[Mike & Jean]

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By Mike & Jean (Lewis) on Thursday, February 26, 2009 – 10:42 pm:
Please see the following invitation. For those who don't know, David has provided FEAT with strategic advice for the last three years. He is also one of the founding directors of Medicare for Autism Now! If elected, he will publicly advocate for legislation amending the provincial guidelines to have autism treatment covered under Medicare. I encourage you to attend this event, regardless of where you live.

Everyone who knows him wonders what took so long….but… we’re thrilled that our friend, neighbour, former lawyer, public affairs consultant, tireless community activist, powerful advocate for the voiceless……

David Marley is finally running for public office as an Independent Candidate for election as MLA for
West Vancouver – Capilano on May 12th.

Please join us in launching his campaign:

“Vote for a Voice – It’s Time to be Heard!”

Saturday, February 28th, 2009
2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Tamarack Room – Delbrook Recreation Centre
600 West Queens Rd.,
North Vancouver, BC

David would love to meet you. Come and find out who he is and why he wants to be your MLA. Hear speakers representing diverse groups describe how David’s expertise and commitment made a positive difference in their lives and organizations. This will be a fun and informal event! Talking and laughing are encouraged! Everyone, including children is welcome! Light refreshments will be available.

Due to space limitations and enormous interest – please RSVP •••.A.P. to vote4marley@gmail.com or call: 604-290-5737

We rely upon and respect your opinions. If you live in West Vancouver – Capilano, please click on: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=lh_2fZN5_2fBAO9qSPggA4_2fWpQ_3d_3d and complete our questionnaire. Thanks!

[Mike & Jean]

Please see the following invitation. For those who don't know, David has provided FEAT with strategic advice for the last three years. He is also one of the founding directors of Medicare for Autism Now! If elected, he will publicly advocate for legislation amending the provincial guidelines to have autism treatment covered under Medicare. I encourage you to attend this event, regardless of where you live.

Everyone who knows him wonders what took so long….but… we’re thrilled that our friend, neighbour, former lawyer, public affairs consultant, tireless community activist, powerful advocate for the voiceless……

David Marley is finally running for public office as an Independent Candidate for election as MLA for
West Vancouver – Capilano on May 12th.

Please join us in launching his campaign:

“Vote for a Voice – It’s Time to be Heard!”

Saturday, February 28th, 2009
2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Tamarack Room – Delbrook Recreation Centre
600 West Queens Rd.,
North Vancouver, BC

David would love to meet you. Come and find out who he is and why he wants to be your MLA. Hear speakers representing diverse groups describe how David’s expertise and commitment made a positive difference in their lives and organizations. This will be a fun and informal event! Talking and laughing are encouraged! Everyone, including children is welcome! Light refreshments will be available.

Due to space limitations and enormous interest – please RSVP •••.A.P. to vote4marley@gmail.com or call: 604-290-5737

We rely upon and respect your opinions. If you live in West Vancouver – Capilano, please click on: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=lh_2fZN5_2fBAO9qSPggA4_2fWpQ_3d_3d and complete our questionnaire. Thanks!

[Mike & Jean]

Please see the following invitation. For those who don't know, David has provided FEAT with strategic advice for the last three years. He is also one of the founding directors of Medicare for Autism Now! If elected, he will publicly advocate for legislation amending the provincial guidelines to have autism treatment covered under Medicare. I encourage you to attend this event, regardless of where you live.

Everyone who knows him wonders what took so long….but… we’re thrilled that our friend, neighbour, former lawyer, public affairs consultant, tireless community activist, powerful advocate for the voiceless……

David Marley is finally running for public office as an Independent Candidate for election as MLA for
West Vancouver – Capilano on May 12th.

Please join us in launching his campaign:

“Vote for a Voice – It’s Time to be Heard!”

Saturday, February 28th, 2009
2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Tamarack Room – Delbrook Recreation Centre
600 West Queens Rd.,
North Vancouver, BC

David would love to meet you. Come and find out who he is and why he wants to be your MLA. Hear speakers representing diverse groups describe how David’s expertise and commitment made a positive difference in their lives and organizations. This will be a fun and informal event! Talking and laughing are encouraged! Everyone, including children is welcome! Light refreshments will be available.

Due to space limitations and enormous interest – please RSVP •••.A.P. to vote4marley@gmail.com or call: 604-290-5737

We rely upon and respect your opinions. If you live in West Vancouver – Capilano, please click on: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=lh_2fZN5_2fBAO9qSPggA4_2fWpQ_3d_3d and complete our questionnaire. Thanks!

[Mike & Jean]

Posted on behalf of Dr. Sara White –

Hello everyone,

As some of you may know I am in the process of trying to put together a website with information for siblings of individuals with autism and with resources for parents on sibling issues.

