[Deleted User]

What I would like to know is why the anonymous "ABA ???" person hired for the Anonymous school board is either too ashamed or too embarrassed to give her name, and why she feels she must hide behind an ANONYMOUS label? I certainly do not want anyone who is too ashamed or too embarrassed, by the view they advocate, to even sign their own name to their views to be working with my child. Perhaps ANONYMOUS "ABA ???" would like to email me and explain her motives in remaining ANONYMOUS, as I am certainly interested in knowing the answer.

[Deleted User]

Dear Anon-EA:

If you have been a therapist for 3 years, then you should know that being a therapist for 3 years does not give you the credentials to "implement ABA in the classroom" unless it is under the direct supervision of a qualified Lovaas-ABA consultant who has decided you have the training necessary for the particular child in question.

Second, I do not have a clue what you mean by being hired to "mediate between the school board and ABA," as that phrase has no meaning. If you mean to mediate between the school board and the parents of a child under an ABA program, then again, that is something you could only do if the child's consultant approves of it.

I hope you understand you are effectively planning to practice medicine after a year of pre-med classes. You aren't ready to go solo on this one, and it can only lead to grief, your enthusiasm notwithstanding.

Please understand when I say this that I mean it with all due respect to your enthusiasm and caring nature — if you are working in my school district, you will be barred from having any contact with my child whatsoever, until such
time as my child's consultant feels you are going to be a useful and fully trained addition to her treatment team.

[Deleted User]

In response to your questions and statements,

I will respond to those of you who were solution-orientated and used conflict resolution to get information; however, I simply don't have the time or the energy to respond to those of you who did not.

I am a woman with a BA in French, Eng, and Educational Pysch from SFU. I have been an ABA therapist for almost 3 years now. I was recently hired by the school board, as I see it, to mediate between the school board and ABA as well as to implement ABA into the classroom. I have attempted to educate the principal(who by the way is moving on to the school board and I hope will advocate ABA at that level :)), and many other teachers about ABA and it's tremendous medical benifits for your children.

I will not argue with you guys. I am on your side! I absolutely agree that it should not be the school board's decision that ABA be implemented, I agree with many other comments that were made. It is ablolutely unfair the way you have been treated; unfortunatly the reality is that at this point the school boards seem to have control, is that their fault, I don't know?All I'm saying is that they are not all bad. They seem open to hearing about ABA for the most part but some may have been jaded by parents/ABA advocates that have been rude to them. I will repeat myself, I'm on your side, simply giving you some helpful advice 'cause I've experienced the school board's position. If you choose to follow it fine, if not, that's your decision. I will repeat my original email. I understand your anger, I feel it myself, but in order to help our children we may need to use some conflict resolution.

Thankyou for considering this instead of taking offence.

[Deleted User]

Dear Anonymous (newly hired ABA EA),

I, too, bring experience from the school system – lots of it. My perspective is different than yours. With all due respect, I would like to hear your perspective a year from now when you have had a chance to live the school experience. I am a former teacher, school and district administrator and I, too, understand the district position on making decisions re: appropriate programs for our kids. I, too, know many wonderful teachers and support personnel who truly care about the children in their care and want to "make a difference" in their lives. The reality is that what they can do for our kids, under the current "system" restrictions is not enough, not informed and not effective.

As an ABA trained person, you know how very critical it is to our kids that an individual program based on their specific learning needs is put in place for them from the first day of school. You know that consistency is critical for real progress. You know that home and school programs must be completely in sync, that data must be taken and that programs must be constantly and deliberately moved ahead to keep our kids learning and being successful. You understand that the "behaviours" in ABA are about everything our kids do to learn everything they learn – language, academics, self-help, social skills, as well as maladaptive behaviours. These are complicated programs put together by skilled and experienced consultants who know our kids behaviours well and who believe they can learn. Our IEPs need to be specific, measurable, and comprehensive. Home and school programs are woven together. Separating the two is ineffective and, worse, counterproductive. Left to well-intentioned situations our kids, at best, spin their wheels and , at worst, regress.

The reality of school systems is that unions decided who will and will not work with our kids. The "resource teacher" is assigned to a school and in all likelihood knows precious little about autism and has more likely than not received training from resource programs and people who know nothing about or oppose ABA. These folks are great human beings; they just do not have the skills necessary to oversee our programs. They are not and cannot be experts in all special needs. They do not have the time needed to support our kids. We do not have the time to wait for them to get "up to speed". Those of us who have managed to get cooperation from the district in having a home-program person in school with our kids, do not use the services of the resource teachers. Our kids are on their case loads but get no service from them.

TAs/SEAs are assigned on a seniority basis, too. Are they trainable? – maybe. Do our kids have time to wait for that to happen? – absolutely not. Might they be bumped tomorrow or choose to move on for "more hours" and "less demanding programs"? – it happens all the time. Start over every year, or god forbid, many times a year? – untenable. The system is set up like that. It is my experience that TAs have often not even seen the IEPs for the students they support. Regardless of how well intentioned these folks are, they are not serving the very specific learning needs of our kids.

