[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

[Theresa Jouan]

FEAT of BC Intermediate Workshop!

This event is taking place on Saturday, March 29th from 10am-4pm.

Cost: $35 per person

Location: Guildford Rec Center, Surrey, BC

Topics that will be covered:
– Task analysis
– Total task presentation
– Chaining
– Shaping
– ABA History
– Prompting Methods
– Reinforcement (including schedules of reinforcement and law of consequences)

Topic content has been altered to allow for additional group work time as the focus of the workshop will be the application of these theoretical constructs.

Individual feedback to attendees by presenters will also be provided.

Registration form can be found at: https://featbc.org/downloads/ibtw.pdf

Please note the new mailing address, fax number and email address for this workshop only.

Hope to see you all there!

[Jetty Kurniawan]

I am about to consider I Step Ahead Services Inc. to be the behavior consultant for my son. If anyone has any feedback or/and experience with them, please email me at jetty.kurniawan@gmail.com

Much appreciated,
Jetty

[Mike & Jean]

ASBC PRESENTS DR. JAMES MULICK
Probing the efficacy of therapies for the treatment of autism from diagnosis to adulthood
Executive Hotel and Conference Centre
4201 Lougheed Hwy
Burnaby, BC V5C 3Y6
Saturday, April 19, 2008

Please go to the ASBC web-site http://www.autismbc.ca , down near the bottom of the page you can download a brochure with more information including the registration form

James A. Mulick PhD
Professor in Pediatrics and Psychology at Ohio State University:
Dr. Mulick received his BA degree in Psychology at Rutgers College, his MA degree in Experimental Psychology and his Ph.D. in General Psychology at the University of Vermont. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Child Psychology at the University of North Carolina College of Medicine in the Division for Disorders of Learning and Development. Prior to his work at Ohio State University, Dr. Mulick taught at the University of Rhode Island, Brown University and Northeastern University. In 1983, Dr. Mulick joined Ohio State University where he currently is a full professor. His work as a psychologist at Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, has focused on early childhood, developmental disabilities, and behavioral assessment of drug action and habit disorders.
Dr. Mulick received a special recognition award in1991 from the American Association on Mental Retardation and in 1998 he received the Karl F. Heiser Award for Advocacy from the American Psychological Association’s Northeast Region. He is an Elected Fellow, American Psychological Association, a Clinical Fellow of the Behavior Therapy and Research Society, and was a Charter Fellow in the American Psychological Society and the American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology.
Dr. Mulick is an internationally recognized consultant, lecturer, and writer. His most recent edited books are Handbook of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities with Springer, and Controversial Therapies for Developmental Disabilities with Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Why Should You Attend This Conference?

Until recently autism was considered to be lifelong and severely incapacitating,. However, scientific investigation has demonstrated that, with early, effective and validated intervention, individuals with autism can make significant improvements and lead lives filled with hope,. promise and purpose. Some, in fact, can achieve normal social and intellectual functioning. Despite these profound advances, parents and professionals still experience great difficulty in obtaining effective treatment for people with autism. Controversy over what constitutes effective treatment and confusion surrounding the distinction between science and pseudo-science all contribute to this difficulty. The aim of this conference is to offer clearly articulated, science-based, state-of-the-art information on behavioral research in autism treatment and provide vital information on scientifically validated best practises in the treatment of autism.

Who Should Attend This Conference?

This conference is designed for parents, professionals, including speech and language pathologists, educators and anyone who has an interest in scientifically sound information about autism and effective information.

[Louise Taylor]

A suggestion to parents – please go to your local library and ask them to order in a copy of "The Complete Guide to Autism Treatments – A parent's handbook: make sure your child gets what works!" The author is FEAT of BC founder, Sabrina Freeman, Ph.D.

It can be ordered on-line at skfbooks.com The cost is $29.95 plus tax.

