[Deleted User]

Happy New Year Everyone!

I'm writing this note on behalf of a friend of mine. She has a four year old son with Brain injury. For the past 8 months she has watched us start up our daughter's program with great interest. She has been thrilled and amazed at her progress. After several months and good results, she began to look into doing something for her son.

A lot of his behaviours appear autistic, he stims a lot, flapping, running, yelling. But in many ways he does not fit as well. I guess because his brain was physically damaged at birth, he is not considered autistic.

They did find one psychologist who was able to design a program for them. iT sounds very similar theory wise to ABA. But being the sceptic that I am, I am worried about things for her.

I feel so lucky to have access to the resources of FEAT, to be able to find out about consultants, therapists etc by connecting with the group.

So my question is does anyone know of any families who have done something similar to this or of any groups for families in this situation? I did ask my consultant and she did not know of anything. She did recommend Dr. Glen davies and my friend did speak with him about it. I have also mentioned Dr. DeLevie to my friend.

If you know of anything out there please email me at fieldhkp@aol.com

Thanks
Michelle karren

[Deleted User]

Hi, my name is Eriskay Liston, and I'm very interested in being a therapist with a family. I live in Vancouver near UBC, but I am very flexible and able to move throughout Vancouver! My email is eriskayliston@hotmail.com, I would love to hear from anyone needing someone for their team!

[Deleted User]

Just a note to let everyone know that the December FEAT meeting is cancelled due to Christmas. The next meeting will be in January, 3rd Wednesday of the month. The tentative topic for January is Program Maintenance or how to keep your program on track.

see you then

[Deleted User]

hello everybody. We have 16 year old son. we want to set up homebase ABA program for him. Any suggestion on consultants, senior theraphist who have worked with older kids. If anybody has info pls e-mail me at Mohindersall @home.com We live in Surrey, BC

[Deleted User]

hello everybody. We have 16 year old son. we want to set up homebase ABA program for him. Any suggestion on consultants, senior theraphist who have worked with older kids. If anybody has info pls e-mail me at Mohindersall @home.com We live in Surrey, Canada

[Deleted User]

Hi,
I wanted to respond to the post about the Federal Elections coming up.
My name is Norrah and I was/am from Ontario. I recently temporarily moved to Florida to place my son in an ABA school because of circumstances in Ontario. I am still to this day with out funding for " high quality scientifically based Lovass therapy". I am paying 30 grand US per year for my child to get what they refused to give him in Ontario.
That being said, in the last two years ( and I may take a bashing for this but if it gets people up and moving then…)I have seen B.C take serious action in the attempt to change autism services to autism treatment and have it funded.
I have seen Ontario go from 0 funding other then SSAH hours being quietly used to the absurd and joke of an " IBI" program. They can't even call it like it is.
However forgive me if I am wrong here, but I do frequent the ME list and other lists where Canadians find support and I RARELY hear of any other provinces taking significant or serious action against the gross negligence of the government and the beurocrats that run them.
I think that if we are to be UNITED , then no buy outs are acceptable. IBI is a complete JOKE. It is so full of holes and surrounded by broken promises, it is merely a here go away campaign to pacify a group of people who do have the will and the means to make noise.
Did you know that the Ontario government invested 100 million in new livestock after the ice storms…and they are putting 19 mil a year into IBI…hmmm so in five years our CHILDREN will have the same value as a COW.
So far as I can see we have not united as a country in our fight. There are very few , if even this forum that escape government Lurkers…for us to discuss strategy etc….
As long as small groups can be " bought off" the bigger picture can not be achieved…and THEY know this and thus IBI thus " pilot projects".
I just thank G_d everyday for B.C. and Sabrina ( who makes more sense than anyone I know)and think in fact it will take you winning the case at the Supreme Court Level.
I some time ago sent out a statement to every provincial parlimentary member and some federal, all parties…although I did receive response from all parties, I did NOT receive ANY action to aide me…below for those interested is what was sent ….
not too be the pesimist in all this….but if we are to be UNITED we must ALL unite.
warmly and with great respect for FEAT and B.C.
norrah
STATEMENT
I am coming forward to make this statement in hopes of saving my child’s life. No parent should EVER have to do this.

