[Deleted User]

Lisa Graham, could you please drop me a line as I may have some useful info for you in regards to your post (By Lisa Graham (Graham2) on Thursday, September 12, 2002 –
02:34 pm:)
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alexbarclay@shaw.ca

[Deleted User]

FROM FRUSTRATED TO TEARS

A special thank you to Dave for taking the time to add some light to my day. It is a comfort to know that I'm not the only one out there.

[Deleted User]

Thanks to everyone who helped me with info on how to bypass Sunnyhill for a diagnosis, and helped me to get info on how to do it privately. I must share my frustration from my events today and also ask anyone out there what to do. My son is 3 and we have been running a half(you know what) ABA program from our home, however the money issue keeps us from going where we want to go. How delighted we were about the IEII. Finally, and a huge hug goes out to all those that helped to make this happen. First we were told that we would get our funding even though we didn't have the physcological(sp??) diagnosis, and that because we were on the list that was all that counted. The money was there for us. We got our team together, develop the "Plan" and jumped through all of the hoops. Yesterday we found out that no we have to have ALL diagnosis BEFORE the funding is released. WOW A FEW PEOPLE HAD AN EARFULL FROM ME YESTERDAY, because we all know how long Sunnyhill can be. Anyway I made a few phone calls with some harsh words yesterday and today I get a phone call from Sunnyhill saying that we can come on this Thursday. What??? I have no idea how this happened. From a 2 year wait list to 1 week. Anyway, this was good news, we could now have the complete multidisciplinary diagnosis and get the ball rolling. Instead of calling me directly, my case worker E-mailed me today that there is no more money in the IEII funding and we will not be getting our money, but to be put on a waitlist. No one has a clue how long!!! What the???!!! I am at my ropes end, we have fought and struggled to jump through the hoops and have put up with so much mis-information. Words can not described my anger right now. Who do I write to? Who do I talk to? How do I make my voice heard? Does anyone else know about the money running out and about this disgusting wait list?

Lisa
Nathan's angry, frustrated mom

[Deleted User]

Dear Anonymous;
I am intrigued by your suggestion that we make a distinction between S.E.A.s and T.A.s. I don't think that such a distinction will ever be formalized, but the whole notion of making a specific, formal distinction between such in conjunction with discussion of 'contracting out' to independent Lovaas trained assistants to address the autistic student's prescribed medical needs, truly might be the path to pursue. It is common practice for CUPE to contract different site jobs to outside contractors/electricians/plumbers, etc., and I think that if school boards were to formally acknowledge that medical concerns need to be met in order to ensure maximum educational benefit for students, that might just fly. After all, along those same lines,we already have hot lunch programs to address the physiological effects of hunger as an impediment to learning. I think that this whole notion should be thoroughly explored — it is both plausable and arguable; could be the first step to addressing the needs of autistic children in a truly meaningful way. Personally, I am of the opinion that trustees need to take a harder line not just on CUPE or BCTF, but also with the Ministry of Education on many different fronts, all for the best educational interests of all students. You don't have to draw a long bow to realize that what benefits special needs children will have a positive ripple effect on every other child in the classroom. Adversely, that which hinders special needs children has a negative ripple effect on every other child in the classroom and betrays the provincial mandate of inclusion. As a parent of an autistic child who has been very aggressive with my own board, and with the provincial govt over the last ten years, I will be running as a first-time candidate for school trustee in the district of NewWestminster. If you have any tips as to how to "work" this kind of thing through, I would be one willing to pursue such. Thank you 'Anonymous' for such a provacative posting.

