[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

[Dione Costanzo]

Message from the ABA Support Network – Parent Course Registration is Now Open!!

Parenting in the World of Autism:
Creating an atmosphere for success (without losing your mind)

REGISTER HERE: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JBBZR6R

Location: Douglas College – Westminster Campus
700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC
1 block from New West Skytrain Station
Room: #2217
Time: First Thursday of the month: 6:30-9:30 pm
Dates: Oct. 6, Nov. 3, Dec. 1 in 2011
Jan. 5, Feb. 2, Mar. 1 and Apr. 5 in 2012
Fee: $120.00

Class Structure:

The classes will consist of a variety of presentations, guided discussions, brief exercises, video demonstrations and question and answer times. Rather than a traditional lecture style, the classes are designed with a “round table” approach, where parents can bring questions, ideas and input in order to facilitate discussion. The presenters will endeavor to provide a broad, conceptual framework for the classes, in order that parents may take the information to their own consultants and teams, in order to structure details, strategies and programs specific to their child.

Readings (all books and other readings are included in the course fee) :

SOS Help for Parents: A Practical Guide for Handling Common Everyday Behavior Problems. Author: Lynn Clark.

The Power of Positive Parenting. Author: Glenn I. Latham

Additional materials will be provided by the instructors.

About the Instructors:

Danielle Eeuwes has worked with children and youth with autism for 11 years. She is currently working on her MSc in Applied Behavior Analysis and is working as a Junior Behavior Consultant supporting individuals with autism on Vancouver Island in home, school and community environments. Contact Danielle at: danielleeeuwes@gmail.com

Tyla Frewing has recently completed a M.Sc. in Applied Behavior Analysis and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Tyla has worked with children and youth with autism for 10 years, and currently provides behavioral consultation to children and youth in the home and school environments. Contact Tyla at: tyla_frewing@yahoo.ca

Leah Mumford has worked with children and youth with autism for 12 years, and is working on her MEd in Special Education at UBC. She is currently working as a Junior Behavior Consultant supporting people with autism and their families in home, school and community environments. Contact Leah at: leahmumford@gmail.com

Sarah Pastrana has worked with children and youth with autism for 10 years. She is a Junior Behavior Consultant currently working on her thesis to complete her MSc in Applied Behavior Analysis. Contact Sarah at: sarahpastrana@hotmail.com

Theresa Tournemille has worked with individuals with autism for 11 years and has recently completed a Masters of Science in Behavior Analysis from St. Cloud State University. She has co-developed a premier model for 24-hour teaching homes (based on the principles of ABA) and is currently providing behavior consultation services under Dr. Sara White (BCBA-D) and Nate Searle (BCBA). Contact Theresa at: theresa.tournemille@gmail.com

Course Creation:

We would like to thank Dr. Sara White, BCBA-D and Sharon Baxter, MA, BCBA for reviewing and providing input and feedback on all course materials. Without their guidance and supervision, the creation of this course would not have been possible!

[J.Graham]

Hi all,

I am looking for any research articles or studies (peer reviewed would be best) regarding comparisons of ABA vs Pharmacutical drugs (Ritalin etc.)as treatment options for a child with autism. If anyone has any links to any please send them to magnolias@telus.net

Thanks,

Jen

[Mike & Jean]

Meet Stefan, Bernadette, Lia and Simon Marinoiu. They live in suburban Toronto, Canada. Simon has autism and no longer lives with his family. His devastating situation represents the fate of many autistic children in Canada who are being denied effective treatment. Simon and his family are featured in the just released third trailer advertising Medicare for Autism Now's upcoming documentary, Medicare's Orphans, scheduled for release in October. http://www.medicareforautismnow.org

The film chronicles the stories of a number of families with autistic children from across Canada, each share the same problem – lack of access to effective autism treatment (ABA/IBI) via our "universal" health care system.

The film exposes some 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 human rights into serious question.

This film will be significant to both Canadian parents of children with autism as well as those living in other countries who live under the false assumption that Canada is a kinder and gentler place for people with disabilites. The film will also provide examples of what effective advocacy really is, what it has already achieved and what parents/supporters need to do in order to protect the gains others have made on behalf of their children, to move the cause forward, and to end health care discrimination in Canada in this generation.

To learn the history, the gains, the goals, and how to get involved in the autism treatment movement in Canada, go to: http://www.medicareforautismnow.org

Please forward this link, post it to your Facebook walls, and ask others to do the same. Also – very important – send it to your MLA and MP.

Thank you for your support.

Jean

[Mike & Jean]

Welcome back Sabrina Freeman! I know I am not alone when I say this board and community has dearly missed your wise "voice of reason".

For those who may not know Sabrina, let me introduce you….
Dr. Freeman founded FEAT of BC in 1996 – when there was NO ABA treatment or treatment funding at all. Those were very dark days for children with autism and their families. She established FEAT of BC with the mandate of having science-based treatment – ABA covered by our health care system. She organized and assisted countless parents set-up ABA treatment programs, hosted ABA training workshops,lobbied government, wrote countless briefs, created this website, authored a number of books including, "Teach Me Language", "Science for Sale in the Autism Wars", the "Complete Guide to Autism Treatments",and, produced the
video, "Autism – Now What Do I Do?" In addition to all of this, it was Sabrina's vision, tenacity and organization which created the Auton and Hewko litigations. Both have dramatically improved the lives for children with autism and their families in BC and the rest of Canada. Needless to say, Sabrina's contribution to our children and families has been immeasurable.

