[FEAT BC Admin]

This area is for discussions in general topics.

Topic

[Mike & Jean]

Hi everyone, Just a reminder of the FEAT meeting tomorrow night (Wed) June 19th at 7:30pm at St. Francis in the Wood Anglican Church in West Van (map downloadable from this web site). It will be an open agenda, everyone is welcome.

See you there.

Jean

[Deleted User]

Certified Lifeguard and Swimming Instructor with ABA training Available to Teach Private Lessons in Maple Ridge or Langley

I am posting this message on behalf of a therapist who works with my son.

Ben has worked with us since April 2001 (with one semester off for school) is entering his fourth year of psychology at TWU and works as a lifeguard and instructor in Langley. Last summer he taught my autistic daughter preschool level swimming through private one on one lessons.

He is available to teach children in ABA programs private one on one swimming for those who are interested.

In the past we have sent our daughter into swimming lessons with an aide and found that she learned much more through private lessons. She had focussed one on one time and an instructor who knew the principles of ABA and was therefore able to teach in a way she understood. She was much less distracted. Now she could enter a regular swimming lesson with little or no assistance because she has a strong base of skills and is better able to focus. Ben was also very effective at helping her to work through her fear of putting her face in the water. Ben also taught my husband and I the skills to continue the lessons in family time which really helped.

If you are interested in contacting Ben about this you can leave a voice message on his pager 292-3412

[Sheila Hotra]

Anna,

I opened up a Leo account(which is a child's savings account at the Royal bank). They put it in my name and after my name ITF(in trust for) my child's name. I just told them what was needed that we had to be able to write cheques and get a statement, and they provided these services on this account. At the end of March/2003 when my child turns 7(which makes him too old?!) I will just turn it into a regular savings account for my child. (they usually start off this type of account with $5.00 for the child, but they said just to remind them when we switch it over and they will put the money in then.)

[Deleted User]

I feel like the bearer of bad news…but having a year or so's jump on BC here in Ontario, there are certain things as families I would URGENTLY be protesting, in and out of court…you only need look EAST to Ontario to see a disaster unfolding.
1. Sabrina is absolutely right about "multi-disciplinary teams" to diagnose autism. For years OHIP and early pre-school initatives have accepted diagnosis of ASD from family practicioners, developmental peds, and other related health care professionals. Suddenly at the inception of IBI those diagnosis are NO longer and suddenly unacceptable.
Why?
Well how else can you ration diagnosis? With a detrimental spill over affect to treatment protocol.
What has occured here is that some children had a recent diagnosis that would have been acceptable prior to IBI being re-assesed by the government contract worker " clinical director", and for legal reasons lets say this is a hypothetical case.
The hypothetical case of child X who has diagnosis of Autism by a DAN! Dr. and Developmental Ped done within three months of IBI acceptance evaluation, mysteriously is given a new diagnosis of PDD-NOS and is say hypothetically classified as near normal functioning by a regional provider only to be again re assesed say hypothetically 9 months later by a well known hospital for sick children, only to find to the parents suspicions that child X is actually delayed in all areas by almost three years and actually hypothetically meets criteria on the DSM-iV for Autism , in contrast to the Government contract worker 8 months prior of PDD-NOS.
Do you think it likely that a child with a diagnosis of PDD-NOS would receive the same amount of treatment as the child diagnosed with full criteria for AUTISM?
A word of advice for those being asessed for the BC program….if you for one milisecond question the diagnosis handed out by the Government Contract Workers pls for your child's sake, even if initially it costs you out of your own pocket, get the child asessed by an independant and qualified source.
Make sure if an inaccurate diagnosis has been made that it is permanently removed from your child's records.
If necessary one may consider reporting alledged negligent diagnosing to the proper governing authority so that either the clinician is trained properly to in the future effectively diagnose or at the very least save other children from hypothetical possible diagnosis rationing.

[Deleted User]

Just in response to the post about Sunny Hill having to give the diagnosis. I myself was disappointed with this issue, so I checked it out some more. The stipulation states that a multidisciplinary diagnosis must be made. It did not say Sunny Hill specifically. I have spoken to my case worker about this, and was informed that these multidisciplinary diagnosis do not have to come specifically from sunny hill. In Campbell River we can get most of this diagnosis through our own community resources. The only thing we cannot get in our community is the psychological assessment, but the government is now in the process of providing these assessments through some sort of outreach program so that a designated person for each region can go out to assess in this area. Also, I was also informed that these resources must be put in place before the funding becomes available to everyone. The resources to get this multi-disciplinary diagnosis is now being set-up, and will be available for all BC children. Sunny Hill is not your only option

[Anna Aquino]

Hi Graham!

It's the right web address and when I click on the exact link from your message, I get Autism BC's site. Maybe try hitting the refresh button or something? ;-)

For those interested, I have "the list" of service providers with me. Its about 10 pages long and should be up in Autism BC's site in a few days. If there is a particular service provider that you wish to check up on, you can email me at blissfortwo@shaw.ca and I can let you know is they are in the list.

Warmly,
ANNA

[Graham Egli]

I have been trying to get the autism bc site for some time now. When I look for http://www.autismbc.ca I get a recruiting agency? Has anyone else had this problem, or do I have wrong address?

Thanks,
Graham
Thor's Dad

[Deleted User]

I have been reading all about the new funding and I think it's pretty sad that a diagnosis from Sunny Hill has to be given. Long waiting lists, and if they feel your child is 'too mild' the funding may not be given. I think it's great what all of you have done for all of us (newer parents). I still live for the day when MSP funds treatment and ABA schools are created in our area.

[Deleted User]

Hi everybody,
I am trying to get in touch with Sharon Baxter. If anybody out there could forward my email and/or phone number to her, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks,

Franca
Tessa's Mom
francapastro@shaw.ca
(250) 598-9701

[Susan Burns]

hey all….i HAVE to add a child anecdote here….first of all i am not getting all …these messages….i got dc's but not db's…i will look into this i wonder how long this has been occurring? mr. James who has had to be taught everything just surprised me….i am particularly tired tonight as i was a few miles behind the port mann accident this pm and 1 extra hour in the vehicle with this same son waiting. he integrated reasonably well in the neighbourhood (with my support) and was even sought out to trade THOSE cards. however after 3 hours straight i was growing weary….he announced abruptly (he rarely initiates things except junk food or stealing $$$$) that he would shower….to my delight and i sighed with relief….and he stayed in there 1/2 hour

[Author]

Replies