[Dione Costanzo]

Thank you to Dr Sara White and everyone that came out last night for her presentation "Prevention of Maltreatment". It is a difficult topic but one we need to discuss and learn how to reduce the risks.

Sara's research shows that familial stress is a major factor in the abuse of disabled individuals, and that parent to parent support can reduce that stress.

Check our website for a list of our Neighborhood Networks and contact the organizer in your area for information on meeting dates.

http://abasupportnetwork.com/neighborhoodnetworks.php

We need to network and support each other!

If you would like an electronic version of the handout from last night's presentation, please email dione@abasupportnetwork.com

Thanks
Dione

[Dione Costanzo]

The ABA Support Network
Presents

“The Prevention of Maltreatment”

Guest Speaker: Dr. Sara White, PhD, BCBA

Individuals with developmental disabilities are at particularly high risk of becoming the victim of physical or sexual abuse. The maltreatment may come from peers, caretakers, educators and anyone else with whom the individual may have contact in private. This presentation will discuss risk factors, warning signs and ways to minimize the risk.
Sara completed her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis at the University of the Pacific (2000) and doctoral degree in clinical psychology at Binghamton University (2005). She has worked at the Institute for Child Development under the direction of Dr. Raymond Romanczyk. Additionally, she has presented several posters and papers at the Association for Behavior Analysis, the California Association for Behavior Analysis, the New York Association for Behavior Analysis and the British Columbia Association for Behavior Analysis on topics ranging from interventions to improve employee motivation to techniques to improve acquisition rates in children with autism. She has also presented several workshops on behavior management techniques to parents, school personnel, and health care professionals. She is currently a private behavioral consultant working with children of all ages with autism spectrum disorders.

Date: Thursday, January 27, 2011
Time: 7-9pm
Location: Surrey Sport and Leisure Complex, 16555 Fraser Hwy
Use Arena entrance and go up stairs to MP Room #2
RSVP: dione@abasupportnetwork.com

http://www.abasupportnetwork.com

We are a membership based, non-profit society. Our mission is to improve access to Applied Behavioral Analysis support and treatment in the home and community for children, youth and adults who need it.

Donations can be made online through our secure website
or send checks to:
ABA Support Network
1176 Keil Crescent
White Rock, BC, V4B 4W1

Thank you for your support!

[Dione Costanzo]

Hi Joanna,

Thanks for your post on December 22 about the ABA Support Network "Neighborhood Network" groups that have recently started.

The groups were formed to connect families locally that are running home based ABA programs. The groups provide an opportunity for more experienced parents to share their experiences with new parents. Parents may have experiences that they can share with respect to advocating, or, a parent in the group may offer to advocate for another parent, but it is not the mandate of the small groups.

Cheers,
Dione

[Dione Costanzo]

Hi Dave

Some of us are actually hoping that the government will get a clue (through the survey) and put their million dollars towards actually increasing capacity of quality ABA in BC.
In the meantime, there are several of us who are willing to do some legwork on Nancy's proposal.
Let's chat! dionec@shaw.ca
Cheers,
Dione

[Dione Costanzo]

"Autism Therapists say payments 5 months late"

CBC News November 23, 2010

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/11/23/bc-autism-payments-delayed.html

Please go to this story, recommend it and comment. More comments and recommendations will push it to the top of the news.

THANKS and PASS IT ON

Dione

[Dione Costanzo]

"Autism Therapists say payments 5 months late"

CBC News November 23, 2010

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/11/23/bc-autism-payments-delayed.html

Please go to this story, recommend it and comment. More comments and recommendations will push it to the top of the news.

THANKS and PASS IT ON

Dione

[Dione Costanzo]

"Autism Therapists say payments 5 months late"

CBC News November 23, 2010

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/11/23/bc-autism-payments-delayed.html

Please go to this story, recommend it and comment. More comments and recommendations will push it to the top of the news.

THANKS and PASS IT ON

Dione

[Dione Costanzo]

"Autism Therapists say payments 5 months late"

CBC News November 23, 2010

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/11/23/bc-autism-payments-delayed.html

Please go to this story, recommend it and comment. More comments and recommendations will push it to the top of the news.

THANKS and PASS IT ON

Dione

[Dione Costanzo]

"Autism Therapists say payments 5 months late"

CBC News November 23, 2010

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/11/23/bc-autism-payments-delayed.html

Please go to this story, recommend it and comment. More comments and recommendations will push it to the top of the news.

THANKS and PASS IT ON

Dione

[Dione Costanzo]

Surrey, November 22, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MCFD Payment Policies put Autistic Children in Jeopardy

Over 100 autism treatment service providers have complained they have not received payment for services within 30 days of invoicing the Autism Funding Unit (AFU) within the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). There is already a shortage of these service providers and those currently practicing are being forced to rethink their career choices. Families now risk losing current therapists and cannot attract new ones willing to put up with such financial uncertainty.

In September 2009 the Hon. Minister Mary Polak eliminated a Direct Funding option where parents could pay their service providers through a trust account. At that time, parents were assured that late payment problems would be dealt with. In the year that followed, these problems, in fact, worsened.

When contacted on October 4th, 2010 about the poorly managed AFU the Hon. Minister Mary Polak responded by saying "I know we've cleared the backlog and are continuing to work to solve other issues as they are raised by families and providers". However, featbc has confirmation that the problems are not resolved and service providers continue to not get paid within 30 days.

There are over 6,000 children in this province with Autism Spectrum Disorder who require therapy. Accessed through MCFD, this treatment will directly affect a child’s future. The difference between treatment and no treatment can also mean the difference between lifelong independence versus institutionalization.

Since autism treatment is not covered under Medicare, the amount of therapy a child receives depends directly on what families can afford to pay beyond the inadequate funding provided through MCFD. Despite its mandate to protect these children, current MCFD policies are actually interfering with access to treatment.

All attempts to communicate this to MCFD have fallen on deaf ears.

Last week British Columbians became painfully aware of what can happen to BC’s most vulnerable children when the Ministry for Child and Family Development drops the ball. MCFD indifference is allowing more of BC’s vulnerable children to fall through the cracks. Meanwhile, families trying to cope with the stress of autism are living nightmares every day as they struggle to keep therapists for their children.

-30-

(For further information contact Louise Witt at (604) 538-1370 or spokesperson@featbc.org)

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