[Deleted User]

Are we winning the war on terrorism in this province?
Apparently not, the newly elected Liberal government continues where the NDP left off terrorizing autistic children and their families. By continuing the decade long war on autistic children by refusing them medically necessary (Lovaas ABA) treatment our provincial government becomes responsible for the destruction of the only opportunity these children have of recovery. The only opportunity they have of attaining their full potential as members of society. As a result hundreds of children will live out their adult lives in institutional care. The loss in terms of what these children could have contributed to society exceeds the millions it will cost to care for each of them as adults. Government autism policy belongs in the hands of our family doctors not in the hands of goverment spin doctors and budget balancers.
Imagine what a bitter lie it is to live to be a minister of a ministry responsible for protecting young children yet finding yourself willfully implementing a mandate to do them such great harm.

United States of America; a handful of people die of Anthrax, the country reels horrified and frightened.

Province of British Columbia; a thousand children are forced to endure permanent neurological damage without treatment and rehabilitation, a government MLA says it is for their own good.

Are our leaders really that morally bankrupt that they can ignore the most basic laws of humanity set forth by our society and continue to discriminate against autistic children by withholding treatment for their disease? And then say it is for their own good? Shame on you Richard Stewart. Shame on you Premier Campbell. Shame on you Colin Hansen. Shame on you Christy Clark. Shame on you Linda Reid. Shame on you Gordon Hogg. Shame, shame on you for the pain you inflict on the citizens of this province each passing day.

[Deleted User]

I received this letter today from Linda Reid and thought I might share it with everyone. I'm curious why work so hard to defend EIBI when phase 2 is supposedly cancelled?

I'm also curious about the extensive and well-researched training… I've met a few therapists who have had the rather disappointing experience of working with EIBI people…if they were extensively trained, it wasn't in ABA. Oh, except the ones poached from Lovaas practicing families, therapists trained out of the pockets of families struggling to pay for the medical needs of their children because the government chooses to ignore medical needs.

The letter goes on to metion what I'd like to call "The stone soup approach" of throw in a bit of every type of therapy and hope the end result is palatable.

The only slightly positive note of the following letter is the mention of some sort of decision about individualized funding. Think plentiful thoughts. Think thoughts of medically based therapy provided for children of ALL ages. (and then maybe write to your M.L.A. and of course the Hon. Linda Reid about your concerns).

<<Dear Michelle Karren:

I am responding to your e-mail of August 14, 2001, forwarded to me by the
Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier, regarding your support for
individualized funding and your concerns about the Early Intensive
Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) program. Please accept my apology for the
delay.

EIBI is a new program based on scientific evidence and best practices found
in current reports regarding effective treatment for children with Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This program was accepted by the Court as adhering
to best practices and meeting government's obligation to provide medically
necessary treatment to children with ASD under the age of six.

I recognize that for some families, Lovaas-style ABA is the recognized
standard of Applied Behavioural Analysis; however, ABA is, in fact, a widely
recognized teaching method and most behaviour consultants use its principles
and techniques. EIBI uses the teaching methods and principles of ABA and is
individualized to the specific needs of each child. It incorporates
multiple intervention techniques that include: speech/language pathology,
occupational/physical therapy, positive behavioural support, natural
teaching strategies and discrete trial training. I can assure you that the
training provided to staff of EIBI programs is extensive and
well-researched. The EIBI program is also being monitored and evaluated as
to effectiveness and outcomes.

It is estimated that implementing EIBI across the province for children
under the age of six will take three years. Given this implementation
timeline,
I realize that some children, who are eligible now, will not be eligible by
the time the service is available in their communities. As a result, MCFD
is implementing a kindergarten transition year program. This program has
been developed to provide service to children who are between four and six
years of age, who are not able to access an EIBI program. I would encourage
you to contact your local Community Living Services office for more
information if either of your children fit within the qualifying age range.
…/2
Michelle Karren
Page Two

Like you, some families have told us that individualized funding for their
choice of intervention based on the Lovaas method of ABA is their preferred
method for the delivery of early intensive behavioural intervention
services. The provision of individualized funding is a complex issue and a
huge step for government so time needs to be taken to ensure that we get it
right. We are currently reviewing this option and should have a decision by
year-end.

