[Mike & Jean]

There are two excellent newspaper articles in today's, Vancouver Province and Victoria's Times Columnist that I recommend everyone read.

The Times Columnist, "Why care about therapy for kids with autism"? written by Chris MacIntosh. He very accurately lists some of the most important and obvious reasons for treatment funding.

The Province, "There's not enough funding for autism treatment" written by our very own Dione Costanzo. This well written and concise essay begins by identifying the biggest problem for people with autism and their families in Canada today…"autism treatment is not covered under Medicare". She goes on to outline how the government's limited funding, (which exists because of the Auton litigation) can be removed with "the stroke of a pen". Well said and how true, Dione! I encourage you to read both articles because they accurately define the most fundamental obstacle to our children's well-being and basic human right – access to healthcare.

Like every other Canadian, our children should have a right to access all the equality provisions including health care, as prescribed in our Charter. Litigation and focused, purposeful, political advocacy have been successful in securing limited funding in BC. However, as Dione accurately points out – it is not protected and is already being eroded by the "invoice payment plan" which many of us "old-timers" warned and railed against when it was devised one year ago. I, along with others predicted the outcome we see today…and…sadly folks, I fear there's more "erosion" on the way. So – Parents, what's the solution? Purposeful and focused political action or more plainly – get active! First and foremost, our children's treatment must be enshrined and protected from the whims of bureaucrats/politicians. It needs to be universally accessible and covered under Medicare. Secondly, we need law/legislation which protects our children's basic human rights, similar to the ADA (Americans with Disabilites Act) in the US. How do we achieve these things? By getting informed and getting active! "Medicare for Autism Now! exists for the sole purpose of securing what the name states. The Civil Rights Now! Society, formerly know as the Paladin Advocacy League was created very recently to advocate for ADA-type law in BC. If you want to take action, rather than wait for the bureaucrats to decide your child is no longer worthy of treatment, education etc., I encourage you to get involved. In BC, parents have won some strategic battles to end the discrimination against our children but, there are more battles for us to win before we are victorius in the war our own government is waging against our children.

[Mike & Jean]

There are two excellent newspaper articles in today's, Vancouver Province and Victoria's Times Columnist that I recommend everyone read.

The Times Columnist, "Why care about therapy for kids with autism"? written by Chris MacIntosh. He very accurately lists some of the most important and obvious reasons for treatment funding.

The Province, "There's not enough funding for autism treatment" written by our very own Dione Costanzo. This well written and concise essay begins by identifying the biggest problem for people with autism and their families in Canada today…"autism treatment is not covered under Medicare". She goes on to outline how the government's limited funding, (which exists because of the Auton litigation) can be removed with "the stroke of a pen". Well said and how true, Dione! I encourage you to read both articles because they accurately define the most fundamental obstacle to our children's well-being and basic human right – access to healthcare.

Like every other Canadian, our children should have a right to access all the equality provisions including health care, as prescribed in our Charter. Litigation and focused, purposeful, political advocacy have been successful in securing limited funding in BC. However, as Dione accurately points out – it is not protected and is already being eroded by the "invoice payment plan" which many of us "old-timers" warned and railed against when it was devised one year ago. I, along with others predicted the outcome we see today…and…sadly folks, I fear there's more "erosion" on the way. So – Parents, what's the solution? Purposeful and focused political action or more plainly – get active! First and foremost, our children's treatment must be enshrined and protected from the whims of bureaucrats/politicians. It needs to be universally accessible and covered under Medicare. Secondly, we need law/legislation which protects our children's basic human rights, similar to the ADA (Americans with Disabilites Act) in the US. How do we achieve these things? By getting informed and getting active! "Medicare for Autism Now! exists for the sole purpose of securing what the name states. The Civil Rights Now! Society, formerly know as the Paladin Advocacy League was created very recently to advocate for ADA-type law in BC. If you want to take action, rather than wait for the bureaucrats to decide your child is no longer worthy of treatment, education etc., I encourage you to get involved. In BC, parents have won some strategic battles to end the discrimination against our children but, there are more battles for us to win before we are victorius in the war our own government is waging against our children.

[Mike & Jean]

There are two excellent newspaper articles in today's, Vancouver Province and Victoria's Times Columnist that I recommend everyone read.

The Times Columnist, "Why care about therapy for kids with autism"? written by Chris MacIntosh. He very accurately lists some of the most important and obvious reasons for treatment funding.

