[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

[Katrina Ewanchuk]

Hello,
I am writing this message for a friend of mine who is seeking a consultant for her child. The whole process is so overwhelming, and I am trying to help her get her home team started. If anyone has suggestions for a good consultant please let me know. In particular this child would benefit from social skills training and a verbal behavior approach to ABA, I don't know any consultants who specifically use this style. Also what can be written off with autism funding? For example could a trampoline be considered a therapy tool?
What about music lessons, or does it have to be music therapy? Thanks for your help
Kate

[Louise Taylor]

“Medicare for Autism Now!” Rally

Another reminder to attend this very important event!

We are also pleased to announce that Stephan Marinoiu will be speaking via pre-recorded video. He is the father of a 15 year old boy with autism who became so desparate and frustrated that he walked in blizzard-like conditions earlier this month from Toronto to Ottawa to gain the attention of our parliamentarians.

Also speaking at the rally via pre-recorded video will be Harold Doherty from New Brunswick. He is the father of a 9 year old boy who has autism, an advocate and lawyer. He authors daily in his blog, "Facing Autsim in New Brunswick"

Bring your children, family, neighbours, friends etc. on:

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

Why should you attend?

• Despite a decade of lobbying, collaborating and litigating – autism treatment is still excluded from our universal health care system. Canadian families are still bankrupting themselves in order to provide treatment for their autistic children.

• The current and limited funding provided through the provincial government’s social services ministries could evaporate tomorrow with the stroke of a bureaucrat’s pen. No legislation exists within these ministries to protect or enshrine our children’s medically necessary treatment.

• In 30 years of “advocacy”, the only two initiatives which have achieved ANY success for our children and families has been litigation, and more recently, focused political action. Both were brought by the members of FEAT of BC – a 100% volunteer organization.

• Autism is an epidemic of staggering proportions, it now afflicts one in every 150 children in North America, one in every 94 boys. It is time for the Federal Government to act! We need to let those who govern and those who wish to govern know that they are going to be held accountable at the ballot box in the next federal election.

Who should attend?

You – and every fair-minded Canadian you know!

Children with autism suffer from political indifference. It will take the sustained energy and dedication of EVERY CANADIAN who desires a just society to correct this injustice. For our children’s sakes, and the sake of future generations, we urge you to attend this rally. Please bring friends, family, anyone and everyone you know who is appalled by the gross injustice done to our children every day by the governments of Canada and its provinces.

Featured speakers will include:
Dr. Sabrina Freeman – Executive Director, FEAT of BC and parent
Jean Lewis – Director, FEAT of BC and parent
David Chan – Director, Autism Society of BC, FEAT of BC and parent
Dubravka Skrijelj – FEAT of BC member and parent
Dr. Glen Davies – Clinical Director – ABLE Developmental Clinic
Dr. Melvin deLevie – Pediatrician
Beverley Sharpe – FEAT of BC member and parent
Louise Witt – Director, Autism Society of BC, FEAT of BC and parent
David Marley – FEAT of BC member and Political Strategist

Please RSVP to info@featbc.org and forward this notice to anyone you think will be interested.

FEAT of BC: “ To see justice is done”

[Jetty Kurniawan]

Hi there,

My son (30 months old) is pre-diagnosed with mild ASD and we think it will be positive with one more assessment to go. We did the assessment privately. In the meantime, we are in search of ABA program and try to understand how the program works. I need help finding an affordable and great ABA consulants/ interventionists and how many hours are needed in average for the intervention. Also we would like to know if the SPL and OT are really needed or ABA program is all what we need.

Please share your experience with us as we are new to this journey.
My email is jetty.kurniawan@gmail.com

[Dione Costanzo]

Hi everyone,

Please take a few moments to read the following notice for FEAT's MEDICARE FOR AUTISM NOW! Rally on March 2.

Dr Melvin Delevie has been added to the roster of speakers. He is well known to many families for his dedication to our children.

I'm sure we have all been following the story of Stefan Mariniou's desparate trek from Toronto to Ottawa. This is a glimpse into a family that has not had access to treatment for their son and we need to come out for them and for all Canadian families who are discriminated against by the governement.