[Dione Costanzo]

“Medicare for Autism Now!” Rally

Sunday, March 2nd, 2008
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Shadbolt Centre for the Arts
6450 Deer Lake Avenue
Burnaby

Bring the whole family! As well as lots of outdoor space and a playground, there will also be a Kid's Area set up with crafts and toys right at the Rally.

Directions:

The Shadbolt Centre is centrally in the heart of Burnaby, just minutes from Vancouver, New Westminster and the North Shore. Travel along the Trans-Canada Highway to the Kensington South exit to Canada Way. The Centre is located just behind Burnaby City Hall on Deer Lake Avenue.

Map to the Centre – http://www.city.burnaby.bc.ca/__shared/assets/Shadbolt_-_Map1759.pdf

The Shadbolt Centre is well served by public transit. The 144 SFU/Metrotown bus links the Centre and the Metrotown and Burnaby Lake Skytrain stations. For more information contact the Translink information line: 604-953-3333

Parking:
All parking at the Shadbolt Centre and surrounding locations is FREE to the public. Parking at the Centre includes 70 underground stalls and 130 parking stalls at the north end of the building.

Deer Lake Park has a number of additional parking areas including Burnaby Art Gallery, the Burnaby Village Museum and street parking along Deer Lake Avenue. Parking facilities outside of Deer Lake include Burnaby Central High School and City Hall. For special events and festivals parking attendants will be on hand to help manage traffic flow and assist in directing cars to alternative parking areas.

SEE YOU THERE!

[Debra Antifaev]

“Medicare for Autism Now!” Rally

Sunday March 2nd, 2008

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Shadbolt Centre for the Arts

6450 Deer Lake Avenue

Burnaby

Don’t forget the Rally folks. Take two hours out of your day to remind this Government that they have let our kids (and their exhausted families!) down. Please take a look into the face of your child with Autism and try to remember what we are fighting for.
Forget our differences for just one day.
A story goes that during World War II even the British and the Germans lay down their weapons, in the midst of battle, to sing “Silent Night” at Christmas.
Surely we can come together to cheer for a better life for our kids!!

[Debra Antifaev]

Hi Everyone!

Tune in to the Bill Good show on CKNW (am 980 radio) tomorrow (Tuesday Feb 26th) at 11:00am to hear Jean Lewis and Scott Hean discussing the “Medicare for Autism” initiative.

Please listen and call with your comments and support.
This continued failure to properly fund children with Autism affects us all.

They will also be talking about the “Medicare for Autism” Rally this Sunday (March 2nd) at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. I am sincerely hoping that everyone related to a child with Autism (parents, siblings, consultants, therapists) will take two hours out of their day to show their support.

Deb

[Dione Costanzo]

re/MEDICARE FOR AUTISM NOW! RALLY

Map to the Shadbolt Center

http://www.city.burnaby.bc.ca/__shared/assets/Shadbolt_-_Map1759.pdf

Sunday, March 2nd, 2008
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Shadbolt Centre for the Arts
6450 Deer Lake Avenue
Burnaby

[Mike & Jean]

GREAT NEWS!!!!

We are delighted to announce the much anticipated book,"The Complete Guide to Autism Treatments – A parent's handbook: make sure your child gets what works!" is now available for sale. The author is FEAT of BC founder, Sabrina Freeman, Ph.D.

Prior to making decisions about treatment, this book is an absolute must for every parent with a newly diagnosed child.

The book was inspired by parents of children afflicted with autism. After speaking with several thousands of parents about various treatments and answering similar qustions over and over again, Dr. Freeman realized that parents need a clear way – a guide – to help make appropriate treatment decisions for their child. To that end, Dr. Freeman gives her scientific evaluation of most of the major and minor autism treatments available today, and then personalized the analysis by telling reader whether or not she would use the treatment on her own child. In other words, at the end of the day, how did she apply her understanding of the science to her own child? With this book, it is Dr. Freeman's sincere hope that everyone will be able to evaluate all the current and future autism treatments available. It is cucial to be able to ask the right questions and find the flaws in the science behind every purported treatment, or to find the eveidence, where it exists, that the treatment is effective. At a minimum, understanding the scientific method will protect thousands of children from quackery and, hopefully, provide parents and professionals with the tools to discern those treatments that are effective for children afflicted with autism.

