[Deleted User]

Hi there,

My name is Lindsay Finley, and I am a third year Psychology major at Simon Fraser University. I am a very outgoing, energetic and friendly person,
and would love to become a member of your team. I currently live in Langley, but I have my own transportation and would be willing to travel throughout the Lower Mainland and Vancouver area. I have no prior training with ABA therapy, but I am a very fast and eager learner. If you are seeking a therapist that you don't mind training, please feel free to call me at 604-807-7552, or email me at: ljf1@sfu.ca. Thank you for your
consideration, and I hope to hear from you soon!

Lindsay

[Deleted User]

We Did It!

My son, Connor, and I ran the Sun Run today proudly wearing out "MEDICARE FOR AUTISM NOW!" t-shirts. We set ourselves a goal to finish the 10K in 90 minutes and we actually did it in a few minutes less; good for us. My husband, Mark, ran with us and paced us. We are so proud of Connor for training for the last few months and for running today. It wasn't easy for him but he's a champion.

I wanted to publicly thank Courtney Phillips and other FABA therapists for organizing this group. I hope "MEDICARE FOR AUTISM NOW!" continues to enter other events. We will definitely participate again. It was a gorgeous day.

Thank you!

DeeDee Doyle
deedeedoyle@hotmail.com

[Deleted User]

Face Reader Bridges Autism Gap

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/medtech/0,70655-0.html?tw=rss.technology#

By Eric Smalley| Also by this reporter?02:00 AM Apr, 14, 2006
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts — You are a mind reader, whether you know it or not. You can tell just by looking at a human face whether the person is concentrating, confused, interested or in agreement with you.
But people afflicted by autism lack this ability to ascertain emotional status — it's one of the signature characteristics of the disease. Help could be on the way for autistic individuals, though: A novel computer-vision system developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology could do the mind reading for those who can't.
Two MIT researchers wore tiny cameras mounted on wire rods extending from their chests to demonstrate the Emotional Social Intelligence Prosthetic, or ESP, at the Body Sensor Networks 2006 international workshop at MIT's Media Lab last week. The video cameras captured facial expressions and head movements, then fed the information to a desktop computer that analyzed the data and gave real-time estimates of the individuals' mental states, in the form of color-coded graphs…..

[Deleted User]

I am posting this on behalf of a team I am ordering some stimuli for…

We would like to order some teen appropriate reinforcers from Pottery Barn Teen but they do not deliver to Canada. I mentioned this to someone else who said they thought they had heard of a company that will allow Canadians to mail order American products and have them delivered to the company. You then go across the border to pick them up.

Has anyone heard of this and do you happen to know of any names or info??

Please send any information to Michelle_Karren@hotmail.com

thanks!

[Deleted User]

Upcoming FEAT of BC Senior Workshop:

If you would like to attend this workshop, I would highly advise you send in your registration asap as this workshop is close to full. I am awaiting an update on the numbers of registrations received and once I receive this update, we may close registration. If this is the case we will honor all registrations sent in before the date we close the workshop – meaning if you send your registration now, we will still allow you to register, even if we are technically full.

We look forward to seeing all of you at the workshop.

[Deleted User]

By Myrica Sturrock (Sturrock) on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 – 4:02 pm :
Hello, ??My son is 8 years old and has high-functioning autism/asperger's. We are having trouble with his current school in Cloverdale. The school ….. have set him up for failure. We are fighting the school ….. Does anyone know of any great advocates in the Surrey school district? ….. Is there a parent support group in Surrey? Any suggestions? ??Thanks! ??Myrica

By Nancy Walton (Walton2) on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 – 10:33 pm :
Myrica, and any other Surrey district parents, please e-mail me ??Thanks, ??Nancy Walton

By Wendy Duman (Duman) on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 – 7:57 am :
Hi Myrica: ??My son is also 8-years-old and I believe has a diagnosis such as the one your son has. I live in Langley. ….. Your hunches are right and what they are teaching him. I will help in any way I can. I have been trying to hook up with parents for support. I think this a good way for me to start. Because the plan here is for us to help each other and others. ….?Sincerely, ?Wendy M. Durnan

How I See It All, 45 years on…

I was one of these kids in 1945 when I went to school for the first time and could not understand what the children were doing at 'Play time.' I just adjusted as well as possible — except to homework — I never did adjust to that…

In the 1980's I noticed symptoms of an IBS like condition and gradually became aware of the medical profession's inability to understand it. In the 1990's heavy metal toxicity started to destroy my mind and I had to diagnose it myself in order to find one reliable chelation therapist who saved the day for me. Luckily I'd used chelation for chemical analysis of trace elements in water and watercress from 1957 – 60 so it was easy to understand the use of the technique in the detoxification of a human system.