Thank you for taking the time to write. I trust the above information is
helpful.

Sincerely,

Linda Reid
Minister of State

pc: Honourable Gordon Campbell

[Deleted User]

Barbara Rodrigues….

sorry to use the list this way…I am trying to email you Barbara and it keeps getting sent back , do you have a NEW email addy??????
thanks
norrah
fight4aba@hotmail.com
aba4u@earthlink.net

[Deleted User]

Dear Mariah,

I am saddened by what has happened to your child but the greater injustice is that perpetrated by our provincial government. Meaningful medical treatment does exist yet our government denies it to our children. Because of this our kids face frustration and confusion as a result of the effects of their disease giving rise to behaviors that challenge those around them who, sadly, often act in a manner that constitutes more harm.

I have seen Teachers damage my autistic childs self esteem by treating him in a condescending matter in front of the other typical kids and kicking him out of class for attempting to speak (out of turn), upon leaving the class they wanted his SEA to to use restraining holds to deal with his sudden aggressive behavior. His SEA would at spend least half of the day locked in a closet sized room with him because his behaviors were 'to difficult' and they were concerned ' other kids would see the way staff interacted with him and his tantrums and screaming and get disturbed'. Even though he was in grade 1 he was sent home by 12:30pm because they could not manage his day beyond that. It is not to say that school staff were mean and cruel but rather untrained and ignorant of his disease despite our attempts to educate them. Sadly we were often ignored when suggesting strategies that would help often and accused of demanding too much. It is however with much gratitude that our school and school district agreed to recognize this and cooperated with us, allowing us to bring in a school SEA to work as a therapist within our home program.

Patrick is in a home based ABA program now where he is thriving, happy, and developing rapidly across all areas of functioning and attending to his program 40 hours a week. Aggressive behaviors have vanished and he has shown he is a very social, playful, imaginative boy. The data shows irrefutably how far he has come. In time he will return to school with the skills he needs to be successful in that enviroment.

I am encouraging my school district to support the funding of ABA for all kids with autism regardless of age. Attached is my submission to the Legislative Health Committee which I am asking my school district to support.

To: The Select Standing Committee of Health
Executive Summary

This submission contains information outlining urgently needed changes to Provincial Autism Treatment policy. Within this submission is information pertaining to;
· What is autism and effective treatment for this disease.
· Why The Select Standing Committee of Health is obligated by virtue of duty to recommend immediate changes to Provincial Autism Treatment policy.
· Recommendations for implementation.
Please contact the author for further information, supporting documentation – studies, and contact information for organizations mentioned within.

