[Julie Ng]

Vancouver-Kingsway Riding

I send out an email to our liberal candidate a few weeks ago and this is there response which basically means – NO (with alot of BS added in to confuse the answer).

——————————————–

Thank you for your recent email. Wendy has asked me to pass on her reply.

The Liberal Party of Canada believes that in order for Canadians to remain healthy, and to sustain the quality of our public health care system, public efforts to promote health and disease prevention must be incorporated.

In Budget 2005, we built on the initial investments to the Public Health Agency of Canada by providing $300 million over five years for the Integrated Strategy on Healthy Living and Chronic Disease. The Strategy includes a series of activities to promote healthy eating, encourage physical activity and healthy weight, which can help to prevent and control chronic diseases. One component of the Strategy targets mental health specifically, with an initial investment of $4.5 million over five years, and $1 million per year ongoing.

In April 2005, the previous Liberal government announced $3.2 million funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to fund research projects aimed at improving mental health in the workplace.

That being said, we understand that certain matters – such as the planning and delivery of mental health services – fall under provincial and territorial jurisdiction.
However, a Liberal government, chiefly through the Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada, would work closely with the provinces and territories to develop responsive, coordinated and efficient mental health systems. The resources we provided through the Integrated Strategy on Healthy Living and Chronic Disease is an example of those kinds of collaborative efforts.

”Minister Flaherty is on the record as opposing the policy in the past, saying just a few weeks before the government's announcement that: "…it is not clear [such a costly and precedent-setting tax advantage] would be appropriate." (Toronto Star, September 14, 2006)

I trust that our response provides you with the information you require.

In addition, you can find the complete Liberal platform at http://www.liberalparty.ca and the Made in BC agenda at http://www.teambc.ca. More information on Wendy and her priorities can be found at http://www.wendyyuan.ca

I hope Wendy can count on your support in this election.

All the best,

Mary Pynenburg

Campaign Manager

Wendy Yuan Campaign

Vancouver-Kingsway

[Julie Ng]

Hi Andrew,

I'm thinking that we need to correct one of the assumptions in Globe and Mail article. The part I have a problem with is:

"In British Columbia …., funding is available for children with autism to bring support workers specially trained in IBI and ABA therapy into public-school classrooms. "

My experience has been that in Vancouver (VSB) they do not specifically provide IBI/ABA trained School Support Workers (SSW). They usually throw in excuses about Union rules and seniority rights…etc.
I have a meeting coming up with the Vancouver School Board exactly about the VSB not providing IBI/ABA trained SSW and their inability to find a Lovaas ABA trained to support my child in the classroom.

My child's support at school these last few years has been inadequate; with poor classroom support, no school to home communication and SSW’s not performing any type of data collection (their excuse is that it’s too difficult/complex). I could provide a whole list of complaints here but we need to focus on your bigger picture. Medicare for Autism!!!

Regards

J

[Julie Ng]

I found this interesting tidbit while surfing the BC Education website for information on getting better support for my child who requires an Lovaas ABA Trained SEA.

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/performance.pdf

Number of Students Special Needs Category
2001/02 – 2005/06 Province – Public Schools Only
Provincial Overview Comments

• Between 2001/02 and 2005/06, the number of students with Autism (G) increased by 70%. In 2002/03, the Ministry of Education
revised its identification criteria for these students to be more aligned with BC Ministry of Health Standards and Guidelines for the
Assessment and Diagnosis of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Also, I haven't heard anything back regarding parents who have been successful with getting better support from the Vancouver SD#39 – I guess everyone has been experiencing similar problems with them.

Joachim Pang

[Julie Ng]

Attention: Vancouver School Board SD#39

We are looking for feedback from parents who have been sucessful in getting the Vancouver school board to assign a Lovaas ABA experienced SEA to their child's classroom.

We are unsatisfied with our child's current support level (1/2 Day Non Lovaas ABA Trained Aide) at school and want to setup a better home/school support program for our child next year. Our child has been doing ABA for the last 4 to 5 years and has consistantly fallen short of meeting his grade level for the last 2 years because of "lack of Instructional control" and "meaningful consultation" with the school.

