pilloud]

Hello Everyone, Well the diagnosis is that Ty is mild to moderate autistic. So I guess my question is what do I do from here. I am waiting for the government to give us the okay for funding for therapy… but now what! What kind of learning toys should we pick up for Ty? Where do we start with therapy? When will my head stop spinning from all the questions I have jumbled up in my mind? Thank you in advance for any help you can give. Melodie & Ty m_pilloud@yahoo.ca}

[Debra Antifaev]

Dear Alexandria,

I humbly appologise. I did not know that you were involved in the requisition until this post and you are certainly not one of the people I refered to. I would simply like to see an end to all this bickering.
I, in no way, want to "force" my beliefs on anyone. I simply want the funding to choose for myself.
I don't understand your motivation, if you say that ABA has worked for you, to remove this board. My fear is that the old ASBC board, who were against funding, will be reinstated and my child will suffer.
I am not an evil person. I am a fearfull mother of five trying to afford a treatment for my severly disabled son. I want to use the science based treatment showing the best results.All I see is people working to deny me that.
My son is very severe. I do not have the luxury of saying "high-functioning" or "mild autism". My son is a prime candidate for institution life if I don't provide him with everything I can.
I am not an extremist. I believe the science that is available today. I am begging everyone with an autistic child, who is a member of the ASBC, whether they use ABA or not to support CHOICE. Please don't let us return to two years ago when the ASBC was telling new parents that Lovaas ABA was "considered by some to be invasive and cruel".
That was my story. Just give this board a chance

Debra
Tera, Joel, Nathan, Ben and Max's mom

[Louise Watson]

Hi everyone, I am new to all of this but I dont understand why you are all arguing between each other. I thought that everyone involved in autism would be on the same page. But for the last month it seems like feat and asbc have been arguing. I really have no right to say anything as I only found out what asbc stood for a short time ago but it seems like politics to me. I just want whats best for my son, and i have found info at both places. It just seems to me that for the kids sake we should all be working together. I also wanted to thank everyone who faught for funding and now we can have help for Liam. I will also be fighting every step of the way as i believe that every child or adult with this ilness needs help.Thats all i wanted to say Louise(Liams mum)

[Laurie Guerra]

Alexandria,

The "sour grapes" the last post was talking about had nothing to do with you. I believe it was referencing the two women who are instrumental in putting forth this requisition and who nominated each other at the AGM. (one of whom I voted for). Both women did not get elected as board members, hence the term "sour grapes". I did,
and am also being "accused" in this requisition of being a FEAT extremist.

I have been a facilitator for the ASBC for 2 years. I have given my time, energy and own money to do this and was nominated by people in my own group. I became an ASBC member and facilitator before I even knew of FEAT's existence. SO, if anyone resents anything here it should be me. Since when did FAMILIES
FOR EARLY AUTISM TREATMENT become enemies with The AUTISM SOCIETY OF B.C.?
Not only do I resent this requisition, I am thoroughly disgusted by it. I believe that if people knew the truth or were interested in finding it out this requisition wouldn't even have come to pass. The ASBC has a policy to run by and it hasn't changed nor does anyone want it to change.
ASBC and FEAT members…. this new board with all it's current members is a great one. I know every person on it, past and present, deserves to be there. They were elected as democratically as it gets!

Laurie Romey, director ASBC.

[Deleted User]

re: By Debra Antifaev (Antifaev) on Monday, July 29, 2002 – 10:16 pm:

Dear Debra,

I personally resent your implication in this forum that my involvement in the requisition is nothing but "sour grapes". I believe that, in spite of the fact that the election was valid under the constitution of the time, the events at the AGM did not allow for a fair or democratic election. This is not about FEAT vs. ASBC vs. …. I believe in FEAT's work and I believe that ABA has helped my son. But to me, it is about the integrity of the democratic process.

I also ask you to note that I am not running for the board on August 8th.

