[FEAT BC Admin]

In this topic area, discussion is about the fight to secure Government funding for your A.B.A. treatment program. It is also the place to talk about your thoughts and ideas about how to establish new Government programs specifically designed for autism treatment.

This is the place to hear input from parents who have fought for funding and won, as well as those who have fought for funding and would like to share their horror stories. There is a tendency to not share success stories once funding is secured. Please fight that tendency. By sharing our experience, we all become stronger.

 

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—-By FEAT BC (Freeman) on Saturday, January 3, 1998 – 03:16 pm:

-Hi everyone!

These are some things to think about in your dealings with government to help you to obtain support for your child’s Autism Treatment Program. These are my personal opinions and do not represent those of FEAT of BC or any other organization.

Many of these observations are based on my personal experiences (and I believe it poetic justice to help every parent avoid being systematically abused by their social worker the way I was).

Good luck to everyone! (Let’s all pull back the curtain on the Wizard of OZ).

Sabrina

 

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How To Fight for Funding for Autism Treatment and Appropriate School Placement

1. Establish a Paper Trail

Always take notes, documenting major points of all conversations with government and school officials.

This includes casual, in person conversations with social workers as well as ALL telephone conversations. All key points of discussion must be written down in your notes including the date and time of the discussion. This includes what was agreed upon, as well as what was not agreed upon.

Then the notes should be used to write a letter recapping the substance and content of the conversation. This letter must then be mailed or faxed to the person with whom you had the conversation. In addition, a copy must be kept in your file (see section on the icci game).

Why?

It is important to formalize the interaction between you and Government officials. In addition, everyone is put on notice that they must closely adhere to their responsibilities, regulations and laws., Furthermore, they must then consider the paper trail you have created. This lets everyone know that the interaction can become public and that any abuses of power and authority can be formally appealed and/or publicized.

In other words, they canit use discretion unfairly under the cloak of secrecy.

2. Submit all Requests in Writing

All your requests for your child must be submitted formally in writing with a copy included in your file and a copy, if necessary, sent to their immediate superiors.

3. Set Deadlines for Action

All formal requests for action must have a reasonable deadline set for that action. If no action or response is received by the deadline you have set (two weeks for example), then you will interpret the lack of response as a formal declination (a formal NO) of your requests.

Why Set Deadlines?

When bureaucrats do not want to do something, they will stall by ignoring you and your request. (As an aside, in the study of the bureaucracy, this is known as ithe power to do nothingi). They can string you along for years. When you have determined that the person you are interacting with is not inclined to help you or is not dealing in good faith, then you must take the initiative and formally label his/her behavior as obstructionist and de facto as a declination (a NO to your requests). This allows you to move to the next level of authority on your timetable to present your case. This takes the power to do nothing away from the bureaucrat with whom you are dealing. Simple stated, a bureaucrat who stalls and does nothing becomes irrelevant (use your invisible spray) and you move on to the next level of authority.

How to icci?

A cc. is a copy of your letter sent to someone other than the person you are writing. You put the cc. at the bottom left-hand corner of your letter followed by 2 spaces and the name of the person or people to whom you want to send a copy of the letter.

Who to icci to?

Sometimes it is best not to icci at all, especially in the early stages of the relationship (for example, your first letter to a social worker requesting assistance). This gives them the opportunity to do the right thing and does not present you as an overly combative person. When you start to run into problems, it is a good idea to send the icci to the 2 immediate superiors of the person you are having problems with. We do not recommend icciing all the way up the chain of command, since you want to give them a chance to solve the problem at the local level.

Why send a icci copy?

The reason for playing the icci game is that you want your interactions with the official to be known to his superior and possibly to other organizations so that 1) their action or inaction becomes a matter of record and 2) the individual knows he is being monitored. This helps minimize abuses of power and authority and helps encourage the official to meet their obligations and do the right thing.

What is the sequence of letters?

Find out the chain of command of the particular bureaucracy you are battling.

TOP

Minister
Deputy Minister
Children’s Ministry’s local region chain of command, all the way down to the District Supervisor
and Social Worker
Contacts can be found at the government directory: http://www.dir.gov.bc.ca/

BOTTOM

Start at the bottom and climb. At the Regional Operating Officer (ROO) level (once you have been declined) you have to decide whether to jump up to the top, threaten and then go to the media, or both. A word of wisdom: DO NOT BLUFF. If you are not willing to go all the way, they will ‘smell’ this. You must be prepared to take it right up to the Minister and beyond.

Documentation from Experts:

In your arsenal to fight for your child, it is wise to get his/her pediatrician and/or psychiatrist to write a letter on your childis behalf. In addition, any other experts who know your child and are sympathetic to what you are trying to do should become involved.

When to hire a lawyer?

If money is not an issue, you can hire a lawyer when you get to the area manager level. Make sure that you have a paper trail so the lawyer has something to work with. Also, have the lawyer give F.E.A.T. of B.C. a call, and we will send him/her information that will help.

If money is an issue (as it is for most of us running autism treatment programs), you might want to hire a lawyer once you have been turned down by the Minister.

How to hire a lawyer?

The type of lawyer needed is a litigator, or trial lawyer. S/he does not need to be an expert in autism, or special needs; s/he needs to be experienced in suing governments, and enjoys being in court. Word of mouth is a good way to find a lawyer.