Autism and treatment

Autism is a neurological illness. It is of biological origin and is defined by impairments in language, communication, and social development and by repetitive interests and behaviors. Researchers in North America are conducting several projects that focus on the genetic bases, neurobiology, and neuropsychology of autism and related disorders. Much of this research focuses on how and why behavioral treatment methods change the structure and functioning of the brain. The reason for the concentration of research in this area is due to scientific evidence that behavioral treatment methods constitute the only effective treatment model validated to date.
Scientific data supports that with competently-delivered, early, intensive intervention, a sizeable minority of autistic children are recovering from autism, using applied behavior analysis (eg Lovaas, 1987; McEachin & Lovaas, 1993; Perry & DeCarlo, 1995). Of those who do not recover, over 500 peer-reviewed scientific studies since 1971 substantiate that Applied Behavior Analysis, (ABA) is effective for building skills in children of all ages with autism in every domain: social, cognitive, communication, academic, play/motor and self-care domains, among others (eg Baglio, et al, 1996; DeMyer, Hingtgen, & Jackson, 1981) . When programs were directed by individuals with advanced training in using ABA, about 90% of children made moderate to large gains. A sizeable minority achieved normal functioning. Applied behavior analysis has also been proven as highly effective in reducing problem behaviors including self-injury, aggression, and perseveration.
Implicit in these findings is the fact that the majority of children with autism who receive effective treatment can remain in their loving homes instead of being placed in institutional or foster care. Children who receive treatment will also realize meaningful gains from services such as education as opposed to the very limited academic gains (if any) of children who are denied effective treatment opportunities.
Effective treatment not only makes sense for families, it makes sense for taxpayers who would otherwise fund residential placements. According to a cost/benefit analysis conducted by Drs. John Jacobson, James Mulick, and Gina Green, competently-delivered, early, intensive behavioral intervention can produce estimated savings per child to age 22 of about $200,000; to age 55, $1 million dollars U.S. funds.(Jacobson, Mulick & Green, in press). In addition to the cost savings there is the value of saving the functioning of a child’s mind, future, and mental health, a savings too great to quantify. And how about the value of saving a family from the trauma they experience over years of watching their autistic child fail to develop the necessary skills for independent living and typical functioning resulting in eventual placement in institutional and group home settings. The stress placed on families denied the needed funding to institute effective medical treatment, ABA, for their autistic child must be addressed immediately.
If a child had leukemia, instead of autism, no one would suggest that the disruption caused by the disease and the cost of medically necessary intensive treatment requirements imposed by the illness make would make it fair to seek alternative solutions instead of treatment so the family can have a normal life. Yet current and past government policies are saying just that. We are repeatedly denied funding for effective treatment of this disease for our son Patrick aged 7. There has never been access to publicly funded treatment through Health Services for our child for his disease of autism. This is despite the fact that knowledge of effective scientifically validated treatment utilizing (ABA) has been widely published and lobbied for by parents for over a decade. Instead what we get is a complex, cumbersome, and ineffective system of ‘care’ programs supplied by the Ministry of Children, Families (MCFD). This system of care is administered and serviced by people without training or expertise in autism. The kindest thing we can say about these “government autism services” is that they may provide a temporary relief of the frustrations a family endures attempting to manage daily life with a child suffering from a tragic neurological illness for which access to treatment is sadly denied.
As caring parents we are committed to seeking the best treatment for our child, and to demanding respect for this child’s profound worthiness. As a collective provincial community, as Canadians, and as human beings we are bound to that same commitment;

Provincial government

We have approached the provincial government for assistance in funding ABA treatment for our son, Patrick, but have so far been turned down. This is despite the fact that the provincial government was found to have violated the Canadian Constitution (the Charter of Rights and Freedoms) by refusing to fund effective autism treatment (Auton v. AGBC, July 26, 2000). We understand that the Auton litigation was commenced in 1998, after families had requested government assistance for a number of years.

Here are some of the findings made by the B.C. Supreme Court in the Auton case:
· Autism is a medical disability so severe and comprehensive that it affects all aspects of an affected person’s life;
· Without treatment, children with autism are doomed to a life of physical, emotional, social and intellectual isolation and eventual institutionalization of over 90% of untreated children;
· Autism treatment is a health issue and treatment of autism is essential;
· The appropriate treatment for autism is ABA or early intensive behavioural intervention, in fact, there are no effective competing treatments;
· It is irrefutable that many children with autism have benefited from Lovaas Autism Treatment and made substantial observable gains;
· Early intensive behavioural treatment is a medically necessary service;
· The provincial government provides no effective treatment for the medical disability of autism, either through the Ministry of Health or otherwise;
· None of the existing government services for children with autism even attempt to treat the condition of autism and were in fact “positively discredited” by one of the government’s expert witnesses;
· The Ministry for Children and Families (now Ministry of Child and Family Development) has neither the mandate nor the expertise to deliver treatment.
The province was found to have violated the Constitution by its failure to take into account the health care needs of children with autism. This discrimination is continuing, and is becoming worse through the introduction of an age limit to access to funding.