Alexandria Stuart

[Debra Antifaev]

Hi Everyone,

I would like to add to the previous anon post that EVERYONE with an autistic child should be encouraged to come to this special meeting and vote against this mean-spirited requisition. Please remember that this special meeting was called by a person who was described as a "disgruntled employee" with a real axe to grind. The ASBC members have been misled by the requisition letter stating that the board had been "taken over" by extremists. The requisitions were supported by two members who failed in their bid to be elected to the ASBC board (sometimes called "sour grapes").It is also being supported by the service providers who stand to lose money if parents receive individualized funding and are not FORCED to use the Government services. I am for choice in treatment.
Please remember that it was the founding members of FEAT who fought for this funding and most of them do not qualify for it. They fought for ALL parents of autistic children whether they use ABA or not. Lets show our support for choice and tell these greedy services providers to stop lying to us, stop pitting parent against parent, and stop messing with our kids!

Bless the children,
Debra
Ben's mom

[Deleted User]

I received an interesting notice in the mail.

Extraordinary General Meeting
Thursday, August 8th, 2002

Wesburn Community Centre
4781 Parkwood Ave, Burnaby
6:30-7:30pm

The Autism Society of BC is in receipt of a requisition to hold a general meeting of the society.

The stated purpose of the meeting presented in the requisition is to:
-remove the present board of directors of the society
-appoint a new board of directors

The directors may be removed by a "special resolution" of the members. A "special resolution" may only be passed by a majority of not less than 75% of the votes of those members who are eligible to vote and who are present at the meeting.

In accordance with the amended constitution and bylaws approved at the AGM June 1,2002, a member must be in good standing for 30 days prior to a general meeting in order to be eligible to vote at that meeting. All members of the society are welcome to attend the meeting.

I would like to encourage All FEAT members who are eligible to come out and vote. Your individualized funding may be in jeopardy! Let's show our support for our fellow FEAT members who are on the board of directors.

[Debra Antifaev]

Hi Everyone,
I have an interesting story to add to the chat (and please try to imagine me speaking in a slow and calm manner!).
I had a conversation today with a person who works in a professional capacity with children from the Delta EIBI. She asked if I had been sent a letter from the former executive director of the ASBC with regard to overturning the newly elected board. I said that I had read the letter on this chat, but was only recently aware of the author. She said that she had been invited to join the ASBC in June to rid the ASBC of these "radical" parents.
Can you imagine? Service providers, who stand to lose their paycheques if the parents receive individualized funding, are being asked to sign up to overthrow a board elected by parents of autistic children! Could this be true? Is the Delta EIBI the only place or are other service providers involved? Isn't this a little "extreme"?
I know at a meeting in Richmond, last year, the ASBC's position was against Individualized Funding. Does this mean that our funding could be in jeopardy in February, when it comes up for review, if a new board adopts the old policys?
This group (FEAT) took the moderate method of gathering scientific data, completing studies and seminars, calling on professionals and autism specialists and going to court to move forward their agenda. The did not sneak around in the shadows, trying to keep parents in the dark and protect their financed programs.
If you do not want to use ABA on your child the answer is so simple for you….just don't. There is no need for this underhanded, dishonest and, quite frankly, immoral assault on our children.
The ASBC should be advocating for ALL of our children and I beleive the board, at present, is a good mix. I do not want my child in the middle of what only can be referred to as a "Pi***ng" match between two different camps.
Why can't we just leave the board as it is and get on with something else.
Regards
Debra
Ben's Mom

[Linda Cucek]

The leading Autism Researchers will be coming to Vancouver to speak.

"Rainman" played by Dustin Hoffman,
the real rainman Kim Peek and his father Fran Peek will be main guest speakers at this meeting. Its called Autism 2002; contact person is Vi Woods. webpage: http://www.autism2002.org They will put a picture of Rainman and Fran Peek his father on the webpage soon.

I am the one that introduced Fran and his son Kim
Peek, to Vi Woods, and so her group is sponsoring them both to come and speak at Autism 2002. Stan & I will be their with Fran & Kim Peek- Place-Executive Airport Plaza, 7311 Westminister Hwy. Richmond–Dates September 27, 28, 29— When I heard they accepted them to come down I was in tears, because I have been trying for months to get them here.

Happy Mom Linda Cucek "James Mom"

[Jenny Obando]

Hello this message is for Michelle Karen,. Hi michelle I need to talk to you, can you or your husband please call me .466-9047
Thanks Jenny in Maple Ridge

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