[FEAT BC Admin]

This area is for discussions in general topics.

Topic

[David Bridges]

What I really loved (not) about the original funding announcements was the attempt to lump in together the special ed grant with the BC govt's overall action plan on autism.

That funding was been in place for a relatively long time for disabled children generally, and not part of some overall autism initiaitive.

Not to mention the fact that your $16K/grant (if you get it) does not guarantee your child will receive a full-time, properly ABA/IBI-trained SEA.

Did they think we were not all paying attention all these years….?

DB

[Peter Wong]

Milburn,

Thanks a lot.

Here is the most complicated part for me:
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How does the accounting work?

OK, now things are going to get really bizarre. You have to decide how the total funding is going to be allocated and notify the government. You may decide that your consultant will receive $10,000, BI number 1 will get $6,000 and BI number 2 will get $6,000. These portions are now set aside and can`t be used for any other purpose. If you decide that your conultant needs $11,000 and BI number 1 only requires $5,000, you will have to write a letter to the Autism Funds Unit re-allocating your funds.

Only a government could come up with this one!
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Is there a way to better handle this?

Can parents put some extra money (such as $1000) into the account as a buffer zone?
Here is an example; Gov provides $6000 for a kid per year. Parents put another $1000 into the account.
Consultant can get up to $2500.
BI_01 can get up to $2500.
BI_02 can get up to $1000.
BI_03 can get up to $1000.

The goal is to use all the money ($6000 in this case) at the end of the contract.
Any left over (from parents' $1000) can either stay with the new contract or return to the parents.

Thanks a lot.

Peter

[Milburn Drysdale]

Now that the government is doing away with the Direct Funding Option, many of you may be scratching your heads trying to figure out how to transition to the Invoice Option. It's not that hard, but there are a few things to consider.
For more information visit my updated page http://asdfunding.com/directvsinvoice.aspx

For those EIBI clients left high and dry by the government, you may for the first time be looking at setting and managing a home based team. If so, pay a visit to Autism Funding in BC http://asdfunding.com for one parent's guide to the administration and funding of autism therapy in BC.

Good Luck
Milburn Drysdale
http://asdfunding.com

[Franca Pastro]

I am trying to contact Michelle Wies. Could someone forward this message to her, please. Greatly appreciated!!

Franca Pastro from Victoria
(250) 598-9701
francapastro4@gmail.com

[Dione Costanzo]

NEWS RELEASE
Applied Behaviour Analysis Support Network

For immediate release: September 20, 2009:

Parents Oppose MCFD Announcement Regarding Elimination of Direct Funding

Surrey: Since the announcement of the cancellation of Direct Funding for autism services, members of the ABA Support Network have made it clear that they are opposed to such a move. On the government’s part, there is no financial gain to eliminating Direct Funding. On our part, the right to choose our own service providers is at risk.

Within the last decade, during a time of Invoice Funding, the government would only allow autism services from a select few government run agencies. Parents had to pay for Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) out of their own pocket to bring in quality ABA service providers that were not part of the government’s programs. After the Auton lawsuit in 2002, the Liberal government did finally put Direct Individualized Funding into place. This allowed parents to fund their children’s ABA programs, and build a strong, quality base of ABA service providers in BC.

The shift away from subsidizing government agencies has lead to improved access to quality ABA programs. In the future, different politicians or bureaucrats could shift back to limiting access to government agencies. This will be more difficult to do if Direct Funding is still in place.

For this reason, the ABA Support Network is adamantly opposed to eliminating the Direct Funding option for parents of children with autism. We hope that the current government will leave us with a safer option for our children regardless of who wins the next election.

Contact: Dione Costanzo
Phone: 604-535-1162

The ABA Support Network is a newly formed non-profit society that is based in Surrey, BC. Our mission is to improve access to quality Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) treatment and support in the home and in the community for children, youth and adults who need it. http://www.abasupportnetwork.com

[Louise Taylor]

Re: MCFD decision to cancel Direct Funding payment option:

We all need to be very concerned about this as it is clearly the 1st step in dismantling indivualized funding for our children! I urge all parents and others in this community, to voice your concerns by contacting the Media, your local MLA and the Minister. Her is her contact info:

Mary Polak
Minister of Children and Family Development
Parliament Buildings
Victoria BC V8V 1X4
Tel: (250) 953-4877
Fax: (250) 387-9103

Email: mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca

OR her Constituaency Office at:

Unit 102- 20611 Fraser Highway
Langley, BC V3A 4G4
Tel: (604) 514-8206
Fax: (604) 0195

[A Father]

Children and Family Development Minister Mary Polak took questions about the program changes:

http://www.publiceyeonline.com/archives/004278.html

[Peter Wong]

Special Olympics BC Richmond starts the Active Start and FUNdametanls the coming Saturday (Sept 19).

Active Start is a family-centered activity program targeting young children with intellectual disabilities throughout BC between the ages of 2-6 years.
http://www.sobcrichmond.org/programs-1/active-start

FUNdamentals is a family-centered program targeting young athletes in BC between the ages of 7–10 years.
http://www.sobcrichmond.org/programs-1/fundamentals

Special Olympics BC of many other cities also offer these programs.

Cheers.

Peter

[Dione Costanzo]

NEWS RELEASE
ABA Support Network

For immediate release: September 17, 2009:

In response to MCFD’s Announcement Regarding Changes to Autism Programs

At first glance it may seem to make fiscal sense to get rid of an “elite” program which costs $5 million per year and offers limited services to very few families. However, the Minister’s announcement of how that money is going to be reallocated does not address the real need of children with autism which is improved access to quality autism treatment.

For families running a high cost, home-based ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) program this $2,000 is a drop in the bucket and has a limited effect when there are not enough quality service providers to fulfill their needs.

Children with autism and their families would be much better served if the Government focused on building capacity of quality ABA service in the province. $5 million could create a University Chair in ABA with a focus on autism. This would make a lasting difference in the lives of all autistic children, not just in BC but across the country. This would also address the Government’s concern of expanding quality services to rural areas as there would be a centralized training facility for well qualified ABA service providers.

Contact: Dione Costanzo
ABA Support Network
Phone: 604-535-1162

The ABA Support Network is a newly formed non-profit society that is based in Surrey, BC. Our mission is to improve access to quality Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) treatment and support in the home and in the community for children and adults who need it.

[Dione Costanzo]

Hi everyone

If there are any families out there that have received EIBI services in the past please contact me at dionec@shaw.ca

Cheers and thanks
Dione

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