As Canadians

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Section 15(1)
“ Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex, age, or mental or physical disability.”
(2)” Subsection (1) does not preclude any law, program, or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged because of race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex, age, or mental or physical disability.”
As Canadians we are committed to promoting the well-being of children (see, for example, the National Children’s Agenda) and the full citizenship of people with disabilities, based on the values of equality, inclusion and independence (see, for example, In Unison, the national disability agenda).
In short we cannot, in good conscience, stand by and allow provincial health care policy to continue to discriminate against children, whether it is on the basis of their diagnosis or the basis of their age.

As Human beings

Failure of government to act on behalf of children with autism would also be contrary to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has been ratified by Canada and would constitute a breach of Canada’s commitment to “undertake all appropriate legislative, administrative and other measures for the implementation of the rights in the Convention” (Article 4).
By ratifying the Convention, we have recognized that:
· A mentally disabled child should enjoy a full and decent life, in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self reliance and facilitate the child’s active participation in the community and that assistance shall be designed to ensure that the disabled child has effective access to and receives education and health care services in a manner conducive to the child’s achieving the fullest possible social integration and individual development (Article 23), and
· Children have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health (Article 24);
By ratifying the Convention, we are committed to:
· Ensuring to the maximum extent possible the development of the child (Article 6), and
· Ensuring that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services by ensuring the provision of necessary medical assistance and health care to all children (Article 24).

Recommendations

· Immediately institute a provision for individual funding of ABA programs for families currently requesting it.
· Utilize existing models of accountability for family directed care such as “At Home Program” and palliative care programs.
· Require an accurate diagnosis and letters of support for an ABA treatment program from Family Doctor, Pediatrician, and treatment provider.
· Require evidence of treatment from involved professionals that data and progress reports are being generated.
· Require that School Districts work in a cooperative manner with ABA treatment providers and therapist team to ensure that social/education opportunities and services are available and can coexist with necessary treatment program structure.
· That post secondary institutions within our province build faculty and education programs to create ‘homegrown’ ABA expertise within our province. (The incidence of Autism is climbing throughout North America very rapidly already topping 1 in every 100 children in our community – up from 1 in every 1000 just over a decade ago – an unacknowledged health crisis amongst children)
· That health care officials build a better understanding of what constitutes an effective behavioral treatment program by contacting organizations such as; The Association for Science in Autism Treatment, the licensing board for Board Certified Behavior Analysts, Families for Early Autism Treatment of BC, and that they look to the New York State Clinical Guidelines on Autism Treatments as a source for scientific evidence of existing treatment options and efficacy.
· That consideration be given to redirecting current funds for existing ‘autism services’ directed through MCFD and the Ministry of Education to individual funding options.
We support the Health Committees courage and determination in assessing and recommending changes to Provincial Health Policy. As public figures of an elected government that emphasizes "pro-family" values we urge you to take decisive steps to ensure funding for treatment is available and that we fulfill our moral and constitutional obligation to all autistic children, regardless of age, to demand scientific accountability and credibility in their treatment.

I urge all parents to demand that school districts recognize the failure of the current system which demands that schools 'include' and 'educate' children who suffer daily from a debilitating neurological illness yet are denied access to publicly funded treatment. I ask that parents demand that school districts speak up to government and address this pathetic and discriminatory treatment of our kids. If they don't they are certainly lacking the basic moral fibre that defines us as humans.

Alex Barclay,
Powell River BC
(School District 47).

[Deleted User]