Parents must be the advocates for their kids. Our job as parents of children with autism is huge. We are already providing the consultant wisdom, the program, the IEP, the trained, skilled therapist and, very often, the materials. All we are asking is an inclusive attitude and environment and financial and morale support for a program that works. The courts have ruled, the gig is up and we are not going back. It is time for the system to open the doors, realize the enormous wealth of expertise, experience and passion that ABA consultants and families bring, recognize the results our programs get and do what is right.

Oh, and be polite about it? No problem.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I’m an EA that has recently been hired by an unnamed school board to work in their district implementing ABA programming. I decided to write an anonymous letter to the parents of children with autism who want ABA in the school system. I think that there is a few things you guys should know in order to help further your cause. Please do not take this as an attack but as some helpful advice on a very difficult and frustrating journey. I know how upsetting it must be to sit by and watch while the districts are so slow to implement ABA; however, you must realize their position in the matter. They cannot blindly cater to specialized programs like ABA because if they did, they would be inundated with parents advocating many other programs. They are a governing facility; and as such, must govern what comes in and what does not. After having met some of the individuals involved in the decision making process, I assure you that the decision that is made, whether it is to implement ABA or not, will be the best one for the children based on the funding available and many other factors that influence such a weighty decision. I like the way that many people in this chat room appear to be proactive in attempting to educate the school board and do not seem to be belittling anyone. This needs to be done so that the school boards can make a decision as to whether or not they will implement ABA. My concern is that there have been some parents who are so frustrated with what is happening that they have not been using conflict resolution to solve the problem. Instead of being solution-orientated and working cooperatively with the district, they have accused individuals of not caring about the children and have said many other nasty things. Please don’t take offence at this, I’m know that many people affiliated with the school districts understand and respect the fact that you only want what’s best for your child and will stop at nothing to get it; however, if we want the districts to implement ABA we must do so with respect for the institutions that are in place or else we will only encounter stronger walls set up against us. Kill `em with kindness.

Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I’m an EA that has recently been hired by an unnamed school board to work in their district implementing ABA programming. I decided to write an anonymous letter to the parents of children with autism who want ABA in the school system. I think that there is a few things you guys should know in order to help further your cause. Please do not take this as an attack but as some helpful advice on a very difficult and frustrating journey. I know how upsetting it must be to sit by and watch while the districts are so slow to implement ABA; however, you must realize their position in the matter. They cannot blindly cater to specialized programs like ABA because if they did, they would be inundated with parents advocating many other programs. They are a governing facility; and as such, must govern what comes in and what does not. After having met some of the individuals involved in the decision making process, I assure you that the decision that is made, whether it is to implement ABA or not, will be the best one for the children based on the funding available and many other factors that influence such a weighty decision. I like the way that many people in this chat room appear to be proactive in attempting to educate the school board and do not seem to be belittling anyone. This needs to be done so that the school boards can make a decision as to whether or not they will implement ABA. My concern is that there have been some parents who are so frustrated with what is happening that they have not been using conflict resolution to solve the problem. Instead of being solution-orientated and working cooperatively with the district, they have accused individuals of not caring about the children and have said many other nasty things. Please don’t take offence at this, I’m know that many people affiliated with the school districts understand and respect the fact that you only want what’s best for your child and will stop at nothing to get it; however, if we want the districts to implement ABA we must do so with respect for the institutions that are in place or else we will only encounter stronger walls set up against us. Kill `em with kindness.

Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this.

[Deleted User]

As usual, the FEAT chat is alive and well with the exchange
of opinions. I would just like to add my three cents to some
of the recent comments. As one of the posters said, I quote
from the previous conversation not to criticize, but to reply:

"but there is one thing I do know. Until our current
provincial government started the IEII program a year ago
— with all its flaws and imperfections — there was
NOTHING for ABA funding. Now there is SOMETHING. That
something is not enough for some, but it is better than
nothing. For my own part I can plainly say this: It has saved
my son."

Note 1: The current provincial government had to be
dragged kicking and screaming to do anything, and they
are still being dragged. And make no mistake that they did
anything out of concern for our kids — they did and are
doing their pitiful excuse for funding because they are still
fighting us in court, and they have to make some pretense
of complying with existing judgements — which they
haven't, of course. And you are only partially correct that it
is "not enough for some" — it is not enough for ANYONE.
They do not pay 25% of surgery for birth defects like cleft
palates, they don't pay 25% for cancer treatment, and they
have no business or excuse paying 25% for medically-
necessary, judicially-ordered autism treatment.

"it is important that we give credit where it is due. Our
current situation is better than it was 18 months ago (even
for school-age children, although barely)."

So let's give credit where credit is due — and it's due to the
families who put their last energy, time, and money into
fighting this government and the last one on behalf of all
our children. Without those parents, and especially Sabrina
and Jean, NONE of our children would be getting anything
today. Yes, even 25%.

"When people make comments like "we've hit a new low"
when in fact things are slowly but surely improving — such
changes are never fast enough for those waiting for them
— it does nothing to assist the cause. On the contrary I
believe such comments, because they are emotional but not
factual, actually undermine the credibility of those fighting
to make real gains."

