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Todd Dea
ParticipantJemma,
As requested :
1. When it is my turn to fight the school board to get my own ABA-trained therapist into the classroom, how hard will Cyndi fight on my behave?
Yes, of course I will and I will do so with the same passion and conviction that I would for any family. I have never discriminated against a family based on their behavioral therapy choice. Of interest to this group, there are a number of Lovaas ABA families here on the North Shore that I have supported to the best of my abilities in the past. If you would like me to help you advocate for your home based person, I can and I will.
2. One of Cyndi's Facebook friends is Linda Reid. Is this the same Linda Reid named repeatedly in the FEAT-BC essay titled "Broken Promises"? If so, does Cyndi share her friend's views about autism treatment?
Yes, Linda Reid is a friend of mine and has helped me when setting up an independent ABA school and preschool. Linda believes in families and families right to decide what is best for their children. I share that belief. I also appreciate that Linda has taken the time to visit programs in Alberta that support children with autism and other special needs and continues to speak to many parents from across the lower mainland about their needs.
To be clear, I have nothing against ABA and unfortunately I have been misquoted many times. I use ABA/VB and I have seen much success with one of my children. I have advocated in my school district for the last four years for an ABA program and continue to do so. I have also been encouraging the school district to hire a board certified behavioral analyst so that they actually have someone qualified to implement programming. Recently, I submitted a proposal to create an ABA program in the North Vancouver School District as a program of choice. I have the support of many of the partner groups and I am hoping that this time we will be successful.
Sincerely
Cyndi Gerlach
ParticipantTony,
While I sincerely appreciate your effort to bring me up to speed on the two candidates who I have yet to meet, I have very real concerns with your chosen words regarding Ms. Gerlach.
Our family uses ABA, and I'm assuming yours does as well, so I didn't think it would be breaking news to you to learn that ABA doesn't work for every child. Even in a perfect clinical environment the Lovaas studies showed the ABA had little or no effect (improvement wise) on 15% of the children studied. If "Lovaas ABA is the only way" then what do you, Tony, advocate for those other 15% ?? Should we just ignore them and let them fall by the wayside ??
In talking with Cyndi I believe that she believes that her child(ren) were in this 15% group. I don't think Cyndi has anything negative to say about ABA in general but I certainly think she has feelings toward anyone who would question or worse, insult, her motives or desire in continuing to search for a program that will help her child(ren).
All of that aside, I have serious serious reservations about any Autism Parent (you) that would insinuate that other Autism Parents should think twice about voting for someone who has been such a strong advocate, and helped many many or our children, get better (or any for that matter) support in our school system, JUST because she doesn't share your unquestioning support of a particular behavioral program.
It is this is the type of attitude or opinion that continues to divide our community, and one of the very real reasons that the government continues to get away with ignoring us. United we can accomplish much. Divided we will accomplish little.
Any parent who has lived what I live on a daily basis and with that knowledge or understanding in mind, chooses to stand for an elected office to advocate for all of our kids has my unequivocal support and they should have yours and every other ASD parent in their community as well.
I will be taking your advise on November 15th and casting my ballot based a single issue. Given that it was your words that asked us to join you, I'm assuming you will as well.
Respectfully
Todd
ParticipantAs a follow up to Roxanne's post I was very excited to see some Autism Parents running for positions on the North Shore.
In West Vancouver Mike Lewis is running for Council and Tamara Leger is running for School Trustee.
In the District of North Vancouver, Cyndi Gerlach is running for School Trustee.
I have yet to have the pleasure of meeting Mike or Tamara, but in the short time that I have known her I can certainly vouch for the amazing job that Cyndi has done in advocating for our children (and all children for that matter) within the school system especially, in many areas of the lower mainland.
I hope everyone gets out and votes !!
Participant*ABA THERAPIST(S) NEEDED IN NORTH VANCOUVER**
Our family is eagerly looking for therapists (tutors), both senior and junior, to join our home based ABA program that we have running for our very charming and playful, high functioning 3 year old son.