The Child Who Broke the Silence…………

Imagine the nightmare of your child being hit at school by his/her SEA or Teacher,
and him/her not able to tell you,sufering it in silence for as long as it lasts………all you see is more of his tamtrums or disrupted behavior
some sadness,maybe depression.
Well …….it happened to us and we are living it since last wednesday 14,
My child came home after a "good day at school"
broke on tears of pain and anger,told me his being hit but his SEA ,I know there's more to that than he can say……
Athough I have spoken with so many people to get advice from their experience and expertise
I still feel ……..alone in this
and it shouldn't be!
I believe Dean Alonzo broke the silence for those children that are going through the same and can't tell!.
I ask you please to support our cause
Write a coment ,aletter a note
to: mantoneta2h@yahoo.com
We start our quest on monday the 19th,an advocate and social worker are coming along…….
I believe your input on this will be very important and will help enormously if you could express us how you feel about this terrible incident hapenning ,on our so called "equal inclusive educational system 2001" where our children spend so much time with people ,that not only are not prepared or trained but worse; abusive towards them,if that assistant was ABA trained or at least have an idea what being autistic means this wouldn't happened ,of that I am sure!.
I beg you, you excuse my english and grammar faults,my first language is spanish and I am trying my best to share this with you.I REALLY APRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT! Mariah

[Deleted User]

I also wanted to say Barbara…you always amaze me with the way you make your points…it goes without saying that Jeremy is VERY lucky.
I don't know of ANY other mother who walked the picket line, using her own body to try to protect her child. You ARE a hero not just for Jer, but for others.
It is just such a sad state of affairs that both Luke and Jer continued to be violated by our governments both provincially and federally.

I know you have literally walked to hell and back for your son.
I hope what has happened here in Ontario does not happen there.
At least your opponents there stick to their guns about unsubstaniated therapies and will continue to try to make money off the backs of our children with unproven an ineffective therapies, whereas here they ( not all ) suddenly switched to the other side of the fence once IBI money was up for grabs.

ABA has saved Luke, he too is not recovered, but like Barbara I now have a relationship with a loving happy child who wakes me in the morning with a " goodmorning mom". I don't know that he will ever be " indishtinguishable" but at this point I don't care, because the main thing is that through his medically necessary ABA treatment he CONTINUES to learn past the age of five and in fact his BIGGEST language gains have come AFTER his fifth birthday. NEVER say NEVER.

My only hope is that we will not be forced from our country again to secure funding and treatment for his autism.
G_d bless you Barbara.
Keep the good fight.
Norrah Whitney
fight4aba@hotmail.com
aba4u@earthlink.net

[Deleted User]

Thank you Barbara for your posting. It held alot of meaning for me and I am
glad you took the time and effort to write it. Bottom line – our children
are truly gifts from God.
—– Original Message —–
From: "FeatBC Discussion Board"
To: ;
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2001 11:00 PM
Subject: Room Two: Behavioural Treatment Topics

