[Deleted User]

My bad.

You obviously misunderstood my message – or decidedly read your own agenda into it.

I whole heartedly disagree with the idea of culture. I assumed any simpleton could aquire a dictionary and find the word "culture".

Culture: A people’s culture includes their beliefs, rules of behavior, language, rituals, art, technology, styles of dress, ways of producing and cooking food, religion, and political and economic systems.

Obviously this term does not apply. Further, a culture is self sufficient and largely (sorry for the bluntness) most of the Autistic "Culture" at this time is not. Presently this "culture" relys on "our culture" for their sustinance.

Final note: Again I refer to board rules… I assumed they were applicable to everyone, just not those whose mandates we disagree with.

I did not say this was a Dem Rep issue. I said the term is used in the US as a derogatory term for those who think that the gov. should cover ANYONE medically. Both in Canada and the US.

You also failed to mention, unless you are on Medicade (poverty level) the U.S. gov. does NOT cover "all" treatment in the U.S. regardless of IDEA and ADA, and their treatment and funding for medicade families is selective at best.

These laws change by state and county (I do know as I hold dual citizenship). Also, ones personal insurance (at $500 per mo. )may cover what you need but that in itself is selective and you must not mention the word "autistic". In addition, not all treatments are covered.

Further… what the heck does same sex have to do with ABA? I mean really, if you want to make a point talk about free heroine, thats a medical issue…

Rehab 8% success rate
ABA 50%

There is a figure worth printing and worth writing the papers about!

[Deleted User]

Stephen,

Moonbats you may think is a great phrase but…

After living in the United States for many years, it is a phrase that most Republican Conservatives use to describe Canadians and Democrats that want their government to pay for healthcare (of which they call a "Liberal" mentality). Google for more information.

Therefore, the phrase incites personal ire.

As for discussing, as I have said the rules were posted ABA discussion only. This is not ABA or I would gladly and with fervour – as I have done (and been blasted for doing so) post my opinion.

[Deleted User]

I would love to respond but discussion rules were clearly posted on the board.

2) Personal attacks are not permissible in the
FEAT BC Discussion Group. We respect all
opinions even if we disagree with them.

ie: Moonbats.

6) The FEAT BC Discussion Group has been
designed to discuss any topic relevant to
home-based A.B.A. programs (including
Government funding and school issues).
When we use the term A.B.A., we mean
discrete-trial-based interventions, also
referred to as "Applied Behaviour Analysis" or
"Lovaas-type" Intensive Behavioural Treatment
for autism and related disorders. This is not
an appropriate forum to discuss the latest,
unscientific 'cure of the day.' If you would like to discuss alternative autism treatment
options, please use the discussion forum
hosted by the Autism Society of B.C, at
http://www.autismbc.ca, or the THE AUTISM
MAIL LIST. To subscribe, send an email
to:listserv@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU.
Leave the subject line blank and in the body
type SUBSCRIBE AUTISM [firstname
lastname]

Do these apply to this situation or am I able to post my opinion?

[Deleted User]

ASBC|North Sore Lecture Series
Meeting Tonight, Monday March 14, 2005 on

“Video Modeling Across the Spectrum: What is it,
how can it help my child master skills and concepts,
and how do you do it?!?”

Presenter: Tamara Leger

Peter J Peters Room
West Van Memorial Library
1950 Marine Drive/22nd

7-9:30pm

Please note that this is the second last session in
the ASBC|North Shore Lecture Series this Session.
The group will break after April’s presentation and
reconvene in September at a new location, under
the management and direction of new facilitators.

Entrance is by donation; coffee and donuts provided.
We will help you slay your giant.

Tamara & Anissa

[Deleted User]

I share your frustration David. But let me just say to everyone, all the MORE reason to attend workshops such as this in the U.S. We must learn about laws such as those in the U.S. because the onus is on us to force the political powers to create similar laws here. I think we have all learned that no one will save our children just because it is the right thing to do. No, we must force them to do what is right.

Surround yourself with information on what it should be, what it could be. Get frustrated because it will motivate you to say THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

As frustrating at it is Non illigitamus carborundum (Don't let the bastards grind you down)

[Deleted User]

FEAT of Washington

presents

Peter Gerhardt, EdD*

Transition Programming for Adolescents and Adults with ASD

April 23, 2005

9:00am – 4:30pm

University Christian Church

4731 15th Ave. NE (Cor. 15th & 50th)

Seattle, WA

Increasingly, attention is being paid to needs of learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as they enter adolescence and grow into adulthood. Buoyed by the transition requirements of IDEA and equal access legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, professionals, families and learners with ASD are beginning to reconceptualize the transition process in terms of personal competence and satisfaction beyond the classroom; and not simply in terms of vocational training. Where job placement was once considered desirable, now the goal is career development. In place of residential placement, we are now beginning to talk about residential choices in support of quality of life.

This workshop will provide an overview of this movement toward transition planning for competent adulthood. In addition to employment support, attention will be paid to instructional support in the areas of social skills, leisure, sexuality, and quality of life.

*About Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D.

