[Sabrina Freeman]

Just a reminder to the chat board members that this weekend, Sept., 6-17, is the two-day FEAT BC early autism intervention workshop at SFU. For all you new parents, this is a very important workshop to attend. Download a registration form and flyer at https://featbc.org (click on feat events for the list of FEAT BC flyers).

Sabrina

[Sabrina Freeman]

Dear FEAT BC members,

Today (08/25/00), at approximately 10:30 AM, the gov’t submitted documents to the Court of Appeal (Victoria Registry) to appeal the decision in the case of Auton et al. vs. the Attorney General et al.

The gov’ts lawyers did not indicate any specific reasons for an appeal, simply stating they request, “(i) The decision of Madam Justice Allan dated July 26, 2000 be set aside; and (ii) The petition be dismissed in whole.”

I spoke with Bill Good on his show this morning regarding the gov’ts appeal. The discussion is available on the web at:

http://wms.cknw.com/cknw/8-25-00_11-05-00_AM.asf (1:37 into the program)

Although this appeal is certainly disappointing, we want to assure everyone that this gov’t action was not unexpected and that we continue to work diligently to see this case through to its ultimate conclusion. We have the resolve and the resources to meet this gov’t in the Supreme Court of Canada if they elect to go that far.

Although our opposition is formidable, the truth is more stubborn than they are.

Sabrina

[Sabrina Freeman]

Court Case Update

This afternoon Justice Allen handed down her decision in our case against the Government of British Columbia. The decision is in favour of our children and their families! More details will be available soon.

Regards,

Sabrina
(Miki's mom)

[Sabrina Freeman]

Behavioural Consultant Information
_______________________________________________

I just received mail regarding consultation services from the Wisconsin Early Autism Project. This is an official Lovaas Treatment replication site that recently produced VERY promising treatment outcome data. It's available for download at http://www.wiautism.com/prelimin.htm.

For more information regarding their consultative services, here are options:

1. log on to their web site at http://www.wiautism.com
2. contact Therapist Stephanie White, Intake Coordinator at stephanie.white@wiautism.com
3. phone Stephanie White at 608/288-9040 Monday – Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm eastern time.

Sabrina

[Sabrina Freeman]

Some thoughts about the Feat of BC Discussion Board:

As many know, a web-based chat board is a valuable forum for the free exchange of ideas and opinions — the essence of democratic free speech. A chat board is a mechanism by which everyone can have their opinions heard, discussed and debated.

However, in the context of our chat board, there is a fundamental ground-rule everyone must abide by: members who post a message must identify the organization they belong to if that organization is a BC Government contractee. There is an important reason for this — we do not want members to be potentially mislead.

There are government contractees who have posting privileges on the Feat BC chat board (e.g. Gateway, Laurel Group and CBI) and we believe they have a right to participate in discussions. However, it is extremely important that when government contractees advertise a position with an autism treatment team they are supervising, that they identify themselves to all chat board members and most importantly to prospective therapists.

We, at FEAT of BC, believe prospective autism treatment therapists have a right to know whether a job posted to this chat board is with a group using the Lovaas protocol or other, non science-based intervention methods e.g. sensory integration, auditory integration training, music therapy, theraplay, vitamin therapy, dolphin therapy and others. To the best of my knowledge, B.C. government contracted agencies do not use the UCLA protocol (Lovaas) at this time for special needs services rendered under government contracts.

A therapist trained in the UCLA protocol is certainly free to join the efforts advertised here by government service providers; however, we request that full identification be given with posts to this board so therapists can make an informed decision and not be potentially deceived into applying for a job that does not reflect their genuine career interest.

We would like to advise government contractees who advertise jobs on the Feat of BC chat board that without full disclosure as to their affiliation, we regrettably must revoke posting privileges.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Sabrina Freeman, Ph.D.
Executive Director, FEAT of BC

[Sabrina Freeman]

This post is in reply to anonymous who posted a question on Tuesday, may 30th, regarding programs of the Ministry for Children and Families (MCF).

