[Deleted User]

Surrey school district story read below. This is from the Surrey Leader. The link http://www.surreyleader.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=73&cat=23&id=56049

When Louise Sigurdson heard rumours of school staff layoffs last year, she thought her job working with learning disabled students was secure. After all, Surrey school board trustees had assured there would be no cuts to the Learner Support Team (LST) – the team she’s part of as a Special Education Assistant.
Tuesday night, however, she got the call from her union representative. Her job at L.A. Matheson Secondary was being eliminated.
“My concern is what is going to happen to the kids that need that service?” asked Sigurdson last week. “They’re taking the kids that could be contributing members of society and telling them they’re not worth those dollars.”
Sigurdson is one of nearly 140 Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) workers – mostly custodial, maintenance and clerical staff – facing job loss at the end of June.
As reported in The Leader last Wednesday, the Surrey school district announced hundreds of layoffs last week, which also included between 50 and 100 teachers, and a handful of principals and vice-principals.
Trustees blamed the provincial government for the difficult decisions it had to make in shaving $12.8 million to balance its 2003/04 operating budget.
In a report Thursday night, Trustee Shawn Wilson criticized the province’s ongoing demand for reform in the school system.
“While it is necessary to raise the bar, while it is appropriate to raise expectations, it is also necessary to support and resource those who are required to enact desired change,” Wilson said. “It is a sad indictment of the present government that support for the educational agenda is declining while the demand for change is so feverishly accelerating.”
Surrey/Green Timbers MLA Brenda Locke said the province is trying to change what she acknowledges is a “systemic problem,” but says the district knew the numbers long ago.
“The actual dollars Surrey got came as no surprise to them at all – nor should they have,” said Locke, referring to three-year funding that’s provided by Victoria.
She pointed out Surrey’s budget increased by $5 million and said the local district is actually benefiting from other areas’ decline in enrolment.
“I find it a little bit difficult to accept … there has to be acknowledgement of the fact that other districts are facing closing schools.”
Parent Elaine Bigford, whose 14-year-old autistic son goes to L.A. Matheson, was stunned at the loss of Sigurdson, who daily works one-on-one with her son.
While district staff promised that her son and any other autistic kids would be assigned an assistant, Bigford said such changes cause great upheaval.
“If Thomas was to get a new person tomorrow, he would be devastated,” she said, adding it took three months to get used to Sigurdson. “He wouldn’t understand. Thomas loves her, she’s like a second mother.”
The district is, in fact, adding the equivalent of nine new LST positions district-wide. But teacher Dawn Carson says it doesn’t make up for the loss of teaching assistants.
“That’s not a balance,” said the L.A. Matheson teacher. “Louise is our one constant. The kids will suffer … for some, it means they succeed or they don’t.”
Susan Zander, president of CUPE local 728, calls the major layoffs “devastating,” saying the union knew there’d be cuts, but didn’t think they be as deep. She has additional concerns about the significant reductions in custodial service.
“I don’t understand how schools can be maintained in a clean and safe manner,” said Zander, referring to the recent outbreak of Norwalk virus at local schools. “The custodians worked very hard cleaning during that time.”
Trustee Mary Polak said Thursday the changes would not have been considered if there was any indication students would not be safe.
School libraries are also taking a big hit, with secondary school teacher-librarians forced to teach one class outside the library.
Added to preparation time, it means librarians will spend 25 per cent of their time out of the library, which will be closed for a quarter of the day. The equivalent of about 10 librarian positions are also being cut at the elementary level.
A minimum of 45 teachers will remain laid off this fall, a figure that could rise substantially if fewer than the 650 new students anticipated arrive in Surrey schools. Class sizes in Grades 4 though 12 are being increased by an average of one student, accounting for the bulk of the teacher cuts.
Surrey Teachers’ Association president John Wadge said Thursday it was a “dark day for Surrey schools.”
“We are ever less able to put learners at the centre,” he said. “But I don’t think it’s over and I for one am not willing to give up.”
He called on the school board to join the teachers’ union in a trip to Victoria to demand a meeting with local MLAs and education minister Christy Clark.
Trustee Terry Allen, along with other trustees, looked morose Thursday as they presented the budget and layoff figures. He pointed to the ironic nature of the government’s mandate to improve student achievement.
“This is the very same government that has failed to fund this school district.”