As a starting point we are reviewing the Hewko ruling to compare how it relates to our situation and to see if we need to follow this route to help our child.

Any and all information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Joachim Pang

Please contact us:

email: pangmail@shaw.ca
phone: 604#253.1725

[Julie Ng]

For Sale: Little Tikes Hide and Slide Climber

For our child, it's been more than just a play centre, we allowed this play centre to be the object of his imagination, from being on a remote island to camping out in the wild. It's been a great asset during our therapy and peer play sessions.

It is in excellent condition, if you are interested please email us.

Note: ToysRUs.ca sells them for $149.99 plus taxes, email us your offer.

pangmail@shaw.ca

[Julie Ng]

Income Tax Question for ABA Parents:

For the last few years I've been entering our ABA costs as medical expenses.

This year there is a new deduction called "Disability Supports Deduction" and it applies to "amounts paid for tutoring services used by individuals with a learning disability or a mental impairment (and paid to persons in the business of providing such services)."

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/t929/README.html

The bulletin seems to indicate that the deduction applies to the individual with the disability not a supporting person.

Has anyone used this deduction? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Joachim Pang

[Julie Ng]

Hello Surrey Members,

Thanks Roxanne for bringing those candidates names up on this board. I didn't even know that my brother (Lawrence Pang) was running for the Surrey School Board.
My kid (Son) been doing Lovaas ABA successfully for the last 4+ years. I guess Lawrence has had first hand account of how ABA can help a child and I believe he will be more open to those types of issues that affect our children in school. My son's in grade 2 in Vancouver and everyone know's how difficult it can be if you don't have the right people listening. Fortunately my son's progressed even with the lack of full time ABA SSW support.

Joachim Pang and Julie Ng (604.253.1725)

[Julie Ng]

Hi Everyone,

Has anyone heard, or know anything about the school, the Mediated Learning Academy out in Coquitlam?

We are asking on behalf of a family who has a 12 year old son who has finally just been diagnoised with being on the autism spectrum. He is speech delayed and has problems socializing with peers.

The family is new to all this, any information can help.

Thank you.

[Julie Ng]

I found the official release.

BC Govt. Supreme Court of Canada appeal of Auton Case.

Regards

Joachim Pang

http://www.news.gov.bc.ca/default.asp?organisation_obj_id=0b00921e80002cb1

PDF Version
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/nrm_news_releases/2002AG0090-001049.htm#

INFORMATION BULLETIN

For Immediate Release

2002AG0090-001049

Nov. 29, 2002
Ministry of Attorney General

GOVERNMENT APPEALS AUTISM DECISION

VICTORIA – The government is seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada a B.C. Court of Appeal decision that found the province is constitutionally obligated to fund behavioural therapy for children with autism.

On Oct. 9, the B.C. Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling that said that as long as government is funding medically necessary services provided by doctors and allied health-care practitioners, it is also obligated to fund other services related to treating all serious illnesses or disabilities.

The government is not taking issue with the funding for autism treatment generally. Rather, the government has decided to appeal the decision’s broad implications for how government funds and delivers not only health-care services, but also social programs. The court decision affects government’s ability to determine which services and programs it will fund. This expansion of constitutional principles constitutes a serious and unprecedented intrusion into government’s policy and spending priorities.

The government is committed to providing medically necessary services for all British Columbians. In the past year, the number of children with autism receiving early intervention therapies through government has increased from 75 to over 500. Government is providing individualized direct funding to families to help with the costs of behavioural treatment and intervention programs of their choice. Families can also use contracted services offered through the Ministry of Children and Family Development. The ministry has increased spending for early childhood and family development by $20 million to protect and support those children who are most vulnerable.

-30-

Visit the province's Web site at http://www.gov.bc.ca/ for online information and services.

Media

contact:
Curt Albertson

Communications Director

250 356-1196

[Julie Ng]

I just heard on radio (AM-News1130) that the BC Provincial Government will be appealing the Auton decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Has anyone else heard anything?

Joachim Pang

[Author]

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