My name is Norrah Whitney and I am a mother of a three and a half-year-old boy who is fighting for his life.
In the summer of 1998 my son was seen by Dr. Mahoney of Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation-Chedoke McMaster Hospital in Hamilton Ontario. He did not appear to be developing normally.
He would stack things over and over, act as if he couldn’t hear at times, he had no understanding of language whatsoever, and he was silent not able to speak a single word. He would smear his faeces at any given opportunity. He could never be left alone.
The ultimate outcome was a diagnosis of autism. We were devastated and rightfully so. Autism is a disorder, which usually presents itself early in life, there are marked impairments in social , cognitive and language areas. Left-untreated autism is devastating, almost always guaranteeing a life of unhappiness and total dependence and institutionalisation.
I was told by Dr. Mahoney to basically put him in day-care, I am so grateful that I did not listen to this man.
I had already suspected autism and began prior to that initial meeting researching it on the Internet. I stumbled across something that stood so far apart from all other material available that it immediately caught my attention. It was claiming a 47% recovery rate from autism. ABA was the hope that I was looking for, what it became was the very instrument that is saving my child’s life.
Applied Behaviour Analysis, commonly referred to as A.B.A. or “ Behaviour Modification” is now widely practised throughout the United States and around the world with remarkable success in treating young children with autism. In fact, A.B.A. has proven itself to the ONLY treatment for autism that offers scientific data as evidence of effectiveness.
While A.B.A. is extremely structured and is very intensive, involving approximately forty to forty-five hours per week , one must realise that for the children, it is enjoyable and rewarding. A.B.A is based on the premise of positive reinforcement. A good A.B.A. program is a fun A.B.A program. Children’s responses are rewarded with videos, favourite foods and toys, walks to the park, trips to the store, hugs, tosses in the air. Teaching is done on a one to one basis, often the only way an autistic child can learn.
I wanted and still want to save my son from autism so I implemented a home program immediately. The only problem was that I didn’t have any money. My husband and I had separated due to the stress and I moved in with my mother and applied for assistance. I was struggling to do the best I could to work with my son, reading until all hours of the night…not knowing what I was doing, not being able to afford a consultant. My son’s life was on the line and I could not afford to save him. I went to sleep everynight crying knowing that if my son didn’t recover it would be because I was poor. If my son were lost to autism it would be because his mother and father couldn’t afford to pay to save their child’s life. No one should have to live with that.
That is when I decided I would contact my local MPP, Elizabeth Witmer who also currently happens to be the Health Minister of Ontario. It took several months, but after a phone call to her office saying I was going public in the Hamilton Spectator I was seen within a matter of days. At the time I didn’t understand their motivation to then move quickly on my request, but bear with me and you will understand.
The meeting took place with another family, a staff member from her local office, Lori Turik her policy advisor and Mrs. Witmer herself. I made Mrs. Witmer aware of how grave my situation was and informed her that we would file a section 30.2.a under the Family Law Act. This is a section in the law that may be issued at the Minister of Community and Social Services discretion. It states that if a parent either fails to or cannot provide the necessities of life the Minister may make application to extend protection to that child. ABA was and remains critical to my son’s life and I simply can not afford the cost of this necessary medical treatment. Without it he will be lost to a life of reliance and institutionalisation. It may be worth mentioning that failing to report a child in need of protection is a criminal offence in this province.
They said they would see what they could do to help me. I left there that day believing in the Health Minister of Ontario. But that belief would soon be shattered.
They not only did not help me, but my assistance cheque was cut from 511 dollars per month to 463 dollars per month and my Special Services at Home hours were cut too!
And that is when I decided that I would fight for my son’s life and his right to EFFECTIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT for his autism, even if it meant sacrificing all privacy at one of the most painful times in my life.