[Deleted User]

Is anyone homeschooling their child with autism? Is it easy to start? I have alot of questions, if anyone that is doing this could e-mail directly at mommy_70@hotmail.com–
A mom who is considering this.
I know this is off topic

[Deleted User]

Homeschooling an option becoming more common.Here is a great site on the subject http://www.paulbunyan.net/users/Academy/autism01.htm I bring this up as a parent of a child with autism as it gives us all contuinal parental choices. Especially those of us with older kids.

It's an option.

[Deleted User]

From: Darla Steffen
Subject: ONTARIO HUMAN RIGHTS
—————————————————

I just received a response from the Ministry of Community Family and =
Children's Services regarding discrimination against my autistic son, =
specifically in regards to IBI treatment, and through the Ontario Human =
Rights Commission. The MCFCS denied discrimination under the Human =
Rights codes section 1, 10 and 47 which state "Every person has a right =
to equal treatment, with respect to services without discrimination =
because of handicap". Section 10 of the code states "because of =
handicap…a condition of mental retardation or impairment, a learning =
disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in =
understanding or using symbols or spoken language." Section 47 of the =
code states "This Act binds the Crown and every agency of the Crown." I =
need help responding to the Ministries refusal to fund my son's IBI =
treatment, mostly because they are even denying IBI or ABA is the best =
treatment for ALL autistic children. They also stated that ABA is a =
recent approach to treating autism, when in fact it has been evolving =
for almost 50 years! They have also stated that only very young =
children can benefit from ABA treatment. We started Lovaas style ABA =
when my son was 5 1/2 years old, then switched to Verbal Behaviour a =
year ago. At age 5 1/2 years, my son was like a little "Helen Keller". =
He had no speech, no social or grooming skills, and no play skills. =
Today, he speaks up to 6 word sentences, constantly mands for the =
attention of his peers and his brother, reads writes and spells on a =
grade 1-2 level, and can play independently or with others =
appropriately. He is in a typical grade 4 class with a full-time EA who =
had no idea how to teach an autistic child, but allowed me to bring in =
my own staff of therapists to school for a carry-over of school and home =
teaching strategies based on ABA. The MCFCS states that the IEP is all =
that is needed for a transition from home to school for my son, when in =
fact most IEP's are not followed through, mostly due to lack of training =
for the teachers and EA's. I know this first hand, because as I stated, =
I had to train the EA's and teachers, and I also have recently become an =
EA. We continue to do home VB therapy for 3.5 hours a day and weekends, =
but as most of you know, it is very expensive because of constantly =
training new staff, consultants and seminars, our monthly expense is =
$1500.00 +. Why should decent, tax paying Canadians and Americans, pay =
out of pocket for treatment that is medically necessary for our kids at =
2 years of age or 22 years of age? We have a treatment that helps ALL =
autistic children but we have to sell our souls to get it. =20
I know this is lengthy, but I really need help with a response. Any =
comments are very welcome.
THANKS!!
Darla
(Mom to Ben and Johnathan)

[Deleted User]

Excellent Career Opportunity

I am currently looking for an S.E.A. (Special Education Assistant) to work with my nine (9) year old daughter in the West Vancouver School District.

The successful candidate will initially do home therapy and
will be trained over the course of the next few months as
our child's therapist/aide to work in the school system on a
full-time basis starting in September, 2003.

The successful candidate will:
– possess strong interpersonal skills
– have excellent organizational abilities
– be a good problem solver
– be a committed team player
– be mature and self-motivated
– have reliable transportation
– have English as a first language
– have 6 months to 1 year experience as a junior therapist
on a Lovaas-style ABA team directed by a bonifide
Lovaas behavioural consultant
– have long term career goals in this or a related field.

This is an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate or an
individual in their fourth year of an undergraduate
programme who wants practical experience in applied
psychology prior to entering graduate school.

We require a minimum committment of two years as the
aide/therapist in the school system starting in Septmeber,
2003.

All necessary training will be provided.

Please call 604-926-7831 or page @ 604-320-6165 for more information.

[Deleted User]

ABA SQUARED – MORE FUN THAN A TWO RINGED CIRCUS!!

Fun loving, hard working and energetic therapists required…

We are in the process of getting underway with not one, but two ABA programs for our boys, ages five and nine.

Both boys are mildly affected with Autism. They are great kids who are fully conversational (wow can they talk!!). They both have a keen sense of humour and love to have fun. Although the use of discreet trials will make up a portion of the program the emphasis will not be on discreet trials, but rather applying behavioural principles Lovaas ABA curriculum to teaching my children.

