[David Chan]

We are looking for an enthusiastic, energetic tutor/therapist for a 16 year old student with autism, who has been on an ABA program (Applied behavior Analysis) since the age of five.

Position would involve tutoring grade 11 academics as well as other ABA behavioural protocols, and physical activities.

Our consultant and therapist will provide all behaviour protocol training. No previous experience necessary, but we do ask for is enthusiasm and dedication, and a minimum commitment of one year.

Currently we are looking for 2 three hour shifts on Tuesday and Thursday. There is a 3 hour meeting with our consultant every six weeks.

Sessions are after school (4-7pm) in Richmond.

Vehicle is an asset.

Interest candidate can submit resume and cover letter to neatpix@gmail.com

[David Chan]

Hi All,

Sorry to be a stick in the mud, but just caught this story in the Sun about a dead autistic child in Montreal. It shows you what level of trust we should have with our school system. We will never know what level on intervention was agreed upon by the parents of the dead child, and I am sure the educators/professionals did not intend to have a child die on their watch, but alas, you guys can read for yourselves what transpired.

It didn't happen in BC,but just the possibility of it happening here is way too much for us not to be vigilant.check out the article and be afraid, be very afraid, and get angry, because someone has to to be.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=31bba213-b14b-4bb6-854f-4ec6fdf413aa

[David Chan]

Well Tony,

I feel it too, I read your list, and it's just Tuesday, who knows, what curve ball will come flying tomorrow.

That said, there are a lot of chickens, and a lot of eggs. The best thing to do with all of that is to make some omlettes and make some fried chicken for dinner.

If I've learned anything in the past few years, it's to keep the eyes on the prize, stay focus, think of all the things that you are doing as a deposit in the karmic bank.

Enjoy the moment, relish in your little guys achievements no matter how insignificant it may seem to others. Fight the good fight, no one on the outside really gets it.

Once you reconcile and make peace with that, it will be a whole lot easier. Even the ones on the inside can't totally comprehend each individual family's pain try as we might. It's always about the kid, or kids….. everything else, just that everything else, it just doesn't matter.

What I just wrote doesn't diminish the pain that all of us experience, it doesn't hurt any less, it just focuses on why we keep forging ahead. it's like the saying goes about banging your head against a wall. it's feels great when you stop.

Look at the kid, and marvel, and understand what his life would be like if he had never gotten ABA therapy… enough said.

Remember it's not a contest, it's just a journey we are all on. You'd think that researchers would have something better to spend their time on, than to state the incredibly obvious. What do I know, I just take a few pictures, clean the house, and drive the kids.

Side Bar,

two more years till graduation for Mr. P, preparing for provincial exams this year.

from what I gather, if he can muster the effort, and pass English 12, he will be a 100% for real high school graduate. Wouldn't that be really cool if he could do that……maybe he will, and what if he didn't…..as long as he brings his A-game, that's all that really matters.

Once more into the breech, like I've got anything better and more meaningful to do with my life.

Hang in there all,

Dave
Mr. P's Dad

[David Chan]

Hi All,

I read this in my church bulletin today, and I think it applies to us FEAT'ers old and new.

"Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are."

The two gals kinda go together

St. Augustine

Keep up the good fight folks

Dave
Mr. P's Dad

[David Chan]

Dear Phemie,

Been there, done that, This is what worked with our kid. use DTT to teach nuts and bolts, then run with the nuts and bolts.

An example would be, use specifics to show concepts.

show a glass of water to show liquid, then run with all the liquids that are really concrete.

Always use real things to demonstrate concepts, all the other stuff is too abstract.

Don't give up, little by little, if you have the basics stuff down, then you can build on it. Don't worry so much about UNDERSTANDING, because unless you use it everyday, I doubt if any of us could show an understanding of Newtonian physics

In any case, don't ever go to the let them do something else, it's a slippery slope. even if it's not EXACTLY the same material as the other kids, it should be in the same area of study. Don't give up !

so keep up the good work, and just to give to an idea, we had to teach grade 10 human sexual reproduction for science 10, that's good times……oy, did more dodging and weaving than Steve Nash.

All the best,

Keep up the good work

Dave.

Mr. P's Dad

[David Chan]

Thanks Monika, but it was Mr. P's Mom that composed the last post.

Got to give credit to where it is due.

Mr. P's Dad

[David Chan]

Kudos to you, Monika, for crafting such a concise, logical, and fact-based commentary on the concept of choice for autism treatment.

I would like to make one additional point, which is this–the government and schools absolutely LOVE, I re-iterate LOVE the dissension and in-fighting that occurs amongst parents over treatment for autism. As long as we remain a "house divided" they can say that there is no standard treatment for autism (although we know that Lovaas style ABA is best practice in many jurisdictions, like New York State, for instance) because even parents of affected children cannot agree. Therefore if we cannot agree, why should they make any effort to further fund Lovaas therapy or provide a Lovaas environment for a child in school ?!!! I cannot emphasize enough what a powerful weapon
WE are providing here for the powers that be to use against us.

With regard to exploring other treatment options, I would emphasize this caveat. While exploring other options, the clock on the wall is ticking steadily, as your child ages without intervention. My husband and I have had bitter first-hand experience with delays in diagnosis, and close to a year wasted in a group language therapy class (the dreaded Hanen method which is completely unsuitable for children with autism) as well as various dietary supplements (DMG, Efamol focus, etc). and dietary modifications which proved to be fruitless. What we SHOULD have been providing to our son was Lovaas therapy, which he finally started at the age of five, with steady and significant progress ever since. And I would not have discovered this therapy without the invaluable input of Sabrina, Jean Lewis, and other FEAT parents. I shudder when I think of having possibly wasted even more time.

Mr. P's Mom
A member of the old guard, and proud of it!

[David Chan]

Hi all,

Check what corporate America is doing.

We need to learn from this people.

Captains of industry, please take note

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2akb4v2cUQ

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFAF_7nxI1U

Mr. P's Dad

[David Chan]

Well Norm,

Very observant, no we don't need to preach to the choir, but, the choir members have family, friends, just regular folks that see the injustice of the situation. Those people need to motivated into political action.

Raising awareness, really awesome, because people need to know, but you have to have a follow up.

OK we know, what can I do about it, that is what the rally is about.

See ya, and who ever else you can bring with you there

Mr. P's Dad

[David Chan]

Dear Luk's mom,

Please be very clear that there are really good people in the world and they care about the progress and potential of your child.

That said, understand that school is an employment opportunity. It's about wages and working conditions. To misquote my old school districts motto."The Focus is on the employee (learner)". Whether the home aide makes the life of the teacher more or less easy is of little or no consequence.

Be nice, play nice, but at the end of the day if "They" don't place your child's needs first, then all bets are off–(Hewko vs. the school district of Abbotsford)

Sorry to be so grim, never forget, NO ONE has more vested interest in the well being and progress of a child/student than his or her parents.

Fight the good fight

Long time FEAT dad, fought and left the public system in 1999

Mr. P's Dad

Mr. P rocked his midterms; how about that !!

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