[Dubravka Skrijelj]

THERAPIST NEEDED IN N. SURREY, GREEN TIMBER AREA:

We need an energetic and reliable therapist to work with our lovely non-verbal 9-y/old daughter. If you are bright, compassionate, sporty oriented person and have excellent play skills, please contact us! You must be at least 19 years of age with a clear criminal record check, have a reliable vehicle and be able to commit to at least one year to a minimum of two shifts per week and our bi-weekly team meetings.

Previous experience is preferred but not required, as you will be trained on an ongoing basis under a close supervision of our excellent ABA team and our consultant, Dr. Sara White.

If interested in this position or have further questions, please send your resume and availabilities to Dubravka at debra5450@hotmail.com

[Dubravka Skrijelj]

Re: ABA trained respite caregivers:

Beside the question how possibly we can leave our children with someone whom we don't know and we can't trust, I have another question:
How possibly any moment of supervision or care to our children can be done without using the ABA principles?

A couple of years ago when I started to use my respite hours for the first time, I couldn't find anyone who was ABA trained for this purpose. My choice was to register one of my therapists who did such great respite time for me, first of all because I trusted the person and I could relax or go anywhere I needed, leaving my child alone with my therapist at my house or outside in the community, and secondly, because the therapist was properly ABA trained and knew exactly what to do with my child.

Up to date, the Association sends regularly their questionnaire asking us how we are satisfied with their service. Unfortunately there has never been a question about the necessity for ABA trained personnel.

Up to date, it was always my initiative to find a trustful caregiver and provide the person with ABA training first, prior to any work done with my child. It is my choice, based on some negative experience from the past, that my daughter can't be supervised with anyone who is not properly trained in her specific ABA protocol.

All parents who have chosen the ABA for their children, why should we choose differently when considering to send our children to summer camps? This is not only from the safety reasons but also because they can and will learn something new in that environment as well. Our children will not lose their autism there, they always need appropriately ABA trained shadows wherever they go.

Thanks All.

[Dubravka Skrijelj]

ABA JOB POSITION AVAILABLE-
on our home-based ABA team with our wonderful 8 year old girl.

Experience is an asset, but not a requirement.If you are bright, compassionate, committed, and have good play skills, this is your opportunity to learn the Dr. Lovaas ABA technique and Verbal Behaviour approach in teaching children with autism.
We ask you to commit about 9 hours per week (3 working shifts, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday preferably) for a minimum of six months and to attend bi-monthly team meetings.

We are located in North Surrey, walking distance from a bus stop on 104Ave and 144St.

If interested, please e-mail us (along with your resume) at debra5450@hotmail.com

[Dubravka Skrijelj]

Hi Monika,

Thank you for your explanation regarding supported child care service, but I am wondering for how long this opportunity will be given to us?
Please take a look at gov't web-site: http://www.sccp.bc.ca/SCC%20Refocus.htm

"The Ministry has directed regions to proceed with moving the responsibility for the delivery of SCD services from government to community agencies by February 28, 2005."

At this moment, the ministry would pay to you directly to hire a person for supported child care; the question is would those community agencies allow parents to choose the same option, child's therapist as a care giver in the future?

[Dubravka Skrijelj]

Hi all,
There was an announcement by Mr. Vaughn Palmer at Shaw channel 4 that he will interview Mr. Plant tomorrow, Dec. 1st.
Sorry folks, I haven't caught what time it will be.

[Dubravka Skrijelj]

Hi All,

"The Province" has left an open phone line 604-605-2029, fax: 604-605-2099 and e-mail: provletters@png.canwest.com for public to respond to their yesterday's article:

"Need to fund autistic kids more moral than legal

The Province

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Understandably, families of autistic children were devastated by a top court decision that left them without guaranteed public funding for a costly, yet effective form of treatment for their kids.

But as far as social policy is concerned, the Supreme Court of Canada's unanimous judgment was bang on. Constitutional experts say had the court ruled that governments were obliged to fund treatment for autistic children, the same right would have had to apply to all disabled groups seeking specialized treatment.

Indeed, it would have been impossible, says law expert Jamie Cameron, to fashion an exception for autistic children without subjecting the health system to tonnes of lawsuits by people seeking coverage for other disabilities.

But just because Canada's provincial governments are not legally bound to fund medical treatment for these kids, doesn't mean they shouldn't.

For the record, autism is a developmental disability that involves delays and impairment in social skills, language and behaviour. It usually develops during pregnancy and the first three years of life.

From all accounts, the cost to society is far greater if autistic children don't get the intensive, one-on-one, 40-hours a week treatment. Families argue that without the therapy, most of these kids wind up in institutions, at a far greater cost to the taxpayer.

