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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.
—-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
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.
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We are forwarding an open letter from Paul L. Thibodeau regarding possible legal action on autism therapy deductions vis a vis Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (formerly Revenue Canada).
The letter attached to Mr Thibodeau's e-mail is available for download at the Feat BC discussion board post (please follow the link below to reach the discussion post).
Thank you.
8-10-00-Ms. Witmer.doc
8-10-00-ms.20witmer.doc (27 k)——————–
To every provincial and local autism associations.I am sharing the following information with you on the assumption that it will be of interest to some of your members.
Attached please find, for your perusal, a copy of correspondence recently addressed to the P.M.'s office, some Cabinet Ministers, M.P.'s and M.P.P.'s.
In short, we have had no choice but to be embroiled in a one-year battle with the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency due to the fact that all of our IEI/ABA consultant and therapist costs for the 1998 taxation year for our grandson with autism have been denied. We are still waiting for a definite answer about our 1999 claim.
The pressure exerted upon my family by the Federal Agency and Government is no longer tolerable. The current Federal Liberal Government is clearly demonstrating a lack of understanding and compassion for families of autistic children. If this situation is not satisfactorily resolved before the end of this month, we have no alternative than to advise our legal counsel to initiate legal action against the Federal and Ontario governments
Since many of us across the country could be affected by the results of these legal actions, I invite as many of you as possible to send me as much information as possible about the situations that you know, in your area or elsewhere, even if you think that your information could already have been sent to me.
If you are aware of any members of your association who have had a)- their costs accepted without problem, b)- their costs disallowed by Revenue Canada (The Agency) or, c)- their costs disallowed that were later allowed, could you kindly share this information with us or, if you prefer, have these families contact me.
Any information I received will be carefully recorded for use at the trials. The information will be presented as general information. Any specific information will be used in court only, if beforehand, the families and my counsel agree with this approach.
You can also inform your members that, at any time, I would be glad to share any additional information and documentation with them.
Any help you can provide in spreading the word about our situation is greatly appreciated. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments.
Thank you for your attention to the above.
Sincerely,
Paul L. Thibodeau
E-mail :- ei415@ncf.ca
PHONE:- (613) 828-8129.
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