[Deleted User]

If you look at the union policies governing the relationship between Teachers and SEA's you will find that SEA's are poorly suited to serve a child suffering from Autism. Special Education Assistant is an oxymoron because SEA's receive no 'Special Education" to help them serve our children. TA or Teaching Assistant is a much more accurate description of their role. Even if your SEA (or TA) receives the best ABA training available they can still be prevented from using anything they learned. The Teacher can order the SEA to do anything she wants including photocopying or helping a child other than yours. So can the school Special Ed Teacher or Principal. The only way we are ever going to be able to be sure that our children get the necessary behavioural interventions and support throughout their education experience is to establish the willingness of Districts to a) hire non-union ABA professionals who answer to the childs medical needs first and the Teachers needs second or b) accept non-funded staff from the childs treatment team to attend to the child throughout the school day. This hope that somehow our children are going to get an excellent ABA trained SEA who will live up to our expectations is truly a fantasy I urge everyone to discard. It will not happen. And, if you do obtain an excellent ABA trained SEA who lives up to your expectations please let us know because I have yet to hear of one. I hate sounding so cynical but I hate to see parents putting so much energy into what I think is a battle already lost. Its time for a new reality here, one where union issues play no role interfering with our childrens neurological well being. If there is something to fight for at the District Board level it is our childs right to have his/her medical needs met as well as benefit from education services. Dstricts are allowed to hire contractors outside the union to supply services to our children. If they tell you otherwise spit it back in their face because they are feeding you BS.

[Deleted User]

If you look at the union policies governing the relationship between Teachers and SEA's you will find that SEA's are poorly suited to serve a child suffering from Autism. Special Education Assistant is an oxymoron because SEA's receive no 'Special Education" to help them serve our children. TA or Teaching Assistant is a much more accurate description of their role. Even if your SEA (or TA) receives the best ABA training available they can still be prevented from using anything they learned. The Teacher can order the SEA to do anything she wants including photocopying or helping a child other than yours. So can the school Special Ed Teacher or Principal. The only way we are ever going to be able to be sure that our children get the necessary behavioural interventions and support throughout their education experience is to establish the willingness of Districts to a) hire non-union ABA professionals who answer to the childs medical needs first and the Teachers needs second or b) accept non-funded staff from the childs treatment team to attend to the child throughout the school day. This hope that somehow our children are going to get an excellent ABA trained SEA who will live up to our expectations is truly a fantasy I urge everyone to discard. It will not happen. And, if you do obtain an excellent ABA trained SEA who lives up to your expectations please let us know because I have yet to hear of one. I hate sounding so cynical but I hate to see parents putting so much energy into what I think is a battle already lost. Its time for a new reality here, one where union issues play no role interfering with our childrens neurological well being. If there is something to fight for at the District Board level it is our childs right to have his/her medical needs met as well as benefit from education services. Dstricts are allowed to hire contractors outside the union to supply services to our children. If they tell you otherwise spit it back in their face because they are feeding you BS.

[Deleted User]

Thanks Dave, and I would like to go one step further than that: I think that, noting the specific municipality/school-districts,we really ought to:
[1]compile and, [2] post
…a list of candidates who are indeed parents of special needs children, or, at the very least,list those candidates who are truly informed and committed to special needs issues.

We are an articulate and active group here, let's see what we can come up with!! And then, yes, definitely get out there, spread the word, and vote!!

[Deleted User]

It is an election year for school trustees across the province. Now is the time to outline S.E.A./CUPE issues in letters that are sent to both the local schoolboard and the local paper concurrently. Demand response. What are individual trustees willing to do to ensure that the CUPE executive does not put the interests of employees over the interests of special needs students? Go through all of the previous postings; they are loaded with nuggets of gold in regard to which issues to bring forward. To do otherwise will result in the status-quo for us and families who have yet to travel our path.
Good luck to all.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for asking for clarification on this issue Peggy. I would like to hear the responses as well. This information is so important for all of us to share.

Thanks,
Cheryl
mom to Allie and Angel

[Deleted User]

Which school district are you in Peggy? I don't have my copy of the collective agreement handy, I'm not that much of a union person!! The person I know is part of the provincial bargaining unit and I can ask her directly as well as my shop steward. It was HR who told me about the letter for support based on medical need. I then checked it out with the union…. putting my ducks in a row! It is part of our collective agreement that any medical based need that requires a variance in hiring must be backed up by a doctor's letter. Their ducks!! I've been burned a few times. Including having my hours cut because I was advocating for my son and therefore labeled a troublemaker.

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