This was the question:

>*By Anonymous on Tuesday, May 30, 2000 – 09:17 PM:

>I am just starting an ABA program and had heard that some
>families have gotten some money from the *Special Needs
>Daycare program" to help with the cost of the therapy. When
>I called to ask to have the forms mailed to me to apply for
>this program, I was told that only a subsidy of $107 was
>available, and that they didn't know what I meant by "special
>needs daycare". I was wondering if this is in fact correct,
>or is the social worker just playing games? Has anyone
>filled out forms for this program and been accepted in the
>past 4 months? Please respond if so, as we don't want to
>give up if this program still exists. Please feel free to
>post under anonymous. Thanks a lot*

I've waited a couple days to see if anyone else wanted to tackle this question, but since there have been no takers, I am compelled to respond.

MCF claims to have a plethora of programs designed to "support" families of children with special needs. The list follows:

– speech and audiology services
– physiotherapy
– occupational therapy
– speech and language pathology
– respite relief
– community respite
– homemaker services
– supported childcare
– behavioral support

I may have missed one or two; however, none of these programs has anything to do with science-based treatment and most are irrelevant for children with autism.

Despite this point, the list of services has the appearance of generosity, doesn't it! Well, chances are good that you are not going to get this list from your social worker unless she is purposely bucking the system she is working for. There is the odd renegade social worker out there who will try to help you because she may also be fed up with what some refer to as a morally bankrupt system; however, most social workers are *just following orders* (that defense we've heard a few times throughout history).

The role of the social worker has been completely distorted from one of trying to help clients, to one of being the holder of the purse strings. Put simply, the more programs you know about, the more determined you will become and the more difficult it will be for her to pull the wool over your eyes. Withholding information can make life easier for social workers — they create less demanding clients that way.

The dirty reality in this province is that unless you are extremely destitute, you likely will have a very tough time qualifying for any of these cash-based programs — almost all means-tested including, by the way, the $107 a month referenced in your question. The $107 a month you might be able to get even if you go through the means testing process; it*s the "crumb" they are throwing to the masses to attempt to calm the growing ranks of angry special needs parents.

In terms of respite, you may be able to get respite from your community service agency; however, if you make it clear that you are using the money for Lovaas/ABA therapy, it will probably be taken away from you since there is what amounts to a witch hunt for parents providing Lovaas treatment for their children. In fact, MCF issued an internal memorandum prohibiting social workers, team leaders, area managers and regional executive directors from providing individualized funding to parents providing Lovaas to their children. An additional problem with community respite regards the workers. If they will allow you to find your own respite workers, then you can find therapists and have them paid through this program. If, however, they insist on choosing the respite workers, you have a problem since many of these workers are SEVERELY under qualified to deliver effective behavioural autism treatment. Chances are high that an under-educated, under-qualified, government appointed respite worker is not going to become a good ABA therapist no matter how much training is provided.

In terms of Special Needs Daycare (which I believe is now called Supported Child Care – although they change the names of these programs so often I lose track), there is money for full-time day care workers to be with the child at preschool. Again, you must be deemed by MCF as sufficiently poor to qualify — or you have to know how to work the system.

In short, I have no advice on how to get a Lovaas program paid for through the government. My very limited funding was pulled, in all probability because I wouldn't stop advocating for children with autism and I told them the truth – from the outset they knew I used every cent for my child's Lovaas program. At the time, I was using the "Special Needs Day Care" money ($800 a month) to partially cover the cost of autism therapists.

This abuse of parents is the very reason why the government has ended up in the Supreme Court of B.C. to tell their story before a judge. I sincerely hope that the judiciary will protect all our children from this administrative nightmare. I hope that one day, parents of children with autism will not have to deal with social workers to try and fund autism treatment, but rather, will receive direction and authorization from their pediatrician to begin a Lovaas program that government will fund on a universal basis, regardless of parent ability to pay!

Unfortunately, that isn*t the way it is just yet in LotusLand.

Sabrina
(Miki's mom)

[Sabrina Freeman]

Passing on a note from Irene regarding the senior therapist workshop on
“Socialization And Generalization” at Simon Fraser University, June 9, 2000.

*****************************

There have been a few inquiries regarding whether the workshop is open to parents. Lisa Wincz, the workshop leader, has indicated the workshop is open to parents who have taken on the role of senior therapist in their child’s program.

Thanks,

Irene.

*****************************

[Sabrina Freeman]

Feat of B.C. is pleased to sponsor a . . .