A two tiered Health Care System for autism has developed in the province of Ontario, due to the absence of government involvement in funding autism treatment for children and education for treatment professionals. Those with the financial resources are putting effective autism treatment programs into place.Those without the resources are now outside the ‘ new’ health care system with grave consequences for their families and affected children. The right to Medicare, as one of the defining features of Canadian Nationhood, must extend to medically necessary autism treatment for all children who require it. It is fundamental that an autistic child’s access to medically necessary autism treatment be solely based on need and not individual ability to pay. Universality and Comprehensiveness, as guiding principles of health care system of Canada and the Provinces, must apply to medically necessary autism treatment for children.
Lucas Burrows IS a victim of Mike Harris’s two tiered Health Care system.
In the meantime while I was fighting for my son’s life in the therapy room, a lawyer came forward offering services pro bono ( in light of the circumstances) and on my son’s behalf he made the application and statement of claim regarding the section30. It was filed with the Children’s Aid Society of Waterloo, Minister of Community and Social Services and Minister Witmer.
But the Children’s Aid Society , Peter Ringrose said and I quote “ I regret to say that Family and Children’s Services is unable to agree to your request, as the agency has recently been instructed by the Ministry of Community and Social Services not to enter any new Special Needs Agreements.” Final approval from this Special Needs Agreement was needed by Janet Ecker. She slammed the door on a three and a half year olds right to life, yet she was quoted in a November 1998 Government Press Release as saying “ The government believes strongly in creating services that help children get a better start in life. “ “ These programs directly benefit children at an early age and help prevent problems later in life” I guess she just didn’t mean the “ autistic “ ones. Janet Ecker a hypocrite? And not three months later appointed as Minister of Education eagerly smiling for the television cameras as she toured schools with her new title pretending that education is a fundamental right while slamming the door on my son’s education. So I guess that fundamental right does not extend to autistic children either.
In the same release the Minister responsible for children Minister Marland was quoted as saying “ The enhanced program (referring to the Healthy Babies, Healthy children program) builds on the strengths of families and community members to ensure ALL children have the same opportunity for a bright and healthy future”. She also was quoted with regards to a separate announcement as saying “ Our government is committed to meeting the needs of our most precious resource – our children” I guess she too meant all but the autistic.
I do not know what ‘ programs’ Mrs. Ecker is referring to when she stated “ These programs directly benefit children at an early age” , I assure you there is NO program for my son. And I assure you that one year later after my battle began that Lucas Burrows is still being denied life saving MEDICAL TREATMENT at this time by Mrs. Witmer, Janet Ecker the Children’s Aid Society and Premier Mike Harris.
Just after my section 30 was denied, I happened to meet a woman from Waterloo, whose child also was suffering from autism. What she told me turned my world upside down.
Her father had sat face to face with Elizabeth Witmer over three years BEFORE my meeting with her, begging for money for his grand -daughters ABA program. She knew. Elizabeth Witmer knew that there was a SUCCESSFUL MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR AUTISM THAT WOULD/COULD SAVE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN’S LIVES AND SHE DID NOTHING. They did NOT inform the public of this crucial information. They did nothing to educate doctors about the CHAT list which to 95% accuracy can “ catch” a child at risk as young as 18 months. Something that can be easily performed by a family physician in a matter of minutes.
I was stunned beyond belief. For all intensive purposes this would be like finding out that there was a “ cure” for 47% of children with HIV, the rest having a substantial better quality of life and not disclosing it to the public. Of course it would not happen. Can you imagine what the public outcry would be upon finding out that the Government of Ontario wilfully withheld this information and children died as a direct result of this? Then so to should you be outraged by what has been done to innocent autistic children in the Province of Ontario. Mr. Harris and Elizabeth Witmer are sending a clear message on the value of an autistic child.
In a letter that was sent to me by Mrs. Witmer just prior to the elections ( no co incidence here I assure you ) with a proposed 19 million dollars included in the budget for autism. Specifically Intensive Early Intervention. She wrote and I quote “ I trust you will see this as a positive step forward” . No Mrs. Witmer I see this as an effort to cover your •••. You realised by our meeting that families were finding one another, and you will know what I mean by that. Why did I receive phone calls from your office wanting to know what I was going to say to the press in my second release in your home riding of Waterloo, Ontario, after you found out that Pam Orzenchowski existed whose father I am sure you are familiar with.
Why did you want to know their names so badly that your office contacted my home several times in a matter of hours when it took me three months just to get a meeting with you as my MPP?
19 Million dollars is a slap in the face to these children. It’s a pittance of what is needed to help save these children. It is a “ here go away amount of money”. So long as my child continues to be denied this life saving therapy I will not go away.
According to the Annual Government Audit , available on the Internet at in 1998/99 the government of Ontario spent 94.5 million dollars to 158 agencies to deliver drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
They spent $173 million “ to ensure that the people in Ontario continue to receive HIGH QUALITY
Cancer treatment”. Only 32% of patients requiring cancer treatment were receiving it within the recommended 4 weeks from referral. Also potential conflicts of interest needed to be resolved prior to “ awarding contracts.” The goal by March 31, 2000 was to have 50% of cases moving from referral to treatment within four weeks and 90% within eight weeks.
