[Lou Arab]

Avery,

Your patronizing tone is extremely off-putting. I am not sure how you determine that a) I am new to fighting for services for my children or b) that my newness is what shapes my opinions. My son was diagnosed with a visual disability at age two months, autism at age two years. We have spent his entire life fighting government, medical praticioners and insurance companies on his behalf, and we have won every single battle. My employment includes significant lobbying and pressuring of government on a variety of issues so I am well aware of what it takes to get a government to move.

So spare me the condescension. It was not and is not my intention to launch attacks on individualized funding, FEAT, Jean Lewis or yourself. My only intention was and is to clarify things and try to stop cuts to special needs programs.

I still need to respond to the crux of your comments. You are commenting on two lines out of a two page press release that was in draft form when you saw it. I am part of the group that is organizing this event, and I can tell you we have discussed this, and we are very clearly not opposed to IF. I will say it again, we are not opposed to IF.

We went over the release yesterday, made some minor changes to respond to your impression. The full release, as sent out yesterday is attached below.

Lou Arab

Militant Moms protest broken promises:
MOMS MAN THE BRIDGES TO PROTECT SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED

VANCOUVER, Oct. 23, 2001 – Angry moms will take over several city bridges during morning rush hour on October 29 to protest Premier Gordon Campbell?s plans to drastically cut services to children and adults with disabilities.

Calling themselves Militant Moms on the Move (MMOM), these normally-sedate parents are outraged that after delivering hefty tax cuts to businesses and individuals, Campbell is reneging on promises he made to protect and enhance services to BC?s most vulnerable citizens.

We've been nagging government about these issues for years now and we voted for Gord Campbell because we truly believed someone was finally listening, says parent Lori Wallace. "But now things are going from bad to worse, so we're exercising our right to strike before he declares Moms an essential service too."

The move began when an ad hoc group of concerned mothers and fathers of special needs children met earlier this month. They decided it was time for action to highlight the crisis facing many BC families who are struggling to support loved ones with disabilities. So on October 29th, these feisty moms (and dads) will leave spouses and sitters to cope with breakfast and getting the kids off to school, taking to the city?s bridges in small groups to deliver their message.

"We're telling Gordon Campbell that his behaviour is unacceptable and we expect better. He has to bridge the gap between what he promised and what he's delivering," says MMOM spokesperson Dawn Steele. "As parents, we teach our children every day about being honest and fair and responsible, and we expect nothing less from our leaders."

The action:

During morning rush hour on October 29th, small groups will gather at several city bridges* between 7:30 and 8:30 am, carrying signs with traffic-inspired slogans to convey their message to passing commuters. "Services for the disabled are not luxuries that we can sacrifice to balance budgets, they're vital lifelines, just like our bridges," Steele explains. "And service bottlenecks and delays are like traffic jams, they're a tremendous waste of human potential."

"We're not your typical radicals and most of us have never done anything like this," says Steele. "As mothers we also have to set an example, so we won't disrupt traffic or anything like that."
At around 10 am, families will gather at Gordon Campbell's Vancouver constituency office and deliver bunches of balloons symbolizing the children and adults being hurt by his government's broken promises.

2.
The issues:

Children and adults with disabilities already face a dire situation in BC, with long waitlists and inadequate services. Yet studies show that inadequate or delayed treatment and denial of supports actually cost taxpayers more in the long run because people who could become productive members of society end up permanently dependent. Campbell acknowledged these arguments in the pre-election campaign. He specifically promised to protect existing services for these individuals, and to move quickly to address service gaps. But already some of those promises are being broken by:

– Planning 35?50 % cuts across the board to Community Living Services, a move that would devastate vital supports and treatment for adults and children with special needs.
– Freezing the education budget, which will worsen the already serious shortage of funds for special education, ESL and other vital education services across the board.
– Gagging the BC Human Rights Commission just as it was preparing to file a complaint of systemic discrimination against special needs students in BC?s schools.
– Planning to drop funding targets that protect special education funds, thus allowing schools under pressure to use special education funding to balance their budgets.
– Endlessly delaying plans for court-mandated early treatment for children with Autism and appealing the court ruling that said government had a duty to provide this treatment.

?There?s a lot of talk about numbers, but this is about kids and vulnerable adults and about parents who just want a fair chance for them,? says Heather McCracken, another Vancouver parent. ?We have parents who were eagerly awaiting treatment services that the Liberals promised to provide for their toddlers. They know the science shows these kids can do really well if they receive early and intensive treatment, but now they?re being told to wait, and wait, and wait. It?s breaking their hearts because they see their kids? future going down the drain.?

-30-

[Lou Arab]

Jean Lewis wrote:

>"A group of parents of special needs children >(MMM – Militant Mothers on the Move) are >attempting to organize a protest in late October >to protest a number of government initiatives >apparently including the cancellation of the the >"EIBI" program expansion. For clarity's sake >please be aware that this protest IS NOT a FEAT >of BC initiative.

>To reiterate, FEAT of BC ENDORSES the EIBI >cancellation and the move to individualized >funding because ultimately it is the vehicle >which will best serve all children with autism >and their families.

I am active in organizing with MMOM, and I would like to clear something up. Our protest is not about EIBI vs. individualized funding (IF). It is about general cuts in services to persons with special needs, of all types and all ages including:

– Freezing the education budget, which will worsen the already serious shortage of funds for special education, ESL and other vital education services across the board.
– Gagging the BC Human Rights Commission just as it was preparing to file a complaint of systemic discrimination against special needs students in BC?s schools.
– Planning to drop funding targets that protect special education funds, thus allowing schools under pressure to use special education funds to balance their budgets.
– Planning 35 ? 50 % cuts across the board to Community Living Services, a move that would devastate vital supports and treatment for adults and children with special needs.

At the time MMOM started organizing, EIBI stage 2 had been cancelled with no alternative announced.

As for EIBI vs. IF, the government has announced a model it wishes to follow (IF) but it keeps pushing the date of implementation back!!! That alone is reason to protest. My son will be three in November and I am sick of the Liberals telling me to wait two more months for therapy!! Since the election, therapy has always been two months away, and the bar keeps getting moved. I have now been told by Minister Reid's office and by staff in MCFD that the "when" and "how much" questions won't be answered until next year, and god only knows how long after that the money will start flowing.

If you are interersted in participating in the protest, you can attend at the bridge action between 7:30 and 8:30 am on Monday, Oct. 29 at the following locations:
– Lions Gate Bridge – North end
– Oak Street Bridge – North end
– Burrard Bridge – South end

Please email me at arab7964@home.com to confirm your attendance, or to ask questions.

Lou Arab

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