That's likely why some provinces, namely Alberta, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, cover at least part of the costs.

B.C. currently provides about a third of the therapy funding for an estimated 2,600 children. Those younger than age six are eligible for $20,000 annually, while youth can receive up to $6,000 a year — not a lot, given the price tag for treatment tops $60,000 annually.

It's time those who administer B.C.'s $9-billion-a-year health system found the means to manage the funds to facilitate larger subsidies for families with autistic kids.

It's in everyone's interest."

[Dubravka Skrijelj]

Hi all!
While collecting signatures for our petiton, I was surprised to find how many people don’t know what autism is and how effective treatment exists but is denied to our kids. I made a one-page quick educational letter by using most of the information and text from FEAT- web site. I’ve found this very helpful in providing people with facts and getting their signatures.
Please be free to stick or share this letter at any public place you go, to create more awareness:

ATTENTION TO ALL CANADIAN CITIZENS:

EFFECTIVE, SCIENTIFICALLY BACKED TREATMENT FOR AUTISM EXISTS!
Effective, scientifically backed treatment for autism exists (the "Lovaas" Method – a form of Applied Behavior Analysis, also known as ABA/IBI therapy). Lovaas behavioural treatment for autism is medically necessary and prescribed by physicians because it is the only treatment available that significantly improves this neurological disorder. Thirty years of research have documented the "Lovaas Method" of behavioural treatment for Autistic children. The method, pioneered by Dr. Ivar Lovaas (U.C.L.A.), is now widely used throughout the world and is remarkably successful.
Scientific studies document a 47% recovery rate from autism and a near 100% improvement rate for children who receive Lovaas early treatment. The cost of Lovaas-style therapy for autism is not covered by the B.C. Ministry of Health's provincial health care plan (British Columbia, Canada). Educational institutions in B.C. do not train therapists in this treatment method. This is serious discrimination against mentally disabled children.
The prognosis of untreated autistic children is bleak. Autism has an organic biological base. This terrible condition affects 1 in 165 children in B.C. Lovaas behavioural treatment allows the child to overcome the dysfunction, similar to the treatment of individuals who have suffered a brain injury or stroke. With these individuals, the brain is capable of compensating for the injury with appropriate therapy. Skills are learned or relearned in a slow and methodical process.
Catastrophic medical costs are devastating B.C. families who choose to fight autism with the only scientifically proven treatment currently available. They must privately pay for their child’s therapy and also import experts from the U.S., at their own expense, to train a staff of therapists. Many families can not afford to pay for this therapy.
Children with autism are currently excluded from a so-called universal Canadian health care system, during the critical, early years of their life when a real difference can be made towards recovery from autism. The right to Medicare, as one of the defining features of Canadian Nationhood, must extend to medically necessary autism treatment for all children who require it.
It is fundamental that an autistic child’s access to medically necessary autism treatment be solely based on need and not individual ability to pay.
Lovaas behavioural treatment of autism must be covered by the government health insurance plan because it is medically necessary care (63 B.C. psychiatrists have endorsed the Lovaas autism treatment method as medically necessary intervention that should be funded under Medicare;).
When an effective Autism therapy exists, yet treatment is not funded by the Government in a universal, accessible manner, young children become victims of a serious crime of omission — they are condemned to live a life imprisoned by the condition of Autism. The cost in terms of human suffering is not to be measured.
A civilized society cannot allow this type of neglect of special needs children, nor can it allow families who struggle against Autism to fight alone, with devastating family and financial consequences. It takes only a signature of yours to change this terrible injustice to most vulnerable citizens.

For more information please visit http://www.featbc.org or phone FEAT of B. C. at: (604)534-6956

[Dubravka Skrijelj]

To all of you who feel sad on today's great but shameful day,
when the battle has been lost but not the entire war:

The war has just began against the cowards who leave their injured behind,
the war for the sake of the most vulnerable – our children, our future.

We may not let anyone encage our sick children with the life sentence of autism,
when treatment is available to stop or to reverse this condition to the point of total cure.

Today's day is calling us to endure, to persist and fight, keep going,
and the more the pressure is, the more we will resist,
and our strength is endless, the same as our love to all of our children.

[Dubravka Skrijelj]

Hello to all parents!

I am having some difficulties with receiving the IEII funds for my 5 y/old child. In the past we have been receiving the $1,667.00 monthly without problem. From April 1st, since we have signed our new contract with the Ministry, we haven’t got any money for our ABA therapy yet.

Does anyone of you parents have the same problem and since when?

[Dubravka Skrijelj]

Hi all!
There is a very interesting article about different causes of autism in this second placed of most visited Natural Health sites:
http://www.mercola.com/2001/dec/1/immunizations2.htm

[Author]

Posts