Recently, I've had the pleasure of reading Sabrina's newest initiative, her blog: autism pundit and it is fabulous! Like her other work, it's: clear, straight-forward, easy to understand, thought-provoking and NO BS!

Check-it out: http://www.autismpundit.com

Thanks Sabrina – we're so glad you're back!

[J.Graham]

Hi everyone. I was wondering if anyone has had experience with CBI Consultants? Looking for any info – positive or negative… I am requesting this info for another parent.
If you could e-mail me privately I would really apprecriate it.

Thanks.

magnolias@telus.net

[Mike & Jean]

Meet Laurie Guerra and her son, Wesley Romey. Laurie is a board member of the Autism Society of BC. They live in suburban Vancouver and are featured in the just released second trailer advertising Medicare for Autism Now's upcoming documentary, Medicare's Orphans, scheduled for release in mid-September.

The film chronicles the stories of a number of families across Canada, each share the same problem as every Canadian parent with a child with autism – access to effective autism treatment (ABA/IBI)via our "universal" health care system. The film exposes some painful truths about who gets access to health care in Canada, the Canadian governments, both provincial and federal refusal to act, the Supreme Court of Canada's failure to protect our childrens' charter rights, all of which rightfully brings Canada's reputation for fairness and human rights into serious question.

This film will be significant to both Canadian parents of children with autism as well as those living in other countries who live under the false assumption that Canada is a kinder and gentler place for people with disabilites. The film will also provide examples of what effective advocacy really is, what it has already achieved and what parents/supporters need to do in order to protect the gains others have made on behalf of their children and what they need to do to move the cause forward and end health care discrimination in Canada in this generation.

Please share this trailer with others using any means available.

Stay tuned for our next trailer where you'll meet the Marinoiu family from Scarborough, Ontario.

To learn the history, the gains, the goals, and how to get involved in the autism treatment movement in Canada, go to:
http://www.medicareforautismnow.org

Your child's future depends on you.

[Mike & Jean]

Take a few moments to watch the first of four trailers for the upcoming Medicare for Autism Now! documentary which will be released in mid-September.
Watch it at: http://www.medicareforautismnow.org Spread the word, share with your family and friends, Facebook etc. etc.

[Brad & Roxanne Black]

Looking for a great ABA therapist to join our team under the supervision of Sharon Baxter. We are looking for someone who is flexible with a few shifts per week, the shifts will be after school from 2:30 to 6 with some shifts being from 5 to 8:30. We are also looking for one respite weekend every 5 to 6 weeks.
We are loosing our Senior therapist due to pregnancy so we are ideally looking for someone with experience to lead the team!
If you are interested please contact me via email
bradrox@shaw.ca

[Swee Tan]

Hello everyone!Our 28 month old son has recently been diagnosed with ASD.We have the funding in place and is now in the process of looking for ABA therapy for him.Everything is so new and overwhelming we figured we will start by finding a good behavior consultant. So far we have only met with Monarch House and will have a meeting with Michelle Shilvock from Harmony House next week.We are still trying to look for a good Behavior consultant and would very much appreciate some feedback on how to look for a good consultant.If you have someone you would like to recommend please contact us too, we live in Coquitlam but don't mind to travel around the Greater Vancouver area.We are so grateful for this website as we really need advice from parents who have gone through the same thing.We would really appreciate any feedback. Thank you!

Chek and Swee
sweeltan@gmail.com

[Leah Palsson]

Hello All…

I am unsure where to begin!!! So I will start at the beginning ( seems like a good place). My 28 month old daughter was recently diagnosed with ASD this past March, which as you all know has taken over our lives!!!! It seems like everyday we are just trying to keep our heads above the water, and somedays it feels like we are drowning!

Our daughter is the best thing that has ever happened to my Husband and I, except for the recent addition of a baby brother 1 week after we got an official diagnosis. So life is crazy at the best of times and trying to set up a Home based ABA program with an infant was a challenge.. However we have plugged along and now have 12 hours of ABA therapy a week and are hoping to build up to 20-25 hours in the fall. YEAH!!!

Thank God I am on Maternity leave from work, as I have been able to facilitate most of the hard work that is getting this program up and running. The hard thing is that my husband works evenings and I cannot get out to functions to network with other parents, so the computer has been my lifeline and I read all the post on the message boards, so thanks to all you hard working Moms and Dads that have walked before me and have paved the way( still a rough road )..

So thats our story, but I am badly in need of some advise from people who are in the know, and this is the only place I can think of to ask. We have just began our daughters program at the begining of June and things are slow, some days are good and some are not! Our little one is non verbal and has NO form of communication, except by crying and whining, sometimes she seems to know what we are saying and others not at all, but our BIGGEST problem by far is her "mouthing". She constantly, and I mean constantly has her right hand in her mouth "stimming" , ( to the point where she will no longer use her right hand at all) and everything she get her left hand on, goes into her mouth,( rocks,grass,feces,everything) as you can imagine it is extremley dangerous, and we have to monitor her at all times! We have some oral motor toys and a " chewy " but nothing has helped Any suggestions would be appreciated, as this is a huge barrier to her ABA therapy, as she is more focused when her hand is out of her mouth!!!

I also wanted to know about (The diet) GF/CF, I have heard a lot of good thing about it, and my daughter does have allergies and food intolerances and sensitivities… Feed back on this topic would be great too!!!!

Thank You

Leah Palsson

<mavis67@gmail.com>

[Author]

Replies