The Province, "There's not enough funding for autism treatment" written by our very own Dione Costanzo. This well written and concise essay begins by identifying the biggest problem for people with autism and their families in Canada today…"autism treatment is not covered under Medicare". She goes on to outline how the government's limited funding, (which exists because of the Auton litigation) can be removed with "the stroke of a pen". Well said and how true, Dione! I encourage you to read both articles because they accurately define the most fundamental obstacle to our children's well-being and basic human right – access to healthcare.

Like every other Canadian, our children should have a right to access all the equality provisions including health care, as prescribed in our Charter. Litigation and focused, purposeful, political advocacy have been successful in securing limited funding in BC. However, as Dione accurately points out – it is not protected and is already being eroded by the "invoice payment plan" which many of us "old-timers" warned and railed against when it was devised one year ago. I, along with others predicted the outcome we see today…and…sadly folks, I fear there's more "erosion" on the way. So – Parents, what's the solution? Purposeful and focused political action or more plainly – get active! First and foremost, our children's treatment must be enshrined and protected from the whims of bureaucrats/politicians. It needs to be universally accessible and covered under Medicare. Secondly, we need law/legislation which protects our children's basic human rights, similar to the ADA (Americans with Disabilites Act) in the US. How do we achieve these things? By getting informed and getting active! "Medicare for Autism Now! exists for the sole purpose of securing what the name states. The Civil Rights Now! Society, formerly know as the Paladin Advocacy League was created very recently to advocate for ADA-type law in BC. If you want to take action, rather than wait for the bureaucrats to decide your child is no longer worthy of treatment, education etc., I encourage you to get involved. In BC, parents have won some strategic battles to end the discrimination against our children but, there are more battles for us to win before we are victorius in the war our own government is waging against our children.

[Mike & Jean]

There are two excellent newspaper articles in today's, Vancouver Province and Victoria's Times Columnist that I recommend everyone read.

The Times Columnist, "Why care about therapy for kids with autism"? written by Chris MacIntosh. He very accurately lists some of the most important and obvious reasons for treatment funding.

The Province, "There's not enough funding for autism treatment" written by our very own Dione Costanzo. This well written and concise essay begins by identifying the biggest problem for people with autism and their families in Canada today…"autism treatment is not covered under Medicare". She goes on to outline how the government's limited funding, (which exists because of the Auton litigation) can be removed with "the stroke of a pen". Well said and how true, Dione! I encourage you to read both articles because they accurately define the most fundamental obstacle to our children's well-being and basic human right – access to healthcare.

Like every other Canadian, our children should have a right to access all the equality provisions including health care, as prescribed in our Charter. Litigation and focused, purposeful, political advocacy have been successful in securing limited funding in BC. However, as Dione accurately points out – it is not protected and is already being eroded by the "invoice payment plan" which many of us "old-timers" warned and railed against when it was devised one year ago. I, along with others predicted the outcome we see today…and…sadly folks, I fear there's more "erosion" on the way. So – Parents, what's the solution? Purposeful and focused political action or more plainly – get active! First and foremost, our children's treatment must be enshrined and protected from the whims of bureaucrats/politicians. It needs to be universally accessible and covered under Medicare. Secondly, we need law/legislation which protects our children's basic human rights, similar to the ADA (Americans with Disabilites Act) in the US. How do we achieve these things? By getting informed and getting active! "Medicare for Autism Now! exists for the sole purpose of securing what the name states. The Civil Rights Now! Society, formerly know as the Paladin Advocacy League was created very recently to advocate for ADA-type law in BC. If you want to take action, rather than wait for the bureaucrats to decide your child is no longer worthy of treatment, education etc., I encourage you to get involved. In BC, parents have won some strategic battles to end the discrimination against our children but, there are more battles for us to win before we are victorius in the war our own government is waging against our children.

[Mike & Jean]

We need an energetic, enthusiastic person to assist our 16 year old son at Special Olympics. This is a great opportunity to join a long established, well-supervised ABA team. Two evenings per week and bi-monthly team meetings are required. We live on the North Shore so reliable transportation is necessary.

jean.lewis@telus.net or 604-290-5737

[Mike & Jean]

We need an energetic, enthusiastic person to assist our 16 year old son at Special Olympics. This is a great opportunity to join a long established, well-supervised ABA team. Two evenings per week plus bi-monthly team meetings are the requirement. We live on the North shore. Must have reliable transportation.
Call or email: Jean at 604-290-5737 or jean.lewis@telus.net

[Mike & Jean]

This is a wee bit late in the day but – a very Happy Mother's Day to all the FEAT moms who move mountains for all our children every day!

I hope you had a great day!