Topic

[Pete Stelmaschuk]

I have also been told by my MCFD regional manager that my KTY funds going towards supported child care. He said it was my choice to have supported child care, but since I am a full-time student, daycare isn't really an option, but a necessity. No daycare would take him unless they had support.

[FEAT BC Admin]

Correction to the previous message regarding the
the FEAT BC press release — it is available at the following web address:
https://www.featbc.org/legal_issues/Appeal_Release_02_19_02.html

[FEAT BC Admin]

The BC Government and families of children with autism are in BC Court of Appeal regarding the long running dispute over universal access to medically necessary treatment for autism. A press release has been issued by FEAT BC. It is available at the following web address:
https://www.featbc.org/legal_issues/Appeal_Release_02_19_02.html

[Joelle and Leighton]

Does anyone have any comments on the
following website?

http://www.individualizedfunding.com/

[Jovana Ivanovic]

I would like to check with you some information regarding government
funding for the treatment of autistic children.

I was told by a social worker in Burnaby MCF office, that our daughter,
now 4, was eligible for KTY program, and that we would be "helped out"
with our home ABA program using the KTY funding. However, they will
first serve a number of children who are older and who will lose their
eligibility by the fall (and for whom they will set up a "program").
Only then our daughter will start receiving some funding and only for a
6 month period. I was also told that funding that the preschool is
receiving for extra staff for her comes from KTY funds.

I would like to hear your opinion and information. I am not sure if
what I was told is reasonable and satisfactory.

Jovana, Sofija's mom

[FEAT BC Admin]

Thank you, Mike Lewis, for the tax publication, Information Concerning People With Disabilities. It's available for download at this web address –> https://www.featbc.org/revenue_canada/

[Deleted User]

I have recently heard, after talking with families and service providers, that some families are getting the government to pay for services. It is called Bridging money, and they are recieving $1800 a month. It's been speculated that the families recieving this are those that have been particularly vocal as activist for their child. Seen this way, the $1800, is a type of hush money. Has anyone else heard of Bridging Money? I've enquired, and the Ministry For Children and Families have said this is the Kindergarten Transition Funds, but I have clarified this with the families getting services paid for, and it IS NOT Transition Funds as I was told by the govenment. Has anyone else heard of this? Is this true?

[Deleted User]

For Krystyna,

Feat does have a list of consultants which all new members receive in the feat booklet. However, it is still important to check current references because consultants that were good 5 years ago, may not be good today.

The best thing a new parent can do is contact feat, get the list, then contact other parents in feat (lots of us are happy to talk to newcomers) and in no time at all, you will know all you need to know about existing consultants. You may want to change your consultant later, that doesn't necessarily mean your first consultant was bad. It may just be your situation is different, his or her situation is different, or you child has changed. But once you are doing the therapy, and are connected to others doing therapy, you will constantly be up to date on where to find good consultants.

Nancy (Casey's mom)

[Deleted User]

It should be a strict list posted by FEAT about whom to hire as the consultant, and also, which is very important, whom to hire as immediate implementers of the program. It would save money and time and nerves for everyone. If you prefere, the list whom not to hire probably would work even better. I don't think if someone doesn't benefit of services thousand other people should crowl the same path losing time, money and energy.
I don't think that to spend 5000cad just to change consultant is worth to make just the next experience. I want to know, what is the idea for not sharing bad experiences about consultants and others. Krystyna(Elizabeth's mom)

[Sabrina Freeman]

RE: upcoming autism court case in B.C. Court of Appeal
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As many of you know, the B.C. Government’s appeal of the BC Supreme Court ‘Auton decision’ is slated for February 20th and 21st, as is the families’ cross-appeal of the ‘remedy ruling’ in Auton et al. vs. the Government of BC.

I encourage all interested members of FEAT BC to attend the two-day proceedings. Whether you are a family with an older child or a family new to autism, I am certain you will find the court proceeding fascinating. Those who choose to attend the hearings will have the privilege of a ‘front row seat’ to the history of autism treatment rights in the making.

I especially encourage new families to come and watch the B.C. Court of Appeal hearings. These proceedings are a unique way to gain a full understand of how the B.C. government views autism treatment, and how the legal process works for our disabled children — this is truly a rare and special opportunity.

Here is detailed information for all those who would like to watch the autism treatment Court of Appeal proceedings.

1) Court dates and times: February 20th and 21st, 2002.

2) The B.C. Court of Appeal proceedings will take place in the Appeal Court section of the Vancouver Law Courts: 800 Smithe St., Vancouver. Parking is available underground.

3) The Court is in session from 10:00 AM –> 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM –> 4:00 PM.

Everyone should arrive by 9:45 AM to allow enough time to settle in — it is very important that everyone is seated and quiet by precisely 10:00 am when the Judges enter.

4) For those of you attending the proceedings, there are a few important court rules we need to keep in mind:

– tape recorders, CELL PHONES and pagers are not permitted in the courtroom.
– jeans are not permitted in the courtroom
– no comments, moans or groans are permitted. The judges may ask a person to leave the courtroom for these reasons. Government lawyer comments may occur in the court room that you may vehemently disagree with. However, it’s very important for everyone in the courtroom to stay calm and in control.

5) From my understanding, most of the first day will be devoted to government lawyers arguing their case. Most of the second day will be assigned to lawyers representing our families.

Children with autism receiving Lovaas Treatment are about to have their day in the BC Court of Appeal. I am certain many of you have been looking forward to these legal proceedings … I very much look forward to seeing you all in the courtroom in support of this very important cause!

Sabrina

[Author]

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