Previous experience working with children with Autism would be fantastic, but is not essential. Individuals interested in psychology, education, speech pathology or any other career involving children are welcome.
We are guided on this journey by our Consultant, the very capable and passionate, Kathryn Theroux from the Able Clinic.
This is a great opportunity to receive training and hands on experience in ABA therapy with minimal initial qualifications. What you should have is lots of energy and patience, strong play skills, a positive attitude and good multi-tasking abilities. Enthusiam, dedication, reliability, an open mind and a willingness to learn are most desirable.
As a therapist you need to be able to commit to: two or three, 3 hour shifts each week, in addition to attending bi-weekly team meetings.
Salary is negotiable and is based on experience; only apply if you are a natural at relating to children. We will ask that you make a one-year commitment to the team and as a matter of course, we will require a criminal record check.
We are located 5 minutes from the Second Narrows bridge, on a bus route, in the Windsor Park area of North Vancouver.
Please e-mail resumes or any inquiries to onedea@shaw.ca.
Telephone inquiries are also welcome at 604-765-0342.CHANGE HIS LIFE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE … YOU MAY NEVER FEEL SO REWARDED
Participant*ABA THERAPIST(S) NEEDED IN NORTH VANCOUVER**
Our family is eagerly looking for therapists (tutors), both senior and junior, to join our home based ABA program that we have running for our very charming and playful, high functioning 3 year old son.
Previous experience working with children with Autism would be fantastic, but is not essential. Individuals interested in psychology, education, speech pathology or any other career involving children are welcome.
We are guided on this journey by our Consultant, the very capable and passionate, Kathryn Theroux from the Able Clinic.
This is a great opportunity to receive training and hands on experience in ABA therapy with minimal initial qualifications. What you should have is lots of energy and patience, strong play skills, a positive attitude and good multi-tasking abilities. Enthusiam, dedication, reliability, an open mind and a willingness to learn are most desirable.
As a therapist you need to be able to commit to: two or three, 3 hour shifts each week, in addition to attending bi-weekly team meetings.
Salary is negotiable and is based on experience; only apply if you are a natural at relating to children. We will ask that you make a one-year commitment to the team and as a matter of course, we will require a criminal record check.
We are located 5 minutes from the Second Narrows bridge, on a bus route, in the Windsor Park area of North Vancouver.
Please e-mail resumes or any inquiries to onedea@shaw.ca.
Telephone inquiries are also welcome at 604-765-0342.CHANGE HIS LIFE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE … YOU MAY NEVER FEEL SO REWARDED
ParticipantFor all those parents who wondered or thought that vaccines may have played a role in their child's autism only to be beaten down by "the science" that proved otherwise, I hope you'll maybe have a smile on your face and a nice glass of wine in your hand when you read the recent admission of the CDC about their landmark vaccine study :
This is the story : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/cdc-vaccine-study-design_b_108398.html
This is the report filed by the CDC : http://evidenceofharm.com/VaccineDataLinkReporttoCongressFinal.pdf
Participant**ABA THERAPIST(S) NEEDED IN NORTH VANCOUVER**
Our family is eagerly looking for therapists (tutors), both senior and junior, to join our home based ABA program that we have running for our very charming and playful, high functioning 3 year old son.
Previous experience working with children with Autism would be fantastic, but is not essential. Individuals interested in psychology, education, speech pathology or any other career involving children are welcome.
We are guided on this journey by our Consultant, the very capable and passionate, Kathryn Theroux from the Able Clinic.
This is a great opportunity to receive training and hands on experience in ABA therapy with minimal initial qualifications. What you should have is lots of energy and patience, strong play skills, a positive attitude and good multi-tasking abilities. Enthusiam, dedication, reliability, an open mind and a willingness to learn are most desirable.
As a therapist you need to be able to commit to: two or three, 3 hour shifts each week, in addition to attending bi-weekly team meetings.