Time is also crucial to the child with autism. Best outcomes have been reported with therapy starting between the ages of two and three. Until the age of five the brain remains “ plastic” or malleable. I am sure you have seen the government sponsored commercials where they say the first five years lasts the rest of a child’s life and how much they learn in those first five crucial forming years. Autism is as ravaging as cancer yet our children wait on lists from 6 months to a over a year long just to see a specialist, stealing precious time away from them and their families. What message does this send. We will spend lots of money to make a commercial about how crucial the first five years are to children and we will do NOTHING to improve referral time waits for the most vulnerable children in this province. This is unacceptable. It is my direct recommendation that all doctors be mailed out a copy of the CHAT list effective immediately and that they are instructed to tell ALL parents about this MEDICAL TREATMENT UPON
Diagnosis. That an emergency 1-800 number be established in the Province so any child failing the CHAT can be identified and seen within TWO weeks of that finding. To fail to take proper measures to ensure the best possibility outcomes for these children is simply further negligent.
In fact the Government of Ontario awarded the Ontario farmers , after the 1998 ice storms $100 million dollars for damages, much of the cows perishing in the storm, leaving farmers to have to replace livestock. So lets see, it would take 5 years at $19 million dollars for autistic children to have the same worth as a cow.
The “ proposed” funding ( the budget is not passed yet ) also has its limits. They are only funding children from 2-5. They stated that this funding was only applicable to a diagnosis of “ autism” and not too include PDD which is almost always now the initial diagnosis given by the doctors, almost like they loathe to see the “ A” word. My son’s initial diagnosis was/is PDD , but on the diaper subsidy it says autism…so which is he PDD or autism. The point is that it doesn’t matter the name you put on it, it in-itself is the same disorder, with one name being more consumer friendly. Shakespeare said it best I believe “ a rose by any other name would still be a rose” but yet if they take his original diagnosis of PDD they will destroy this child.
At a recent meeting that took place in Toronto , Ontario held by the Ministry for Integrated Children’s services shocking statements were made ( as the one above ) to a room full of people from all across Ontario. Presidents of the Autism Societies were there, some families who are currently doing home based ABA programs were there as well as educators.
Our worst fears were confirmed. The proposed money was to be held out for “ biding “ by existing agencies. The reason for our concern? The existing autism industry originally developed in a treatment-free environment. Consultation the industry provides under government contract does not does include Effective Lovass treatment, but rather is support based and operates in an environment where no objective standards exist to measure improvement of autistic children in costly government programs. The status quo assumes that autism is untreatable so government support services have no outcome criteria. The industry’s personal lack the qualifications to design and administer autism treatment programs. Therefore, private agencies under government contract for autism support services do not advocate for the implementation of TREATMENT for autistic children since they would need to “ retool” to deliver the TREATMENT. In the existing autism industry, where there are no expectations for improvement in the autistic child, there is an incentive to maintain the status quo and protect government contracts.
The Ministry of Health funds the services of speech pathologists. The current speech pathology staff is not trained in Lovass autism TREATMENT and is ineffective in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
There does exist in Ontario a ‘ group’ of speech pathologists who are trained. They have worked with autistic children , incorporated into the child’s home program/ and or possible day care placement. One such person is Tracie Lindbland of the Oakville Child Development Center in Oakville Ontario. She has been treating my son for severe apraxia and autism for four months. Eight weeks ago my son could not put two sounds together…he now can speak in two, three , four , five , six + word sentences…but it took a highly trained and qualified speech pathologist who is ABA supportive and trained therapists to consult and identify problems so my trained therapists could implement professional TREATMENT strategies by our non funded speech pathologist. We must currently pay out of our pocket to get the best speech help we can for our son, one of the most serious of the disorders conditions. We only wish we could afford to see her more. One speech pathologist at the Rotary Center in Waterloo, dropped her books to the counter after I told her what target sounds we were working on. She informed me in a very stern voice in front of my son that “ that is NOT how you teach an autistic child how to speak”, when in fact that is EXACTLY how Luke finally learned how to speak. Suddenly they will be in a position to bid for this money. How can this government expect us to believe that current workers will suddenly adopt a new and loving attitude towards ABA when occurrences like this happen on a regular basis with parents running home programs.
Lovass autism Treatment has not been widely accessible until recently, although many in the psychiatric community have been supportive of this TREATMENT method for years. In addition, there is a severe lack of knowledge in government, amongst most educators and the public regarding the efficacy of this TREATMENT. Even the Autism Society of Ontario until recently did not inform all members of ABA , and in fact Mr. Williams a paid employee of the Autism Society who attended the meeting in Toronto , allegedly ( I say this because we do not have her statement in writing yet ). Said to a mother from Thunder Bay – he had no intention of informing parents of a therapy that is not funded by the government. So I asked him at the end of the meeting if he would make sure that his members and presidents inform new families of ABA and to STOP discouraging families from it. He never did give me a response.
The Autism society until quite recently did not advocate for ABA and were ignorant regarding the legitimacy of this TREATMENT. This unfortunately is also true of many autism professionals. Their knowledge of the method, if any , is often limited to outdated work done by Lovass in the early 1970’s when this research project was in its infancy. The effectiveness of modern autism TREATMENT for children remains largely unrecognised. However, parents of children with autism are highly motivated to find and implement the only method that works. Currently there are well over 50 families in Ontario doing ABA programs. Unfortunately, this is only possible for those who can afford the expense or can borrow heavily.