As symptoms of toxicity returned, slowly, 4 to 8 months after chelation had worked a small miracle on my memory and cognition it became necessary to search for a solution: which at that time seemed to be a few hundred micrograms of selenium and perhaps 200 milligrams of zinc a day along with multivitamins — between three week courses of chelation twice a year or so. It kept me alive and reasonably healthy.

When my heart got clogged up in 2003 my daughter took me straight to the doctor. My medical research lab tech work of the 1960's told me to cooperate and my experience of the limitations of modern medicine told me to cross over to traditional nutrition; exercise and modern supplements as soon as possible after surgery. The nutrition and chelation were much more successful this time as understanding of those fields has improved. I was able to think and remember well enough to diagnose my own austism by 2005, with the help of the Autism Research Institute <http://www.autismwebsite.com/ari/index.htm> diagnostic checklist. Then on to attack that problem: carefully. The surgery was very successful, too.

Some ARI doctors and researchers were leaders in the struggle to bring behavioural analysis to the treatment of autism 25 years ago. As far as I can understand the situation they became dissatisfied with the excruciatingly slow progress made by most patients and with the 50% success rate: an excellent outcome at that time but not good enough to rest on their laurels; especially when some of their own children became autistic and did not necessarily respond to treatment in the way they might have wished.

They have not thrown the Applied Behavioural Analysis baby out with the bathwater. They have kept the ABA baby and nurtured it, changing the bath and the water step by step, too.

Now they are successfully communicating across their various disciplines and beginning to test the metabolism of the children as part of the evaluation of their condition. Typically: ABA therapy is started for enough hours each week to result in real progress. When a benchmark of rate and kind of progress has been established a course of bio-chemical therapy, medical treatment, is tried out in line with test results. Often chelation of heavy metals or vitamin B + magnesium therapy is tried TOGETHER WITH the ABA treatment. Belt & braces; wheel club, alarm & immobiliser !

Results are very often a good recovery in half the time; not always, of course: some children just do not seem to respond very well. Is it scientifically proven ? Not yet — no. The ARI style of treatment combines ABA therapy, which is now scientifically well proven, with useful, practical medical treatments (of metabolic function) that are being applied in what may be viewed as scientifically controlled field trials. The evidence is being put together and carefully documented. The trials are practical in that they are based on medical test results and tried out on the basis of usefulness. If they work they are kept going. If they don't work they are dropped after a proper trial. If they make the condition worse they are dropped quickly; though it is hoped that the reason for failure can be determined to help design the next trial.

That is my perspective. Please use your own judgment for your own use of the knowledge: if possible with the cooperation of your own doctors and therapists. Video conferencing with DAN ! & ARI doctors seems to be proceeding in some States of the Union to the south of us and can be made available abroad if I am not mistaken. Video conferencing is now just about free of charge beyond the monthly net access subscription but the consultation would need to be paid for.

Two full conferences and many publications are available on the website.

Getting ABA therapy accepted is still a long, hard fight. The combination of ABA with medical tests and treatment is going to be harder because it involves multidisciplines and breaking down territories; it shines a light into many other difficult health problems; it threatens established channels of power and cash flow… and we are a good 50 years behind the times in BC. I waited about six months before writing this — I hope the time taken has made the argument presentable ?

Keep fighting — knowledge is mightier than either sword or bureaucracy,

George Wade

[Deleted User]

FREE Computers

***********

Hey Guys —

I am writing to let you know about a neutral Foundation that is dedicated to providing all BC charities, families and schools in need with current day technology, free of charge!

This Foundation is called BC Digital Divide Foundation (http://www.bcdigitaldivide.org/); their positioning: "An organization devoted to giving every person an equal opportunity to achieve greatness in an increasingly technological world. They are great as they make sure that end users (family, school, charity) receive equipment that is fully set up and functional.