I'm sorry, but that is a polyannaesque statement which I
dearly wish was true, but is actually wishful thinking. If
things are slowly improving, it is only because of parents
willing to stand up and fight — loudly, strongly, and yes,
even with hyperbole at times. It sends the government the
only message that matters — that we are not going to go
away, that we are going to fight for our children's rights no
matter how long it takes, and that we will be here come
next election, so expose their lies and discrimination
against our kids in the same way we did last time.

"In the same way that it is so painful to listen to politicians
after they have fallen from grace and been voted out, no
matter how valid their current point may be: because they
have lost their credibility."

You mean like Joy MacFail, who spit on us for years while in
power, and who is now somehow trying to weasel her way
into our good graces in hopes of becoming the next
premier? Not to worry — we'll remind the voters at the
right time about her, too.

"May God grant me the strength to change what I can, the
serenity to accept what I cannot, and the wisdom to know
the difference."

Absolutely correct. But never forget that Boss Hogg with his
electric scooter in the legislature halls would like to
convince us that we cannot change the status quo for our
kids. Of course, we know different.

Oh, and Deb, you were absolutely right — perhaps if
elephants got autism we'd get more respect.

[Deleted User]

What? Not a new low? Well this isn't a high point that is for sure.
If you leave the lower Mainland and head out into the hinterlands of our province you will find no shortage of Doctors who don't know squat about treating autism and i mean every Doctor within many communities. There are also many children who are younger or older than 6 who got ripped off, they were underdiagnosed, and are going without any treatment in their life. New Community Living Authorities in small communities will have a stranglehold on some autism funds (yes pay that untrained worker $15- union wages to take the kid to the beach or the mall and when the dough runs out see ya kid wait till next year). Parents don't know what ABA is and no one is telling them within their communities. There are school Districts whose cutting edge autism service is sensory integration. Still.
This might not be a new low but for some kids it never got any better, they never got and are not getting a chance at treatment. Change may be happening in the Lower Mainland because of the hard work of many parents and advocates but in small town BC if you are a young child with Autism chances are your funds are spent on maintaining the status quo. Unfortunately ignorant communities make for ignorant parents also.
Sorry for the rant but i see no shortage of kids, suffering from autism, being robbed of any opportunity to recover in our province still. For the kids who have no opportunity, no voice, and no advocate, lets not get too smug just yet.

[Deleted User]

I am the parent in Alberta who won the Court Order for the Director of Child Welfare to fund IBI if in the opinion of the Director, based on all the evidence, it is required until the age of 18 years.

Well the Director has now back-peddled and has been providing funds based on need but only until August 31st. After that who knows as families continue to hang in limbo. Many families don't even know that Alberta Children's Services is now supposedly going to be providing services to children up until the age of 18 years. The irony of this is that Alberta Children's Services has always been providing treatment, if you put your child in an institution.

In my case, the government is using me as an example to scare families off as the Director continues to dish out a little here and there and I am in the process of putting my Affidavit together to throw the Director into contempt.

Families here continue to strive to "change" this. The Court has given the Minister two weeks to provide another parent with a Consent Order or the judge will order the medical therapy. Another parent is in court tomorrow with 4 other parents with dates forthcoming.

Medical therapy is not something that we should be grateful to receive nor should we have to prove, and in court none the less, that our children are entitled to live a life of dignity and reach their fullest potential.

It is unacceptable to not fund medical therapy in its entirety. The Honourable Sullivan made it quite clear that you do not stop an operation half way through. He also called the limited IBI policy and the actions of the Minister as indingeous and deserving of reproach.

You can access my court written reasons on the FEAT of AB website.

Lorraine Stratkotter

[Deleted User]

I am the parent in Alberta who won the Court Order for the Director of Child Welfare to fund IBI if in the opinion of the Director, based on all the evidence, it is required until the age of 18 years.

Well the Director has now back-peddled and has been providing funds based on need but only until August 31st. After that who knows as families continue to hang in limbo. Many families don't even know that Alberta Children's Services is now supposedly going to be providing services to children up until the age of 18 years. The irony of this is that Alberta Children's Services has always been providing treatment, if you put your child in an institution.

In my case, the government is using me as an example to scare families off as the Director continues to dish out a little here and there and I am in the process of putting my Affidavit together to throw the Director into contempt.

Families here continue to strive to "change" this. The Court has given the Minister two weeks to provide another parent with a Consent Order or the judge will order the medical therapy. Another parent is in court tomorrow with 4 other parents with dates forthcoming.

Medical therapy is not something that we should be grateful to receive nor should we have to prove, and in court none the less, that our children are entitled to live a life of dignity and reach their fullest potential.

It is unacceptable to not fund medical therapy in its entirety. The Honourable Sullivan made it quite clear that you do not stop an operation half way through. He also called the limited IBI policy and the actions of the Minister as indingeous and deserving of reproach.

You can access my court written reasons on the FEAT of AB website.

Lorraine Stratkotter

[Author]

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