We were told that anyone may bid on the money including the hospital that diagnosed my son and felt that his diagnosis was so unimportant that they failed to inform me for 78 days that my child, had indeed been put into the P.D.D. file. I finally phoned when I noticed something at the bottom of one of his Assessments by hospital staff. I told them that if I didn’t get a written diagnosis within an hour I was going to the OMA. The diagnosing doctor contacted me within the hour.
Two and a half months out of those ‘government sponsored commercials about how crucial the first five years of life is’ didn’t matter because they didn’t believe time was crucial for an ‘ untreatable’ disorder.
They will be eligible to bid for this money.
Places like the Geneva Center in Toronto Ontario, whose ABA commitment has been substantially low in comparison to non recommended therapies by the New York State Report. Which states that the only therapy the State of New York will and can recommend is ABA. It was discussed at this meeting that Marg Whalen of the Geneva Center said she was against discrete trial teaching , which is crucial early on in treatment.
I feel this should be based on the medical model. That the parent have the right to choose the TREATMENT provider as we can our doctors. Good doctors are too full to take more patients but bad ones…..
Right now most of the expertise in this field comes from the United States. There are some people who are highly trained people currently in this province who can deliver this treatment. But to assure the “ highest “ quality , the same “ highest “ quality of care the Province is committed to giving the Cancer Patients we must assure families access to the BEST possible TREATMENT and if that EXPERISE should lay outside the Country there is a duty and responsibility in providing the same “ quality of treatment” as you afford other Canadians.
Susan Seaby even said at the meeting to a parent who runs a high quality program – your son may get the Cadillac version of ABA but not all of them are going to have that. She told us that they could do it for much less. Can you imagine a doctor standing in front of a mother whose child is dying of leukaemia , handing her over a bag of chemo therapy and saying “ here ya go, its not our best batch , so your child won’t live but you will have more time with him”. NO! That conversation would not take place in this Province. But yet it did about autistic children, just put into different words.
We only pray now that our worst fears will not come true. That Mr. Harris will at the very least honour his commitment to allow for American Expertise until we can offer the same level of quality across the entire province.
It has been rumoured that Mr. Harris does not want to the money to leave the province. I certainly hope this is only rumour, the results would be devastating to the quality of ABA in Ontario.
Centers such as New Haven Learning Center in Toronto who are clearly committed and have been for some time to the highest quality of ABA still remain unfunded, having to rely on massive fundraising campaigns from the private and public sector. The proposed Autism Learning Center for Children with Autism which mandates is two fold to offer high quality ABA and training for therapists will have to bid against agencies that simply do not have the resource. But Mrs. Seaby said it must be “ fair”. I would ask her “ fair” to who? Don’t we ultimately have a responsibility to these children and not to government contract?
To add further injury to insult the funding age is insufficient. Those families who sat before these people when their children were two , three , four are now being denied funding once again.
Many families have lost homes, their life savings, their RRSP’s , their cars they have been doing it for years in this province. We do indeed have children walking around Ontario who once were diagnosed as autistic and now are indistinguishable. This is a fact. Some may never recover financially if restitution is not made. The suffering we have experienced is unimaginable to most families. They knew for years….and if they had acted back when they first found out and implemented a PROVINCE WIDE EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR 0-18 year olds , I would not be sitting here making this statement to the media.
And now I was informed that there is nothing they can do to help me by Susan Seaby and that I must wait for the money until the biding process is complete. Until the contracts are assigned, and until the agencies are ready to look at ‘ specialised funding’. Lucas Burrows can NOT wait. He should not have to be penalised by this government’s former negligence. He should not have to pay with his life for what these people have done to these children by failing to act in an URGENT manner.
If you were a parent of a newly diagnosed autistic child , wouldn’t you at least want the right too choose?
That was taken away from families all across this Province.
I believe that hospitals like McMaster and Sick kids should indeed continue to be funded in research into finding a ‘ biological cure’ for autism one day. I look forward to the day when ABA is no longer needed for the TREATMENT of autism., but until that day comes I want my son to have the same rights as the child with leukaemia, the child with HIV, I want the MOST EFFECTIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT THAT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE for my son.
Perhaps reminding Mr. Harris that it was in fact Luke’s great grandfather that was one of the founding fathers of O.H.I.P along with Premier Robarts. Perhaps he doesn’t know that Leo Whitney former mayor of Waterloo, Queen’s Council, Large Financial contributor to the Progressive Conservative Party, and to the Roman Catholic Church with an on going relationship with the Vatican, and whose other contributions to this country and this province may be found in the book titled “ whose who in Canada” great grandson has had every door slammed on his face by his government.
I would ask the Premier to take note of the large statue on the lawn of Queen’s Park bearing the Whitney name. The sixth Premier of the province who was also noted for his significant contributions to the Health Care System in Ontario. One of the government buildings in Toronto is called the “ Whitney block” . My family help build this Province and now they will toss aside this child when he needs their help the most. A Victim of red tape.