Salary is negotiable and is based on experience; only apply if you are a natural at relating to children. We will ask that you make a one-year commitment to the team and as a matter of course, we will require a criminal record check.
We are located 5 minutes from the Second Narrows bridge, on a bus route, in the Windsor Park area of North Vancouver.
Please e-mail resumes or any inquiries to onedea@shaw.ca.
Telephone inquiries are also welcome at 604-765-0342.CHANGE HIS LIFE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE … YOU MAY NEVER FEEL SO REWARDED
ParticipantAmber,
I don't know specifically about 18 month contracts but I can't imagine it does anything other than delay the future date to renew your funding. It shouldn't take any longer to do up one.
As far as the funding goes (in our case) the government will send you cheques (or direct deposit) for 3-5 months each month and then stop unless you have sent them any receipts/forms to show them that you are spending the money. As long as you keep sending in receipts and the accounting forms they will keep sending you money. So the long and the short of it is if it takes you a few months to get up and running you will have money in the bank by then to pay for it. Just make sure you send in the accounting forms as you pay out money to therapists etc. and the government will keep sending you your monthly installments.
All the best
ToddParticipantRoxanne,
"I have been advised that the Autism Society chat board is the place to discuss other forms of treatment such as biomedical. Why not use that resourse instead of fighting each other on this chat board."
>> Who has been looking to discuss biomedical therapy here ? I haven't heard anyone asking about any specific bio-medical intervention questions on this forum have you ?
For those that did actually want to chat about it though, the ASBC chat board would be a wonderful idea if it wasn't such a graveyard over there. Have you checked it out lately ? The only people posting are administrators. Anyone looking for information on biomedical therapies certainly isn't going to find it on that forum.
"I know many great families who do ABA AND biomedical treatment. It's your right as a parent to do what is best for your child and only you can decide on that!"
>> Know any of them that didn't waste a year of their child's "recovery" time before they found out about it on there own ? Don't you think the time has long since come that every parent receiving a diagnosis here in B.C., should immediately receive information about both behavioral AND biomedical intervention so that they can in fact utilize their right (as you say) to decide for themselves how best to procede ?
My god, likely the two most famous books about "recovery", Catherine Maurice's, "Let me hear your voice", and Lynn Hamilton's, "Facing Autism", both strongly advocate the need for a balanced treatment approach using both behavioral and bio-medical approaches. Why do we continue in only giving parents in B.C. half of the information ?
Did you read this recent article ? If you haven't you should because topics don't come much bigger or more significant in the Autism community than this one.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/government-concedes-vacci_b_88323.html
The little girl in this case (and likely 10-20% of ALL kids with Autism the article states) is suffering from a medical condition that needs to be addressed BEFORE any behavioral intervention can hope to work most effectively.
The Government of B.C. isn't telling us about this important piece of the puzzle. Our Autism organizations in B.C. are not telling us about it either and this in my opinion is a travesty.
I'm not saying in any way that it's should be FEAT's job to do so, but don't you think it should be somebody's job to tell parents about it ? And further, don't you think that it is well within the realm of this forum, as a resource for parents to discuss things, to talk about whether in fact we think some organization in the province SHOULD be providing this information ?
ParticipantLaurie,
Well given that less and less people are actually doing anything that resembles traditional lovaas therapy, the fact that it wasn't mentioned on the show certainly shouldn't come as any great surprise.
As far as Jen's post though I couldn't agree more. Both of your annual two a year posts (as you put it) this year managed to come across in quite a patronizing and sanctimonious way in my opinion. Go re-read both of your posts and put yourself in the shoes of a parent, reading them for the first time, who has tried traditional ABA therapy but found that it didn't work for their child (Even Lovaas in a clinical environment didn't work at all for 15% of the kids). How do you think that your "there is only one correct way to do things" message is going to make them feel as they explore other options.
I'm happy that traditional therapy worked for your child. But please be a little more aware about how you spread the "gospel". As with anything, there is a point when being on the "bandwagon" can go a tad overboard and come off in a negative way.
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