> ————————————————————
> FeatBC Discussion Board: Room Two: Behavioural Treatment
> Topics
> ————————————————————
>
> By Barbara Rodrigues (Rodrigues) on Thursday, November 8,
> 2001 – 10:59 pm:
>
> Hi:
>
> This is in regards to the Options thread (I know it's almost
> the midnight hour). I just wanted to add a bit different
> point of view to the discussion. I also want to clarify
> that my personal references are no way about or related to
> Stephen, his son or his own personal choices as I have never
> met him or his son nor do I know them.
>
> First I have to disagree with the statements that any
> intensive therapy would help the 25% of children. You see
> our son had intensive sensory integration therapy for a
> period of 2 years -age 2-4. I was told and tried to engage
> in his stimulatory behaviors in order to turn take and
> increase his language, I gave him a 'sensory diet' I swung
> him, rolled him, had him jump on a trampoline, massaged him,
> moved him and spent many hours a day doing this for many
> many months. We used Natural Teaching Strategies (something
> the 'new' EIBI is incorporating), we did 'Theraplay, SLP,
> preschool, music therapy and tons of sensory
> movement/tactile things. After 2 years our son only further
> regressed. If we are to believe the therory that ANY
> intensive therapy will do the job, then I guess we should
> have just sighed and said there was no hope for Jeremy –
> that he was just one of the 75% of autistic children who
> will not improve. Luckily we didn't. We found out about
> science based treatment and read the research, had Jeremy's
> doctor read the research and started an ABA program.
>
> And yes, when we started out, recovery was all our goal.
> And yes, after 3 1/2 years, recovery was not to be. Should
> we now give up ABA and say – well, it's off to the group
> home for Jeremy? No of course not. Because although we
> didn't make it ala Catherine Maurice's children, our son has
> made gains that for him are nothing short of miraculous.
> This was a child who at 4 years of age – was unable to
> function beyond that of an eight month old. He has made
> vast and wonderful improvements in all areas. When we
> started Jeremy was lost in a world of rages and tantrums,
> self-stim and beginning self-injurious behavior. By his
> third Christmas, he ceased all eye contact with us – my mom
> calls this 'the day the lights went out in his eyes'.
>
> Today after 3 1/2 years of ABA, we have a very different and
> yes, very happy little boy. Academically he's doing great
> (mind you we are keeping him out of the school system at
> this point), he's toilet trained, he plays appropriately a
> lot of the time, and seeks out playing with many of his toys
> on his own!! He's learning to communicate on different
> levels. He has great eye contact. He rarely tantrums. He
> still has some outbursts but these are mild and not long in
> duration at all and decreasing as time goes on. Today at
> the age of 7, I have a little boy who can accompany me to
> the grocery store and do the weeks worth of grocery shopping
> while walking close to the buggy or close by. He helps put
> stuff in the cart and on the til for me. I am really proud
> of him for this accomplishment!
>
> Jeremy still has stims but each year they are progressing to
> more appropriate activities. For instance this year, he
> loves to throw rocks in the lake/creek, stimmy yes, but
> appropriate. At the playground last week, he went running
> up and climbed up the monkey bars and 2 little boys that
> were playing at the playground followed him and copied him.
> Then they all went running over to the swings together!
> Jeremy at that moment in time, was just a little boy playing
> with other little boys and having fun. It is one of the
> tear filled emotional memories that you hold in your heart.
>
> Point is and this is mainly towards those of you who are
> starting out with little ones- recovery may not be in the
> cards for all of you-but since you are just starting out aim
> for it!- but please remember that if it's not in the future-
> your child still has a chance at a future, at a good and
> productive life.
>
> I have had some tough times in this journey and I have been
> discouraged but I always managed to stay on track – maybe
> it's easier for me because we had so many therapies done
> that did absolutely nothing to help our child- it was easy
> to see and read the data on the improvements that ABA gave
> him. Easy to stay the course sort of speak. I also believe
> that if your child isn't showing gains, yes, you need to
> change consultants, get a different new perspective, etc.
>
> So many parents I know, started ABA and when their kids
> didn't recover gave up or started off on different paths –
> looking for the 'cure' the magic bullet that would fix
> everything right now. Remember the 'secretin fad'? So many
> people I know start mixing up the ABA with other things that
> ABA is no longer really practiced yet they say 'oh it
> doesn't work'.
>
> I also want to say that Jeremy runs to greet his daddy when
> he comes home from work.
>
> As the years go on, I am able to enjoy Jeremy more and life
> with him gets a little easier. My husband works out of
> town a lot so after therapy it's Jeremy and I most of the
> time. One night, Jeremy was reading so I put his snack by
> him on the couch and went to the loveseat to drink my tea
> and read my magazine…a minute later, Jeremy got up and
> came over and sat down beside me with his snack…he picked
> up his books and we sat there on that loveseat for over an
> hour, just reading and eating and just being a mom and her
> son – enjoying some quiet time together.
>
> Thanks for taking the time to read this. Give your kids a
> hug for me.
>
> Barbara
> Jeremy's Mom
>

[Deleted User]

re: kindergarten transition money

My situation is somewhat similar to the previous post. I was intrigued to here that Karen was told of the program in March, here in Maple Ridge we just received wind of it in the end of August.

For those of you just hearing of it now, or who have not been told but are eligible here is the information I know. To be eligible your child is supposed to be in kindergarten or grade 1 however there are several of us who held our kids back from K and are actually still in preschool. You are responsible to create a proposal based on your child's needs. Here in Maple Ridge we were not given an option of an organization running it – it is all individualized. My proposal included my daughter's preschool aide who is not covered by MCF or supported childcare(don't even get me started on this tirade) and the three "child care workers" (their term not mine explained below)that work with my daughter. I submitted for all of their monthly hours and while I haven't received my authorization yet, I've been told that my proposal has been approved.