The following is a rough outline of what I'm planning on including on the website:

Sibling Section
A Bunch of General Information
i. Symptoms of Atusim

ii. Myths about autism

iii. Things to Read

iv. Journal of someone with autism

2. Things by Siblings

i. Speeches, poems, creative writing

ii. Ideas for things to do with their brother/sister

1. Pictures of brothers/sisters playing together

3. Feelings About Autism

i. Survey on what they worry about

ii. Most embarrassing moments

iii. Question and answer section (where they can write in with questions and answers will be posted

Parents Section
Recommendations for how to talk with siblings about feelings about sibling with autism
Activities to do with siblings
Recommended readings
Facts about siblings with autism
i. Including genetics and chance they will have a child with autism

How to answer questions from siblings
How to help siblings cope (e.g., with teasing of sibling by others in school)
Sources for family activities
Let me know if there's something that you want in that I forgot. A few things that I could use from siblings (if they are interested in participating):

1. A list of the top three favorite websites they go to

2. Poems, speeches, journal entries, etc. that they'd be comfortable with us posting. Just send it to me along with the info you want included about who wrote/created it.

3. Questions (for the question and answer section)

4. What's your number one worry about having a brother/sister with autism?

5. What's your most embarrassing moment with your brother/sister?

Thanks again for all of your help! It will still be awhile before things are up and running … but keep your fingers crossed it will be soon You can email the information to me at: sarawhite@excite.com.

Thanks!
Sara

[Mike & Jean]

The previous post reminded me to share the following:

Parents: Make sure you are CHECKING all the references of potential therapists you are recruiting for your teams, particularly the ones who claim to have previous ABA experience. Get the names of the families and CALL them. Besides asking about their work, ask about work habits, such as attitude, being a team player, did they follow instruction, punctuality, were they discreet and confidential. What about ethics? Did they have any – or as an example, did they "lever" you for more money? Would they re-hire or recommend this person? Bottom line: Don't let your desire to have a full ABA team misguide or cloud your judgement when hiring anyone to work with your child.

We've been running an ABA team for over 12 years and the vast majority of people who have worked with our son, including his present team, have been absolutely fantastic! But, over the last 12 years, every so often when we haven't done "due diligence" we have occasionally gotten "stung"….and it is extemely expensive to the pocketbook, but more importantly to your child. So, please be careful.

[Mike & Jean]

UPDATE: The appearance today (Wed) of David Marley on the Bill Good Show on CKNW 980 scheduled for 9:30 will now be aired at 11AM

[Mike & Jean]

Harold Doherty who is an autism activist and dad from New Brunswick posted the following message today on his blog, "Facing Autism in New Brunswick"

"Community activist, and staunch friend of Canada's autism community, David Marley, is running as an Independent candidate for West Vancouver-Capilano MLA in the BC election May 12, 2009. He will be a guest today on CKNW's Bill Good Show immediately following the 9 am (local time) news.

David is a dedicated community activist who backs up his principles with outstanding organizational ability and formidable advocacy skills. I know nothing of the West Vancouver-Capilano riding or the other candidates but I know they are in for a real scrap with Marley running, a candidate with a strong commitment to community causes.

I met David at the FEAT BC visit to Halifax (above left) in May, 2007 and again in Toronto and Oakville (above right) for the Medicare for Autism Now campaign. David's organizational savvy and advocacy skills have helped autism advocates keep autism alive as a federal issue despite Prime Minister Stephen Harper's determination to exclude it from federal attention.

I hope the good people of of West Vancouver-Capilano don't mind this New Brunswicker offering my two cents worth. I would have "endorsed" David Marley as a candidate solely because of the assistance he has given to autism advocates in Canada. Having participated actively with David in the Ontario leg of the Medicare for Autism Now campaign I have seen first hand the outstanding skills, effort and commitment he brings to the causes and the people he supports.

I give David the highest marks I can give to a politician by saying he is a real scrapper. If the people of West Vancouver-Capilano want a scrapper in their corner I recommend they vote for David Marley."

[Mike & Jean]

Attention Everyone….again…

Regrettably Vicki Huntington is unable to attend The Bill Good Show this morning so David Marley and Vicki have been re-scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 4th.
Please listen in on Wednesday.

Jean

[Mike & Jean]

Whoops! telephone correction for David Marley:

604-970-1258

Thanks,
Jean

[Mike & Jean]

Attention Everyone: This is important!

David Marley, who is one of the founding directors of Medicare for Autism Now! and has been providing strategic advice to FEAT (pro bono) for the last 3 years will be on The Bill Good Show, tomorrow morning. He will be officially announcing his candidacy to run as and INDEPENDENT in West Vancouver-Capilano in the upcoming provincial election which will be on May 12th.

For those of you who don't know, for the last 3 years, David has worked extremely hard on behalf of all our kids to have ABA treatment universally acccessible and covered under Medicare.

Tomorrow, he will discuss his campaign platform. If elected, he will introduce legislation to amend provincial guidelines in order to have ABA treatment included under Medicare.

Speaking from experience, our cause could have NO GREATER advocate in Victoria. I have had the privilege of working with David and I can tell all of you that his passion for justice for our kids cannot be exceeded.

He will be on with Vicki Huntington who is another candidate who is running as an independent in Delta.

Please listen in at 9:00a.m. on CKNW 980 AM

If you would like to contact David you can do so at vote4marley@gmail.com or 602-970-1258.

I and others from FEAT and MFAN will be helping David in his campaign. We need everyone on board to help. Please contact me at jean.lewis@telus.net or 604-290-5737 if you would like to assist.

Thanks,
Jean

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