Jean

[Mike & Jean]

‘The ABC’s of ABA’ & ‘Play, Reinforcement, and Manding’
Presented by Amanda Raichelle

Saturday, January 23 & Sunday, January 24, 2010
Guildford Library (15105 – 105th Avenue, Surrey, BC)

THE ABC’S OF ABA
Saturday, January 23, 2009 10:30 am to 5:00 pm
More than just an introductory class, the basics are the most important aspect of any industry! Great for new parents, therapists, education assistants and anyone interested in strengthening their skills.
This interactive workshop will include:
 Overview of the characteristics of autism and the science behind why ABA is used for children with autism.
 The main topic is the basics of behaviour analysis, antecedent, behaviour and consequence. Exploring the breadth of these three important areas including basic behaviour strategies
 Overview of professionalism

PLAY, REINFORCEMENT, AND MANDING
Sunday, January 24, 2009 1:00 to 4:30 pm
The key to any successful program depends on creating a positive environment and using effective reinforcement. By knowing what motivates a child, therapists, parents and professionals can create opportunities for communication also known as “manding”.
This hands on workshop encompasses these topics as well as capturing learning moments in play and different types of play. Throughout the workshop participants will be building a “tool box” of creative ideas and stimuli to take with them!

These workshops will give fundamental knowledge without going into specific teaching strategies (such as Discrete Trial or Fluency) allowing anyone working with any ABA consultant or group to benefit.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Amanda Raichelle brings a unique and broad perspective to the field. She understands the family perspective having grown up with a special needs sister and is currently fostering a young child with autism. During adolescence she began working in the general area of special needs and in 2000 Amanda was introduced to Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) for children with autism. Since then she has worked as a behavioural interventionist (ABA therapist) with numerous families privately in their home, an aid in several preschools and a Student Education Assistant (SEA) in a middle school. Amanda has been involved at many different stages of therapy: from the initial diagnosis, to designing programs and training teams at any phase. Amanda continues to participate in personal development courses, Early Childhood Education and leadership courses utilizing this knowledge in constructing ABA programs and establishing quality teams.

ABOUT AUTISM SOCIETY OF BC (ASBC)
ASBC is a non-profit charitable organization that provides information and promotes awareness of autism spectrum disorders.

Their Mission: To promote understanding, acceptance and full community inclusion for people with autism in British Columbia while providing support for the realization of the rights and informed choices of individuals with autism and their families.

Name: Phone:
Address:
City: Province/State: Postal/Zip Code:
Email:

Please indicate all that apply to you:
• New to the field (past 6 months)
• Parent
• Behaviour Interventionist
• Professional, please indicate:
Method of Payment:
• Cheque made payable to Autism Society of BC
• VISA • Mastercard
Name on Card:
Card #: Exp. Date:

The total cost is $50 CDN (includes both workshops. Attendance at both workshops is not required, though participation in the Saturday session is a building block to allow you to fully benefit from the Sunday workshop.)

There will be a one hour lunch break on Saturday, please bring your own lunch.

You can register directly through the ASBC at 604-434-0880 effective Monday Nov 23

[Mike & Jean]

I have been asked to comment on and offer my opinion regarding the provincial government’s recent decision to discontinue the “direct payment” option in favour of “invoice payments”. I have delayed responding for three reasons: 1.) I’ve been waiting to see what others have to say, particularly parents of newly diagnosed children, which so far is not much, and, 2.) I was waiting to see if someone else would deliver the inconvenient truth, and, 3.) I wanted to digest the enormous emotional impact of the most recent tragic incidents in each of Edmonton and Toronto.

My opinions are based largely but not solely on experience gained over the last 12 years – advocating for ABA to be included, provided and paid for by our health care system. That is why FEAT of BC existed and why The Medicare for Autism Now Society was created.

By way of background, I am one of the founding directors of FEAT of BC and more recently The Medicare for Autism Now Society. I was also one of the Auton and Hewko litigants and was on the legal steering committees for both cases. In FEAT’s early years, along with Sabrina Freeman, FEAT’s founding executive director, I helped countless families set-up home-based ABA programs. Together, we organized ABA conferences, workshops, seminars, and facilitated parent discussion groups. FEAT of BC created the treatment movement in BC which eventually provided the impetus for the rest of Canada. Recently, as a director of Medicare for Autism Now, I’ve travelled across Canada on three occasions working specifically on initiatives to have legislation passed which would enshrine all our childrens’ treatment under Medicare. I know I have used the word “I” a lot, but, clearly, I have had the “benefit” of an extensive array of experience in the autism advocacy business. I’ve met with bureaucrats at every level, provincial and federal politicians from every political party….I’ve heard all their spin. I’ve learned valuable and sometimes extremely painful lessons. They form the basis for my opinion.

