[FEAT BC Admin]

In this topic area, discussion is on all issues relating to setting up and running a home-based intervention program. Please feel free to bring up any problems or suggestions. Parents can help each other greatly by sharing information and giving suggestions.

In addition to parents helping parents, A.B.A. professionals on in the Discussion Group can also help provide insight and guidance.

Topic

[Mike & Jean]

Great news! Sabrina Freeman – FEAT of BC founder, author of The Complete Guide to Autism Treatments, Science for Sale in the Autism Wars and Teach me Language, and more recently blogger: autismpundit.com has joined the board of directors of ASAT – Association for Science in Autism Treatment. http://www.asatonline.org
ASAT is one of the few legitimate organizations which deals with and comments on the real state of science in autism treatment. A must-have in every parent's tool kit.

Sabrina Freeman's expertise is an invaluable addition to ASAT – thank you!

[Bev Sharpe]

A reminder to all:

The FEAT BC Discussion Group has been designed to discuss any topic relevant to home-based A.B.A. programs (including Government funding and school issues). When we use the term A.B.A., we mean discrete-trial-based interventions, also referred to as "Applied Behaviour Analysis" or "Lovaas-type" Intensive Behavioural Treatment for autism and related disorders. This is not an appropriate forum to discuss the latest, unscientific 'cure of the day.'or "Alternative therapies.|

ABA is the only scientific, data-backed, peer-reviewed treatment for Autism. Its efficacy is beyond debate. Parents, do your homework, read the data, spend your money, and your child's precious time wisely. Do what works: Applied Behaviour Analysis.

Beverley Sharpe
Proud parent of Miss A

[Mike & Jean]

Are you going in circles trying to get what your child needs?

Are you ready to hear what you really need to know?

Are you ready to take action?

If so, we’re back…by popular demand…

The Medicare for Autism Now! Society presents:

“Getting it Done!”
…an “on-the-job * hands-on * “this is how you do it”

Advocacy Workshop

Saturday, November 26th: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
Studio 3 Meeting Room –
W.C. Blair Recreation Centre
22200 Fraser Highway, Langley, BC
(coincidentally – just a hop-skip and a jump from the Langley School District Office)

Presenters: Jean Lewis and David Marley – founding directors of the Medicare for Autism Now! Society

$119.00 per person/$189.00 per couple (same family) – lunch included

All proceeds go to Medicare for Autism Now’s advocacy initiatives

Spaces are very limited, and due to demand, many have been pre-sold – so register today!

To register: email: mfanow@gmail.com or
call: 604-290-5737.

Topics will include:

Advocacy 101

“It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act.”

As the parent of a special needs child, you must represent your child’s interests at school, in the community, everywhere. You cannot leave this job to others! Advocacy is not a complex or mysterious process. It requires clarity, focus and persistence. It also requires certain skills:

This workshop will teach you how to:

• Gather facts, organize information, get ready
• Understand the Rules of the Game
• Plan and prepare for success
• Document, document, document…
• Ask the right questions…listen to the answers
• Identify problems and propose solutions
• Drive the process

Advocacy at School

“A good education is the next best thing to a pushy mother.” Charles Schulz

This workshop will teach you how to:

• Become your child’s case manager
• Understand your school district’s Rules of the Game…who are the players and decision makers?
• Overcome objections and pitfalls
• Create an effective IEP
• Create effective paper trails, prepare documentation and letters
• Prepare for and manage school meetings
• Understand and use the Hewko decision

Autism treatment funding – securing its future:

“If we don’t know our history, we are destined to repeat it”

The landmark Auton decision is the only reason any autism funding exists today. This funding is in jeopardy because there is no statute law to protect it. The decision to continue funding, or not, can be made on a whim by provincial politicians.

• Learn the history of the struggle to have medically necessary autism treatment universally accessible and covered by Medicare.
• Learn why we need a Canadians with Disabilities Act and an Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
• Learn about recent and future initiatives to enshrine autism treatment under Medicare.
• Learn why your children need you to get involved

We believe people learn best by “doing” rather than watching – so – be prepared to participate and receive on-the-job coaching. We promise – you have never had this much fun in the school principal’s office! Several guest players will join us in re-creating some of the most common and troubling “school scenarios” or nightmares for us to practice our newly-acquired advocacy skills.
Check our website at http://www.medicareforautismnow.org to see what parents who attended our April 30th workshop had to say. Don’t be disappointed – register today. This workshop is for parents only.

About the presenters:

Jean Lewis:

Jean has been actively involved in the autism treatment movement since 1996, when her youngest son was diagnosed with autism. She became the co-founder and leading spokesperson for FEAT of BC (Families for Early Autism Treatment of BC), an organization dedicated to obtaining science-based autism treatment (ABA) within BC’s healthcare system. Jean was the co-chair of the litigation steering committee for Auton, a Canadian landmark Charter disability case. She performed the same role in Hewko, litigation aimed at ensuring children with autism gain equal access to BC’s education system.