Dr. Gerhardt has over 20 years experience working with learners with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in educational, vocational and/or community settings. He is the author and co-author of articles and book chapters on the needs of adults with ASD, the school-to-work transition process and analysis and intervention of problematic behavior. He has presented nationally and internationally on these topics.

He is currently in private practice and is the Chairperson of the Scientific Council of the Organization for Applied Research (OAR). He is a member of the Advisory Board of several organizations including QUEST Autism Foundation, Queens Services for the Autism Community (QSAC), NJ Council of Outreach and Services to the Autism Community (COSAC), and the Autism Society of America.

Previously Dr. Gerhardt was the Director of the Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism which operates the Martin C. Barrell School in Levittown, NY. He was also a Research Assistant Professor at the Rutgers University Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology with an appointment as the Director of the Division of Transition and Adult Services of the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center. It was in this capacity that he co-founded the Douglass Group, a social skills and support service for adults with Aspergers Disorder or High Functioning Autism.

Dr. Gerhardt received his doctorate from the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education.

Bonus Speaker (1:00-2:00 PM):

Connie Frenzel, R.N., M.S.

ATP Outreach Coordinator

National Alliance for Autism Research

THE AUTISM TISSUE PROGRAM:FROM HOPE TO PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH An update on what brain tissue research is revealing about differences in the brain and how these differences relate to behaviors, language disruption, social challenges, seizures and genetics

Connie is the parent of a 17 yr old with autism and brings an extensive public health nursing background and parent advocacy experience to the program. She founded and directed a home health agency, was a clinical professor in public health nursing, and has authored several articles in gerontology and autism journals.

$65 — FEAT Members

$80 — non-FEAT members

Call 206.763.3373 or email the FEAT office featwa@featwa.org for a registration form

or visit the website http://www.featwa.org

– Registration & continental breakfast begins at 8:00am
– Box lunches provided at noon

[Deleted User]

Has everyone expressed their hurt and anger? I’m posting again… I can just hear the comments about me in the air!

The members of this board are just people, we ALL make mistakes, we all get angry at times and we’ve likely all been hurt at times too. Add in electronic communication variables and parents who are stressed, sad, angry and irritated and frustrated and paying out $40,000 + a year and you have a recipe for flare ups. People say things they don’t mean or flare up in anger and lash out. Can anyone really claim that they’ve never done anything hurtful, whether purposeful or unintentional?

That said I’d love to snag onto something that Stella said and move this conversation into a slightly new direction!

Stella brings up a great point about how some parents are such wonderfully supportive people! What a great opportunity to thank those parents who do extend themselves to new parents, who spend countless hours on the phone helping new parents through each step of the process, answering questions and steering towards information. I don’t know all the parents who are involved in this so forgive me if I’ve excluded you, but thank you Tamara, Sabrina, Jean, Barbara, Bev, Nancy, Jenny – you guys are amazing!!

Its not easy to open up one’s life to every new parent that has questions. As an extremely private person (mostly) I find that aspect very difficult and am so amazed how easy it is for these women. Many of us do not like to open up and share about our programs, our children’s progress or our consultants. Some, like me, find this to be a very painful process. And some like me, after having so many therapists walk in and out of their home feel a great need to keep some aspects of our life private. So for this reason, I am amazed and thankful that we have so many wonderful parents who are ready and willing to share, who can step in and take the time to answer all those questions.

Some of these amazing, open, supportive people (ahhh, ya, not me!) will be participating in a panel discussion for new and “old-timer” parents at the workshop this Saturday. Those of you with questions or who are just getting started will find this to be a very informative discussion. Collectively, these parents have been through it all and are passionately committed to sharing their ups and downs with everyone.

But if you are like me and are not comfortable being questioned or are just not the “supportive” type, no worries, there is a job for you too! We all have a role to play in this community. Political lobbying, workshop organization, political lobbying, and working towards improvements and standards in the field are just a few areas that can always use assistance. Did I mention political lobbying?

See you all this weekend, just don’t ask me to share my personal life :-)

Michelle

[Deleted User]

at the risk of being told I like the sound of my own voice or that I am insulting someone, I will just state one more time, the purpose of this board is to discuss ABA. While I can not speak for the rest of the group, because guess what, we are all INDIVIDUALS, there is no conspiracy or hierarchy among any of us, we are NOT saying you do not have the right to search nor are we saying that you shouldn't search through alternatives, what we are saying is that this IS NOT the space to do that search.

We are not arguing that some views are better than others, we are not squashing or restricting your searches, we are not saying you have to do ABA, we are not saying that you shouldn't try other therapies… what we are saying is that this forum has certain restrictions, we try very hard to keep this board limited to that for reasons that we have tried to explain.

Its a shame that people do have to get so upset and angry because a board that has certain parameters in its discussions doesn't include their topic of interest. This board has never claimed to be an open forum for discussions of Autism issues, it is a place to discuss Applied Behavior Analysis.

One person commented in a way that has offended a few of you and perhaps in our attempts to explain the board, others worded things in ways that unintentionally offended you. That is a shame because we as participants do sincerly welcome your discussions of ABA. I am merely a participant here, I don't set the rules, I have no say in what can and can not be discussed so please don't use my words as the position of this board as ammunition to insult the positions of this board.