Litigation has begun in the Province of Ontario against the Government. There are many cases with different firms representing plaintiffs. We want to ensure that ALL children with autism are entitled to equal access to effective medical treatment. It is such a crime that these children will be dragged through the courts, more precious time stolen, futures denied. A travesty has happened and it must be corrected.
For those children who can not yet speak , we will be your voice. Your cries will not go unheard.
Tonight while putting my son to bed, he said I love you two mom….after I kissed him on the forehead and you can’t put a price on that.
The Ontario Government may try to hide behind comments such as “ well its not funded in all the provinces is it”, no it is not, but many are and what you need to know is the others are taking their provincial governments to court too.
Don’t we boast as being one of the best Provinces. Aren’t we trying to solicit outside business. Come to Ontario where we treat autistic children with less concern then cows.
These were and are children. Children.
Today I have a child who is a contributing member of this family. Who reads, spells, plays appropriately, can count, knows his ABC’s, understands emotions, has almost age appropriate receptive language among a long list of his courageous accomplishments. I have a child who was silent, that now speaks in sentences. I have a child who has defied all odds. Who will never see the inside of a group home or institution but rather will walk the halls of his preferred college or university. I would sacrifice everything again, and so would the other hundreds of families , who against overwhelming obstacles have claimed their children back from the grips of autism.
May G-d have mercy on their souls for what they have done/ and continue to do to the autistic children of Ontario. I don’t know how they sleep at night.
ps . some of the above was borrowed from FEAT with permission.