In 2008, Jean co-founded the Medicare for Autism Now! Society, a non-partisan, national advocacy group focused on making science-based autism treatment (ABA) universally accessible and covered under Medicare. Since 1996, Jean has advised hundreds of parents about advocacy, treatment and education issues related to autism. She has presented at numerous rallies, workshops and conferences in BC, Ontario and the Maritimes. Jean is also a member of Civil Rights Now! board of directors.

David Marley:

David has spent his professional career as a trial lawyer, public policy analyst or senior political advisor at both the federal and provincial government levels. Since 1972, he has performed leading roles in over a dozen election campaigns in BC or Ontario. David’s political activity has involved organizing and presenting at many campaign schools and constituency association training sessions.

Throughout his career, he has served as a director of various not-for-profit organizations including, Medicare for Autism Now! and Civil Rights Now!, providing them with strategic counsel. In 2005 and 2008, David designed and helped implement a national political strategy for FEAT of BC and is a co-founder of the Medicare for Autism Now! Society.

[Super Dad]

North Shore ASBC Lecture Series

The North Shore ASBC Support Group proudly presents:

a presentation on
Types of ABA
Similarities and Differences

by
Nathan Searle, M.Sc., BCBA
Behaviour Consultant

at
7:00pm, Tues Oct 18

in the
Welsh Hall
downstairs in the
West Vancouver Memorial Library

GUEST SPEAKER:

Nathan is a Behaviour Consultant with a Masters of Science degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from St. Cloud State University, one of the best universities in this field. Nate has 8 years of experience, and has worked with students who are verbal and non verbal; beginning, intermediate and advanced learners; and students with various difficult behaviour profiles. Throughout his career Nate has consulted to home based, school and residential settings in BC and the Yukon. Nate is a certified Associate Instructor with the Crisis Prevention Institute.

TOPIC:

How are the technical differences between Lovaas, Verbal Behaviour and other types of ABA? When parents know the similarities and differences, they are more able to critically evaluate the claims of a treatment provider promoting a brand of ABA. They are also more able to tell if a treatment provider is practicing the type of ABA they claim to know.

DIRECTIONS:

The West Vancouver Memorial Library is at 1950 Marine Drive:
http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=1950+Marine+Dr,+West+Vancouver,+BC+V7V+1J8

The library is easily accessible via Highway #1 Upper Levels, taking either the 15th Street or 20th St. exits.

Coffee/Tea and snacks provided. Donations are greatly appreciated (but not required).

Please RSVP to Dragos at <asbcnorthshore@yahoo.ca>.

Carol and Dragos
(Co-facilitators for ASBC North Shore Group)

[Sabrina Freeman]

Toilet Training: Autism Speaks Gets Amnesia

Toilet Training a child with autism is not that difficult! If you are having this issue, read on!
http://www.autismpundit.com

[Mike & Jean]

Meet Medicare for Autism Now co-founders, Jean Lewis and David Marley, along with broadcast journalist, Bill Good, discuss some of the topics featured in the documentary, "Medicare's Orphans" now scheduled for release in late October. All three live in Vancouver, Canada.

http://www.medicareforautismnow.org

This film exposes painful truths about who gets access to health care in Canada, the refusal to act by Canadian governments, both federal and provincial, and the Supreme Court of Canada's failure to protect our childrens' Charter rights, all of which rightfully brings Canada's reputation for fairness and equality into serious question.

Please share this link with as many others as possible and ask they do the same. Be sure to send it to your MP and MLA.

http://www.medicareforautismnow.org

[Karla Leung]

Hello everyone,

I know this question has been asked before so please bear with me. I'm wondering how to manage two concurrent ABA programs. Do I take one twin out while the other is receiving therapy, and alternate days? Or has anyone successfully juggled two programs at the same time under one roof?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Please email karlapark12@hotmail.com. Thank you!!

[Cathy Fitzhugh]

Hi Again FEATers,

My nine year old, high functioning, daughter has been having increasing difficulties with anxiety, and we are thinking of putting her on a low dose of medication.

If anyone has experiences, either good or bad, to share about this particular issue, I'd love to hear about them.

You can reach me at:
scissorhappy@shaw.ca

Thanks in advance,

{Cathy Fitzhugh}

[Cathy Fitzhugh]

Hi Again FEATers,

My nine year old, high functioning, daughter has been having increasing difficulties with anxiety, and we are thinking of putting her on a low dose of medication.

If anyone has experiences, either good or bad, to share about this particular issue, I'd love to hear about them.

You can reach me at:
scissorhappy@shaw.ca

Thanks in advance,

{Cathy Fitzhugh}
{Cathy}

[Barbara Rodrigues]

Dione:

I can't attend as I am in the Okanagan but just wanted to send out kudos to you and all involved in developing something like this for parents. Pretty amazing!

Barbara

[Author]

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