The province’s decision to discontinue the direct funding option is completely unacceptable. It is definitely not in the best interests of our children and their families. If passed, it will be a retrograde step, taking us back to the situation that existed in BC before the Auton decision. I believe it is the first step in dismantling autism treatment funding. Why? ….Because they can. There is NO law which protects this funding. In fact, this funding ONLY exists because of the Auton decision. And it continues to exist solely at the discretion of the faceless, nameless bureaucrats. The fact of the matter is: autism funding can be taken away tomorrow with the stroke of a pen. The government’s preferred “invoice payment option” effectively takes parents and, therefore, children out of the equation. With you out of the loop, others will decide what is best for your child and, eventually, might decide whether your child is making enough “progress” to keep funding treatment..(see what’s happening in Ontario)

Lesson #1 – Never, ever abdicate your parental choice and control to a bureaucrat. Your child’s best interest is never their first priority.

Pre-Auton, there was NO treatment funding at all. Any funding came packaged as: respite, daycare, or babysitting, all of which were wait-listed and means-tested. Some parents did receive substantial amounts of money, if they kept quiet about it, and collaborated with bureaucrats. So – if you “made nice”, didn’t rock the boat, and didn’t talk about treatment – you got money.

Lesson#2 – Never collaborate with bureaucrats. “Collaborate” is bureaucrat-speak for “Do what I say”. It might work for a while for those engaged in it, but it doesn’t last. Eventually, the collaborators are cut off. In the last 12 years of being in this fight up close and personal, the only two things that have made measurable, sustained gains for all have been litigation and focused political action…not making nice. In fact, in my experience making nice actually makes the situation worse.

FEAT of BC was created in 1996 for the single purpose of making science-based autism treatment (ABA) universally available and funded by government. Auton created some treatment funding, but as we see by the provincial government’s recent decision, it’s not protected. Today, lack of complete treatment funding remains the biggest obstacle to meeting the needs of people with autism in Canada. The solution lies in law that ensures our childrens’right to health care. That is why we need Medicare for Autism Now!

The Hewko decision created a precedent for all school districts to do the right thing. Sadly, most are not, but the ones that are demonstrating good faith are only doing so because they don’t want to be the next Hewko. I encourage more parents to read and understand how to use the gains made in the Hewko decision when dealing with difficult school districts.

Lesson #3 -Law can only be useful when enforced.

How should parents respond to the provincial government’s decision?
If our child was much younger and his $20k of treatment funding was in jeopardy; this is what I’d do:
I would begin by organizing a MASSIVE rally at the Premier’s constituency office. I would make sure there were hundreds of parents, family members, friends, colleagues and supporters there…all carrying placards which would say a variety of things, such as: How many more Canadian children need to die before the government acts? In Canada – health care is a right! I would have as many media attend as possible. I would have lots of parents “tell their story”. I would arrange media interviews focusing on the recent deaths in Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal – each a result of government failure to take the morally right and economically sensible action. I would park myself at my MLAs office until they helped. I’d contact my local community newspapers and invite them to join me at the MLAs office for an interview…. and I’d keep doing it for as long as necessary….but that’s just me….

Now is the time to act. Parents must decide if you are going to continue being a supplicant – risking your child’s future to the whims of government bureaucracy, or will you stand-up and, as a citizen and tax payer, demand better?

In Canada, fully-funded, science-based treatment for autism is a reasonable expectation – our children deserve no less. It is their right and should be our solemn obligation.

Lesson#4 – “Those who will not learn history are destined to repeat it.” – Edmund Burke

Time to wake-up, get organized and and get it done!

Jean Lewis,
Medicare for Autism Now!
mfanow@gmail.com

[Mike & Jean]

I have been asked to comment on and offer my opinion regarding the provincial government’s recent decision to discontinue the “direct payment” option in favour of “invoice payments”. I have delayed responding for three reasons: 1.) I’ve been waiting to see what others have to say, particularly parents of newly diagnosed children, which so far is not much, and, 2.) I was waiting to see if someone else would deliver the inconvenient truth, and, 3.) I wanted to digest the enormous emotional impact of the most recent tragic incidents in each of Edmonton and Toronto.

My opinions are based largely but not solely on experience gained over the last 12 years – advocating for ABA to be included, provided and paid for by our health care system. That is why FEAT of BC existed and why The Medicare for Autism Now Society was created.