Section One of the book, scrutinizes the range of treatment options offered to parents of children with autism and uses the tools of the scientific method to evaluate each treatment method so that parents can make sure that the treatment they have chosen for their child stands up to the claims made by the treatment provider. Some of the therapies discussed include but are not limited to: Behavioral Therapies – ABA, Intensive Behavioral Treatment, and the offshoots and distinctions of Intensive Behavioral Therapies such as Positive Behavior Support and Verbal Behavior Therapy.
School-based (non-behavioral) therapies such as TEACCH and Giant Steps. Child-lead/Parent facilitated therapies such as Floor-Time, Relationship Development (RDI) are covered. Biomedical Therapies such as Diet/Nutrition (Gluten and Casein-free Diets), Secretin and Vitamain B6 and Magnesium are discussed. Speech and Language Therapies such as the Hanen Method and the SCERTS Model are also discussed. And finally – art therapy, music therapy, sensory integraton therapy…and yes, Dolphin-assisted therapy and many more are all thoroughly reviewed. Section Two of the book is designed to provide a background in science for parents or professionals who are newcomers to the scientific method. The book can be used as a reference gride, flipping quickly to a specific theatment of interest, or it can be read as a comprehensive gide to every autism treatment advertised in the marketplace.

Until Monday, February 25th, the book can be ordered by calling the FEAT of BC office number: 604-534-6956. After February 25th. it can be ordered on-line at skfbooks.com The cost is $29.95 plus tax.

For those of you who don't know author,Sabrina Freeman…she received her doctorate from Stanford University in 1995. She is a social scientist and author of the popular books, Teach Me Language and Science for Sale in the Autism Wars. She founded FEAT of BC in 1996 and has tirelessly advocated for the rights of children with autism to science-based treatment It is due her vision, dedication and tireless work that BC families now have access to both funding and effective autism treatment. In 2002, she was awarded Queen Elizabeth's 50th Golden Jublilee Medal for advocacy work on behalf of children aflicted with autism.

In this book, Sabrina once again delivers what parents so desperately need – sound advice and practical answers which are clearly explained. As in all her work – she tells the truth.

Speaking for myself and others, families in BC and Canada owe Sabrina Freeman a debt which can never be re-paid. Once again Sabrina, thank you so very much!

[Heather Burke]

LOOKING FOR THERAPISTS FOR BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY TEAM – NEW WESTMINSTER

We are looking for one or two therapists to join our energetic team and work with our son, William. He is a very funny and social little boy who is bright, verbal, and learns very fast. He is a little over four years old and has high functioning autism. He is a very happy child who loves imaginative play.

Our consultant, Michele Shilvock, is local and been working with us since our son was diagnosed in August 2007 and has developed a strong therapy team. We have seen tremendous gains! She will provide ongoing supervision and training, so this would be a great opportunity for applicants who welcome frequent overlaps and opportunities to further develop their skills. The program is in-home behavioral therapy and is based on the Lovaas method of positive reinforcement.

Applicants with early child education or ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis) experience are preferred but we WILL also consider well motivated and inexperienced applicants as well. We have four shifts available: Tues afternoon, Wednesday morning, Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning for three hour shifts.

You must be dependable and willing to commit to one year at least and be able to attend biweekly team meetings on Tuesdays 8:30 to 9:30 am starting March 4th or 18th.

Wage will be based upon skill level and experience.

If you are responsible, energetic, creative, and motivated, we would like to hear from you. For more information please call: (604) 527-8105 or e-mail us at: hburke@telus.net

[Author]

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