The proposal needs to include the rate of pay for therapists. MCF wanted a daily rate but I provide hourly with a total of hours per month. The funds in our area are being administered by supported childcare. The funds are for CHILDCARE WORKERS. this is what was outlined to me by mcf. However it is okay to use the funds for speech path services, ot, one woman at our meeting wanted to use the money for daycare and pull ups. Essentially you get to use it to your discretion providing you use their terminology.

To be honest, the amount of info available on this is pretty slim. with all the changes happening, I wouldn't count on it lasting though…

[Deleted User]

I received more than few phonecalls, therefore is the list of the books I am constantly using:
ABA
„h Let Me Hear Your Voice ¡V Catherine Maurice
„h Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism ¡V Catherine Maurice
„h Activity Schedules for Children with Autism ¡V Lynn E. McClannahan, Ph.D. & Patricia J. Krantz, Ph.D.
„h A Work in Progress ¡V Ron Leaf & John McEachin
„h Teaching Developmentally Disabled Children ( The ME Book ) ¡V O. Ivar Lovaas
ABA and natural environment type of learning
„h Teaching Language to Children with Autism or other Developmental Disabilities ¡V Mark L. Sundberg, Ph.D. & James W. Partington, Ph.D.
(All above ordered from Different Roads of Learning)
Hanen( ordered from Hanen institute)
„h More Than Words ¡V Fern Sussman
Option( ordered from Option Institute-see their www)
„h Son Rise The Miracle Continues ¡V Barry Neil Kaufman
„h A Miracle to Believe In ¡V Barry Neil Kaufman
Floor approach
„h The Child with special needs ¡V Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D. Serena Wieder, Ph.D.(library or any bookstore)
AUDIO TAPES
„h Special Children / Special Solutions ¡V Samahria Lyte Kaufman(Option)
CD-ROM
„h Autism Academy, Behavioral Programming for Children with Autism ¡V EDEN II(Different Roads of Learning)
VIDEO
„h Discrete Trial Teaching ¡V New York Families for Autistic Children Inc.
„h A Miracle of Love ¡V NBC( Option)
„h I Want My Little Boy Back ¡V BBC(Option)
„h Montessori program for preschoolers(West Van library)
I also follow the Japanese treatment of autistic children encouraging a lot of physical exercises every day: swimming, skating, gym, trampoline, running, hiking, dancing, plying a ball, massaging, push-pull games, spinning, swinging, and climbing, chasing, hide-seek, and many outings. Do I have any result? I¡¦ve heard today that she loves me the first time in her and my life. Yes ,this all listed above is accessible for the second language parents just like me. Krystyna(Elizabeth¡¦s mom)

[Deleted User]

And a last word from Stephen….
I agree with nearly all of Sabrina's posting, as well as with the comments from Stephen Sutherland and Michelle Bregrif. (Hope I got the name right.)

Let me reiterate that NO intervention has published data showing a superior "cure" rate or even an equivalent "improvement" rate to studies employing ABA. Comparing these studies is difficult for the usual methodological reasons, but ABA is CLEARLY the treatment for which the best evidence exists.

Neither Ruth nor I would advise a family looking to start treatment to ignore ABA and go directly to Option therapy. There were many factors contributing to our decision, which I do not feel like including on this discussion board. However, I should mention that although stimming behaviours are detrimental in the workforce they make little difference in the group home or institutional setting, which is where close to 50% (sorry, don't have article here to give the exact numbers, but it was authored by Lovaas himself) of the UCLA Autism Project subjects ended up.

I have other thoughts regarding the Smith study and its implications for ABA, as well as Greenspan, whose excellent work and published study of over 200 autistic children treated using floor-time cannot be dismissed. However, I would rather discuss these in another forum.

Stephen Schertzer

[Author]

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