I'll say it again, you are free to discuss any of those topics that fall outside of these boundaries on the BC Autism chat board at any time, and many will be happy to discuss these issues with you there.

The one or two or even three people who offended you are simply participants. We are not a collective group. And please remember that while they offended you, your words of attack may be making others who have not attacked you feel exactly the same.

[Deleted User]

Hello everybody
I am certainly what's has been referred to here as a "veteran" having had an ABA program for over 7 years with my son who will be turning 13 this month. At one time I was also very involved in Feat activities including organizing workshops, presenting briefs prepared by feat administration at my local school board and also to my MLA. 4,000 envelopes were stuffed and sent from my home to doctors in BC with information about early autism diagnosis. I also spoke to many families with newly diagnosed children and many of them came to my home and observed my child in therapy. I know this was helpful to those of them who chose the path of ABA treatment for their child. When my father passed away in 1999 we requested donations be made to FeatBC in his memory. This was how strong my affiliation was with Feat and it's members. Many of the members were also my personal friends until…. In 2001 I attended an ASAT (Association for Science in Autism Treatment) conference in San Diego which is the exact same association co-presenting with FeatBC and ASBC for the up coming conference. It was there that I heard and met an amazing ABA Consultant who made so much sense in his presentation and our following discussions I knew that I had to pursue his services as a consultant for my child. The "bona-fide" Lovaas consultants we had used until this time had either run out of ideas or were guessing at the programming. My son was not making great progress nor maintaining previously "mastered" skills. There was very little if any data taken by therapists under the direction of these consultants except anecdotal. I want to emphasis that these are the very same consultants that featbc still recommends to new members today. Other Feat members then retained the services of the consultant that I met in SanDiego and are confident that this was a great turning point in their child's programming. Many of these parents had also been using Feat approved "bona-fide" Lovaas consultants but felt that their child had more potential and could be doing better. We brought the discussion here to the feat chat about our fluency based ABA programs. Many of the these families were excommunicated from posting on the Feat chat because of their insistence on discussing "non Lovaas" ABA. ABA but not "Lovaas ABA". I too am shocked that new families with legitimate questions and concerns are ganged up on by "veterans" of FeatBC and this board.
I've said it before but think it's worth saying again: Don't we all have more in common as parents of autistic children than differences? And don't we have enough problems without attacking one another and being hurtful – particularly with new members?
Nancy Walton wrote:
There is a lot of pseudo-science out there. Parent testimonials, claims, philosophically good ideas. But until there is a control group-treatment group study done on the treatment, it is still "unscientific".
Nancy and anyone else who truly believes this, there will NEVER be a control group-treatment group study done on ABA treatment. It would be unethical to do so. Open your minds to ABA treatment and methods supported by single subject research and all that it can offer our children with autism. Even the local "bona-fide" ABA consultants use fluency based instruction, errorless learning, verbal behavior and other ABA methods in the programs they design for their clients. Based on previous posts on this site it seems anything is legitimate as long as you call it "Lovaas style". It’s okay though, because they have already been designated "bona-fide" Lovaas consultants.
I think it's time that new families are taught the truth about Applied Behavior Analysis. Where it originated (B.F. Skinner not Lovaas) and the different scientifically proven methods that stem from it.
I'm looking forward to seeing many parents and others who work with our children at the Newman/Gerenser/Freeman presentation next week. I have a pretty good idea Freeman stands but it would be interesting to pose some questions to Gerenser and Newman about current studies and practices in ABA.
DeeDee Doyle
deedeedoyle@hotmail.com

[Deleted User]

Rachael,

Thank you for your input. Actually, I did not ask regarding MMR. Both my son's have been vaccinated although the youngest more than the eldest.

I responded to a post regarding vaccination and I still stand by my response. If I had known then, what I know now I would have made different decisions. I did not suggest NOT vaccinating, I suggested that the poster ensure that the vaccination is mercury free,(as this has been available for over 2 years in Canada) or wait or esure the child has an acceptible immune system etc. This is a logical suggestion, regardless of Autism.

Further, I again reiterate what I said, I personally, fully endorse and advocate ABA. This does not mean that I will not look into other areas. As Canada is considered one of the most conservative first world countries regarding its medical research I prefer to investigate other sources. One may consider this is "crap" but then again I consider their opinion "crap" – we are even.

As for the "toughening up" I find it sad that to ask for support from other parents in this situation is considered "weak". Trust me a few school pricipals, teachers and dipwads in government are appetizers for me. Nor did I realize that there was a hierarchy in FEAT members and that was a reflection on the validity of opinions. Weakness to me is not having the strength to put oneself on the line, and bucking the status quo (I believe that is what we are doing now isn't it?).

One very good thing has come from this exchange. There are some people who have personally e-mailed me that are very respectful of my thoughts, process and opinions, offering support regardless of their agenda. They have helped me get in contact with my local representative, fight for ours and our child's rights regarding the funding of ABA and have instructed me on how to be part of the solution and not the problem.

[Author]

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