Please RSVP at info@featbc.org

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

Why should you attend?

Despite a decade of lobbying, collaborating and litigating autism treatment is still excluded from our universal health care system.
Canadian families are still bankrupting themselves in order to provide treatment for their autistic children.

The current and limited funding provided through the provincial governments social services ministries could evaporate tomorrow with the stroke of a bureaucrats pen. No legislation exists within these ministries to protect or enshrine our childrens medically necessary treatment.

In 30 years of advocacy, the only two initiatives which have achieved ANY success for our children and families has been litigation, and more recently, focused political action. Both were brought by the members of FEAT of BC a 100% volunteer organization.

Autism is an epidemic of staggering proportions, it now afflicts one in every 150 children in North America, one in every 94 boys. It is time for the Federal Government to act! We need to let those who govern and those who wish to govern know that they are going to be held accountable at the ballot box in the next federal election.

Who should attend?

You – and every fair-minded Canadian you know!

Children with autism suffer from political indifference. It will take the sustained energy and dedication of EVERY CANADIAN who desires a just society to correct this injustice. For our childrens sakes, and the sake of future generations, we urge you to attend this rally.
Please bring friends, family, anyone and everyone you know who is appalled by the gross injustice done to our children every day by the governments of Canada and its provinces.

Featured speakers will include:
Dr. Sabrina Freeman Executive Director, FEAT of BC and parent Jean Lewis Director, FEAT of BC and parent David Chan Director, Autism Society of BC, FEAT of BC and parent Dubravka Skrijelj FEAT of BC member and parent Dr. Glen Davies Clinical Director – ABLE Developmental Clinic Dr. Melvin deLevie – Pediatrician Beverley Sharpe FEAT of BC member and parent Louise Witt Director, Autism Society of BC, FEAT of BC and parent David Marley FEAT of BC member and Political Strategist

Please RSVP to info@featbc.org and forward this notice to anyone you think will be interested.

FEAT of BC: To see justice is done

[Nicole Kaler]

Workshops for Line and Lead Therapists

Harmony House, a non-profit society, is excited to initiate its 2008 series of BASIC & ADVANCED training workshops:

The Line/Basic Training class will be on February 23rd

The Lead/Advanced Training workshop is an INTENSE 2-DAY event March 29 & 30th

For more information and registration: http://www.harmonyhouseBC.ca/training or call (604) 542-1550

These workshops are excellent opportunities for parents, educators, tutors and therapists who are interested in expanding their skills by learning more about ABA and how to effectively work with children with Autism.

[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 to come. I will post again as soon as the registration form has been added to the FEAT website.

Hope to see you all there!

[Cassandra Rayko]

I am posting on behalf of another family who is starting a new team under the supervision of Sara White. They are in the process of hiring therapists/tutors. They are in need of having some sort of agreement between the therapists and themselves (the parents) outlining that the therapists are independent contractors and their responsibilities. If anyone is willing to share their agreement, it would be greatly appreciated.

anne067@hotmail.com

[Tyla Frewing]

Last minute reminder about the FEAT of BC Autism Behavioral Therapist Training Workshop tomorrow, February 9th at the University of Victoria!

We anticipate having space for walk-ins, so if you have not registered yet, but would like to attend, we will try to accomodate everyone.

Information about the workshop is available at: http://www.featbc.org/downloads/abtw.pdf

[Todd Dea]

Lukes mama,

You may want to include your e-mail address so those interested in doing so can contact you off board given that we are only supposed to chat about ABA (Lovaas exclusively) therapy here. Unfortunately diet and bio-med intervention discussions are a no-no on this forum.

We are doing what you are enquiring about (the combined approach) and would be more than happy to share our experience so for with you.

Todd
onedea@shaw.ca

[Luke’s mama]

Does anyone know about using casein free/gluten free diet, nutrional supplements combined with ABA? Any pros or cons? Would love to know your experience since our child has huge sensory issues so this will be difficult. Is it worth it to switch. Our child has huge gag reflex to food and textures, even smells of new food.

Thx for your input and post. It is important to know since the whole family is considering this diet together.

Luke's mama

[Author]

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