Although each child's program has a different focus, key elements for one or both of the programs include; social skills and relationship training, life skills and independence, peer and sibling play, academic/homework/music practice support, organizational skills, and self regulation and self esteem building. During the summer there will be lots of community-based activities, particularly for the nine year old (who likes "extreme" sports like mountain biking, skateboarding, rock climbing, roller blading etc.)

We are working with EAP under the guidance of Jennifer Newland and Michele Shilvock. We live on the bus route in West Vancouver. Qualified ABA team experience and/or education background, drivers licence and vehicle are not essential but helpful.

If you would like to join our team, please e-mail your resume with a contact number to abasquared@hotmail.com

[Deleted User]

ABA SQUARED – MORE FUN THAN A TWO RINGED CIRCUS!!

Fun loving, hard working and energetic therapists required…

We are in the process of getting underway with not one, but two ABA programs for our boys, ages five and nine.

Both boys are mildly affected with Autism. They are great kids who are fully conversational (wow can they talk!!). They both have a keen sense of humour and love to have fun. Although the use of discreet trials will make up a portion of the program the emphasis will not be on discreet trials, but rather applying behavioural principles Lovaas ABA curriculum to teaching my children.

Although each child's program has a different focus, key elements for one or both of the programs include; social skills and relationship training, life skills and independence, peer and sibling play, academic/homework/music practice support, organizational skills, and self regulation and self esteem building. During the summer there will be lots of community-based activities, particularly for the nine year old (who likes "extreme" sports like mountain biking, skateboarding, rock climbing, roller blading etc.)

We are working with EAP under the guidance of Jennifer Newland and Michele Shilvock. We live on the bus route in West Vancouver. Qualified ABA team experience and/or education background, drivers licence and vehicle are not essential but helpful.

If you would like to join our team, please e-mail your resume with a contact number to abasquared@hotmail.com

[Deleted User]

ABA SQUARED – MORE FUN THAN A TWO RINGED CIRCUS!!

Fun loving, hard working and energetic therapists required…

We are in the process of getting underway with not one, but two ABA programs for our boys, ages five and nine.

Both boys are mildly affected with Autism. They are great kids who are fully conversational (wow can they talk!!). They both have a keen sense of humour and love to have fun. Although the use of discreet trials will make up a portion of the program the emphasis will not be on discreet trials, but rather applying behavioural principles Lovaas ABA curriculum to teaching my children.

Although each child's program has a diffeernt focus, key elements for one or both of the programs include; social skills and relationship training, life skills and independence, peer and sibling play, academic/homework/music practice support, organizational skills, and self regulation and self esteem building. During the summer there will be lots of community-based activities, particularly for the nine year old (who likes "extreme" sports like mountain biking, skateboarding, rock climbing, roller blading etc.)

We are working with EAP under the guidance of Jennifer Newland and Michele Shilvock. We live on the bus route in West Vancouver. Qualified ABA team experience and/or education background, drivers licence and vehicle are not essential but helpful.

If you would like to join our team, please e-mail your resume with a contact number to abasquared@hotmail.com

[Deleted User]

Re; DMG, B6, etc.
there are a lot of supplements advertised by people/groups that are supposed to be helpful to autistic children. As with anyone, supplements may improve the health of autistic children if they are needed (emphasis on if). Too often this is being touted as 'treatment' for autism. It is not. Vitamins/supplements can improve the health of your child if this is an issue. behavioural improvement could take place if the result is that your child is feeling better. We saw improved behaviour with our child when we removed foods that were contributing to gastrointestinal distress. Again the catalyst for better behaviour was that our child felt better and was in less pain. We have since been able to reintroduce those foods on a moderated basis without negative results. If you feel supplements may help your child, bring it up with your Doctor and ask for a refferal to a nutritionist. Get expert assessment and advice based on medical science. Shooting in the dark with using random supplements because they are supposed to work won't bring any miracles. Working at optomizing your childs health will likely allow your child to benefit better from any therapies or services you bring to bear to address autism.

[Deleted User]

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know or have used DMG?
Did you have any success with it? Was there any side effects? Is B6 and Magnesium any better or work at all? I have read Dr. Rimlands info on it and watched his interview on the internet, but I don't know how old this information is.
What is in DMG? I don't want to give anything to my child without understanding this…
Thanks for any info you can give me.

[Author]

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