SENIOR THERAPIST WORKSHOP on
“SOCIALIZATION AND GENERALIZATION” at
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

June 9, 2000, Friday
9:00 am – 4:00 PM
Room MBC2292 & 2294
R.S.V.P. to Irene Cheung @ 439-3073 to reserve a seat
$25/person payable at the door

Lisa Wincz, consultant for ABC’s of New Jersey, has generously offered to conduct a workshop on “Socialization and Generalization”.

Ms. Wincz holds a B.A. in Psychology and is currently working on her Ph.D. at Rutgers University in Clinical Psychology. She has accumulated over ten years of experience in the field of autism. She ran the Preschool Program and oversaw the Home Programs for Allegro School, NJ for 2 years with the former director of the Lovaas Clinic and spent another 2 years working at Douglas Developmental Disabilities Centre at Rutgers University. Both institutions provide ABA programs to their autistic clients. She has also consulted for New York School Districts, and families, privately. Ms. Wincz credits her presence in B.C. to Barbara Rodrigues, a very persistent and determined mom of an autistic child in Penticton who persuaded and convinced her to leave the employment of Rutgers University to provide private consultation services.

All therapists with senior/head therapist responsibilities are welcome to attend this informative workshop. Please leave a message for Irene at 439-3073 if you have any questions. Calls will be returned in the evenings.

[Sabrina Freeman]

Shelley Davis, ABA autism consultant from San Francisco, will be presenting a workshop sponsored by the Qualicum School District on Saturday, June 10, 9:30 – 3:30 at Springwood Middle School.

The title of the workshop:
Supporting Children with Autism at School – an ABA approach.

The workshop is for Teachers and Teaching Assistants.
Parents are welcome as well; cost for non-district #69 participants is
$25.00. Registrations forms are available from Barbara McLeod at (250)
757 – 8566 or Anne Pearson at Winchelsea Elementary at (250) 248 – 3012.
For information on the session please call Barbara McLeod.

[Sabrina Freeman]

My comments regard the recent post by anonymous recommending
the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) rather than signing for a
deaf autistic child.

In my opinion, it is ill advised to recommend one method
over another as a matter of general policy. When deciding upon the type of
communication system a child should use, the major question that needs to be
asked is this: into which group in society is the child going to be mainstreamed?

If the child is deaf, and the parents are targeting mainstreaming the child into
the deaf culture, then sign is presumably the best option.
If the child is not going to be mainstreamed with deaf children, then other
augmentative systems such as PECS or a simple visual system with icons or text
may be more appropriate. Again, keep in mind we are talking about a child
who is deaf and autistic. If one does not consider the mainstreaming
opportunities for the child, then we are selling this child short which is a crime as far as I'm concerned. Many people will argue that the child will not be able to communicate with the hearing community using sign. This is an argument used often when deaf children are taught to sign rather than read lips. However, this attitude minimizes the rich alternative
that the deaf community offers deaf children.

I am compelled to address the second issue raised by anonymous: PECS
and paired vocalizations. Anonymous claims that the pairing of PECS with
vocalization can lead to complete oral communication. This is a VERY
contentious area and more research needs to be done in this field before
PECS can be recommended on a wholesale basic to pre-verbal children.

There are several points that need to be made regarding PECS
and paired vocalizations:
1. children with autism typically over-select. Simply put, our children
have a tendency to concentrate on a specific aspect of what is being
presented to them. Many people describe this by saying "they can't see the
forest for the trees". In other words, they are over selecting to the point
where they can't see the big picture. This is highly problematic for pairing
PECS with a verbal since our kids will concentrate (most likely) on the
visual (the PECS) and not on the verbal.
2. One of the goals of discrete trial training (DTT) is to decrease or
eliminate the over-selectivity problem. Therefore, children who respond well
to DTT, may learn well when pairing a visual system with a vocalization;
however, a large number of those children may not need an icon system since
they have responded well to the verbal programs using DTT. For those who do
need an icon system, the PECS system may be appropriate.
3. Unfortunately, many of the children who are not progressing quickly with
their expressive programs, may also have difficulties with over-selection.
Therefore, those children who may need a visual system will not benefit from
the paired vocalizations.

As the above discussion suggests, this issue is far more complex than
anonymous has presented. I strongly recommend parents speak with their
consultant regarding when — and if — a visual system should be introduced.

Sabrina Freeman
Miki's mom

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