[Deleted User]

Hi there, sorry to use the list this way but i'm trying to track down a feat parent and i don't know her phone number.

Ellia Belson please call me!

DeeDee Doyle
275-4537

[Deleted User]

Thanks to all who responded to my post of Oct.16 about B.C. consultants. I found the information and advice quite hepful. I would like to say that in choosing to be anonymous for my first post, it was not my intent to appear dishonest or secretive. I feel like I discovered FEAT and their position at the 11th hour, having decided previously to hire the Laurel Group and start therapy asap. It was a dilemma for me to be presented with a different opinion of what was the right treatment because I am very anxious to start ABA and panic at the thought of another waitlist in order to help Zach. I feel like I wasted too much time already. However, as was pointed out to me, it is extremely important to have the right people working with your child. Thank you all for giving me something to think about..

[Deleted User]

Our 17 month old son was diagnosed only one month ago. We went, that same week, to the September ABA Conference at SFU. We are looking for therapists who want to work with our son once we get a consultant (could be months). He is extremely good natured and a joy to work with.

Tanja and Mark (Jake is our son)
460-8895 (Pitt Meadows)

[Deleted User]

To the first anonymous:

I certainly do not speak for FEAT so please keep that in mind. FEAT and parents who know that Lovaas style ABA (and i use this term to distinguish true ABA from so called aBA groups like Laurel house)is the only scientifically proven treatment for autism do not support local consulting groups because:

a.) they have not received adequate or effective training. They have not been trained by Lovaas or any other replicate sites. THey have not attended any other recognized school that trains in ABA.

b) they are funded by the Provincial govt that adamantly states that ABA is not proven, nor effective.

c) from what I have gathered over the past months, they do not appear to actually practice true ABA. THeir method seems to be some derivative, watered down approach that occasionally glimmers of ABA. Glimmers are not going to help your son.

Here is my advice. If you are planning to pay privately anyway, you want to ensure that your money is achieving all that it can. My understanding is that private Laurel house is not much less than a true ABA consultant from the U.S. You are better off going that route.

Essentially your results come down to several things:

a) the quality of your therapists, the work they do, their efforts and how they interact with your son
b) the latter relying on the quality of training they receive which depends on the education, experience and quality of the consultant you receive
c) the quality of programming your consultant provides. Quality programming only comes from someone with experience, dedication and a vast array of knowledge. It does not come from reading a book.

Obviously progress is also tied into your family dynamics etc.

I heard Sabrina Freeman say once (and I'm paraphrasing here, hope I'm accurate) that ABA is an incredibly powerful tool. IN the right hands, it can accomplish amazing things, in the wrong hands it can be extremely dangerous. Please take care in your choices.

ANd by the way your Doctor, who may very well be an incredibly knowledgeable person or may not be, may have only recommended Laurel house because it is the only name provided to him/her. THe Govt isn't exactly advertising that they are WRONG and that there is an effective treatment out there. The govt continues to say to its doctors and anyone else who will listen, that they are providing the best care. It is in their interest to tell DR. so and so that Laurel house is the best rather than admit that a consulting group from the U.S would be more effective.

Hope this helps
Michelle

[Author]

Posts