Specifically, BC Digital Divide guaranties that the hard drives are cleaned and scrubbed of any data, install new licensed software (Microsoft donates copies of older versions of software, etc.) and make sure that the whole package (17" monitor, CPU, mouse, printer) is in good order and ready to go. They also let you choose between IBM and MAC, and even have some laptops and PDAs…

So you will have to log on and fill out a "new application". These guys are great — and are personally dedicated to getting old machines out of the corporate junk rooms or landfill sites and into the hands of those that need them most. They receive no money, often this volunteering costs them in gas, rentals and time. When applying I would present your case in a story format and explain the details of your personal situation. These folks are technologists with big hearts and know nothing of Autism, it's treatment or trials. But they have huge hearts and have been overwhelmed with the corporate donation response to their program.

I highly encourage you all to apply to this Foundation (see on-line application at: http://www.bcdigitaldivide.org/recipient.html), as they receive far more donations that they can currently store.

Regards, and Gook Luck!

Tamara

[Deleted User]

Re: filing taxes for those working on home based programs (BI's/instructors/therapists/tutors etc).

You are self-employed. You contract your services to families. As a self-employed individual, you are responsible for giving those you contract to a receipt each month, and keeping a copy for yourself. At the end of the the year, you can easily do up a yearly total from these receipts and have the family sign this.

As a self-employed individual your taxes are not deducted from your paycheck so depending on your total income, you may need to pay your taxes at the end of the year. Although this can be a slight disadvantage, the advantages of being self-employed are great.

When you are self-employed you can write off your cell phone, electronic purchases that are work related, toy purchases that are work related and other various work expenses. Track your mileage because you can make claims for this as well. If you do a significant amount of work from home you can qualify for some deductions based on your using your home as an office. You can also claim work related training workshop, conferences etc.

Hope that helps?

[Deleted User]

One more detail about FEAT of BC workshops…

Did you know that workshops presented by FEAT of BC are fundraisers for our advocacy work? Did you know that the proceeds of those workshops go towards funding various FEAT of BC activities? Did you know that the FEAT of BC executive is 100% volunteer driven by parents who currently run full time ABA programs in their homes, often work full time jobs and then spend their FREE time licking envelopes, phoning politicians, writing letters and fighting for their children?

When you attend a FEAT of BC workshop, led by myself and Theresa, you help to support the work of FEAT of BC. You allow parents to continue to have a voice to fight for their children.

We (Michelle and Theresa) want to thank you for the support you offer FEAT of BC through these workshops. Each one of our workshops this year has sold out! In fact our intermediate workshop was slightly over our intended registration numbers as a result of receiving an influx of registration through the mail a few days before the workshop.

Your registration will keep FEAT of BC strong and active. Thank you!

[Deleted User]

FEAT of BC is pleased to announce the upcoming and much awaited Senior Instructor Workshop.

This workshop is intended for those currently working as Senior Instructors/Team Leaders/Case Managers or for those who are currently training with the intention of becoming Senior Instructors. This workshop is also open for all parents running an ABA program.

Applied Behavior Analysis allows us to effectively teach new skills through the application of a scientific approach to understanding behavior. This highly effective and scientifically proven approach is not limited to teaching children with autism. In fact, we can apply this same understanding to effective team training and management.

This workshop will focus on the application of ABA to training, team management and motivation. Many senior instructors find themselves in the role of "team manager" because they have seniority or because they are willing to do the job. Many of these seniors find they can write an STO or lead a team meeting but when it comes to training and overall team management they feel unprepared. At this workshop, we will discuss and role play ways to effectively encourage our team, shape staff behavior, build team knowledge and skill levels while ensuring high quality, consistent therapy delivery. The workshop will be based on scientifically proven approaches from the literature.

This workshop uses a highly interactive format. We focus on role-playing and brainstorming as well as open discussion.

Registration can be found at http://www.featbc.org/downloads/sbtw.pdf

This workshop has been offerred privately in the past and has sold out each time. FEAT of BC is pleased to be able to bring this workshop to the community for the first time. Please register early to avoid disappointment.

Please note that:
-this workshop will not cover basic terminology or concepts. We assume a level of shared knowledge at this workshop and in order to meet the needs of the Seniors that come to our workshop, we will not be spending time reviewing terminology.
-this workshop is not intended for those who wish to strengthen their skills as line instructors or for SEA's. This workshop will solely focus on team managemetn issues.
-Parents are ALWAYS welcome at our workshops, regardless of experience. We will do our best to assist you through any areas that you are unfamiliar with.

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