By way of background, I am one of the founding directors of FEAT of BC and more recently The Medicare for Autism Now Society. I was also one of the Auton and Hewko litigants and was on the legal steering committees for both cases. In FEAT’s early years, along with Sabrina Freeman, FEAT’s founding executive director, I helped countless families set-up home-based ABA programs. Together, we organized ABA conferences, workshops, seminars, and facilitated parent discussion groups. FEAT of BC created the treatment movement in BC which eventually provided the impetus for the rest of Canada. Recently, as a director of Medicare for Autism Now, I’ve travelled across Canada on three occasions working specifically on initiatives to have legislation passed which would enshrine all our childrens’ treatment under Medicare. I know I have used the word “I” a lot, but, clearly, I have had the “benefit” of an extensive array of experience in the autism advocacy business. I’ve met with bureaucrats at every level, provincial and federal politicians from every political party….I’ve heard all their spin. I’ve learned valuable and sometimes extremely painful lessons. They form the basis for my opinion.

The province’s decision to discontinue the direct funding option is completely unacceptable. It is definitely not in the best interests of our children and their families. If passed, it will be a retrograde step, taking us back to the situation that existed in BC before the Auton decision. I believe it is the first step in dismantling autism treatment funding. Why? ….Because they can. There is NO law which protects this funding. In fact, this funding ONLY exists because of the Auton decision. And it continues to exist solely at the discretion of the faceless, nameless bureaucrats. The fact of the matter is: autism funding can be taken away tomorrow with the stroke of a pen. The government’s preferred “invoice payment option” effectively takes parents and, therefore, children out of the equation. With you out of the loop, others will decide what is best for your child and, eventually, might decide whether your child is making enough “progress” to keep funding treatment..(see what’s happening in Ontario)

Lesson #1 – Never, ever abdicate your parental choice and control to a bureaucrat. Your child’s best interest is never their first priority.

Pre-Auton, there was NO treatment funding at all. Any funding came packaged as: respite, daycare, or babysitting, all of which were wait-listed and means-tested. Some parents did receive substantial amounts of money, if they kept quiet about it, and collaborated with bureaucrats. So – if you “made nice”, didn’t rock the boat, and didn’t talk about treatment – you got money.

Lesson#2 – Never collaborate with bureaucrats. “Collaborate” is bureaucrat-speak for “Do what I say”. It might work for a while for those engaged in it, but it doesn’t last. Eventually, the collaborators are cut off. In the last 12 years of being in this fight up close and personal, the only two things that have made measurable, sustained gains for all have been litigation and focused political action…not making nice. In fact, in my experience making nice actually makes the situation worse.

FEAT of BC was created in 1996 for the single purpose of making science-based autism treatment (ABA) universally available and funded by government. Auton created some treatment funding, but as we see by the provincial government’s recent decision, it’s not protected. Today, lack of complete treatment funding remains the biggest obstacle to meeting the needs of people with autism in Canada. The solution lies in law that ensures our childrens’right to health care. That is why we need Medicare for Autism Now!

The Hewko decision created a precedent for all school districts to do the right thing. Sadly, most are not, but the ones that are demonstrating good faith are only doing so because they don’t want to be the next Hewko. I encourage more parents to read and understand how to use the gains made in the Hewko decision when dealing with difficult school districts.

Lesson #3 -Law can only be useful when enforced.

How should parents respond to the provincial government’s decision?
If our child was much younger and his $20k of treatment funding was in jeopardy; this is what I’d do:
I would begin by organizing a MASSIVE rally at the Premier’s constituency office. I would make sure there were hundreds of parents, family members, friends, colleagues and supporters there…all carrying placards which would say a variety of things, such as: How many more Canadian children need to die before the government acts? In Canada – health care is a right! I would have as many media attend as possible. I would have lots of parents “tell their story”. I would arrange media interviews focusing on the recent deaths in Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal – each a result of government failure to take the morally right and economically sensible action. I would park myself at my MLAs office until they helped. I’d contact my local community newspapers and invite them to join me at the MLAs office for an interview…. and I’d keep doing it for as long as necessary….but that’s just me….

Now is the time to act. Parents must decide if you are going to continue being a supplicant – risking your child’s future to the whims of government bureaucracy, or will you stand-up and, as a citizen and tax payer, demand better?

In Canada, fully-funded, science-based treatment for autism is a reasonable expectation – our children deserve no less. It is their right and should be our solemn obligation.

Lesson#4 – “Those who will not learn history are destined to repeat it.” – Edmund Burke

Time to wake-up, get organized and and get it done!

Jean Lewis,
Medicare for Autism Now!
mfanow@gmail.com

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