[Maureen St. Cyr]

Hello Sue:

I'm guessing you are talking about forming a
non-profit institution type thing that would have
tax implications. The best place to start with
anything like that is to talk to a good
accountant and find out where the rules are.
Maybe a lawyer too. Revenue Canada is
always playing with the rules and making it
harder to do things like this, but it can be done
if you're persistent and have the energy and
money to set it up. There are hoops to jump
through and I doubt you can do it without
professional help.

[Maureen St. Cyr]

May I wade into this one? Thank you.

Andy Danyliu wrote:

All I said and still believe to be true is that the NDP believe that we (I too am a parent of an autistic child) are "litigious zealots". I never said that I agree with their mistaken opinions.

I'm sure Sabrina accepts your apology, Andy, but you miss the point, which is: It does not matter what the NDP thinks. And personally I doubt they even consider us "litigious zealots" — more like "pains in the butt." But, you see, I don't care. They or their successors will do the right thing, or they will suffer the consequences, be that being voted out of office or taken to court. They did the wrong thing, pure and simple…and compounded that wrong thing with never once owning up to their mistakes and correcting them, even after having that mistake demonstrated to them over and over and over again.

So fine, it looks like the Liberals are going to have their day in power. I am cautiously optimistic about that, because my own experiences with them in opposition have been positive. I had the great pleasure of accompanying Sabrina and Bev to Victoria to present that little petition the NDP ignored. We were treated with respect and understanding and a great deal of class by Ted Nebbeling, and I came away from that experience not only with new reasons to despise the party in power, but also with hopes that their successors might not be so laissez faire about our children's rights.

I am simply suggesting that we talk with the politicians we expect to form the next government to show them what reasonable people we are.

With all due respect, Andy, what in the wide world of sports do you think we HAVE been doing all this time? Do you believe we have waited until the dying days of the Gang of NDP Thugs to chat up the Liberal cavalry? I don't know about you, but I know several FEAT parents who have gone out of their way to enlighten and enlist the Liberals in opposition, which is what led to some of the actions that Sabrina already listed for you.

So by all means, Andy, go right ahead. If you haven't done so already, please do phone your local Liberal MLA or candidate, and explain to them why children with autism deserve to have their rights respected. You might point them at the FEAT website where they can download all kinds of useful information, if they don't already have it. That's http://www.featbc.org — open 24 hours a day.

I was trying to say as someone who spent eight years as an elected official is that cooperation is usually more effective than confrontation.

Yes, cooperation is more effective than confrontation, and we are more than willing to cooperate with anyone who will legitimately work for what is needed for our children. And I will personally confront with my dying breath the miserable self-serving egocentric twits who would deny my child a life because it might put 30 cents into the pocket of someone without an NDP membership card.

It's hard enough dealing with autism without picking fights with other parents in the same boat and it was never my intent to pick one this time.

You said it, Andy.

[Maureen St. Cyr]

Hi Tina:

CEE is effectively closed, but I believe most of
its members are carrying on on their own —
not sure their numbers, but someone else
may be able to help you there. WEAP's
switchboard number is (608) 288-9040 and
their website is http://www.wiautism.com

[Maureen St. Cyr]

Well, Peggy, the way I have it, it's 99 Ways, but
close enough…I've mailed you a copy, but
something tells me it's something the group could
do with:

99 Ways to say "Good Job"

You've got it made
SUPER
You're on the right track now.
That's right.
Exactly right.
You're really working hard today.
You're doing a good job
That's good
I'm proud of the way you worked today.
You've just about got it.
That's the best you've ever done
That's it.
Congratulations
That's quite an improvement
Now you've figured it out.
Great
You're getting better every day.
You did it that time.
That's not half bad.
WOW
That's the way to do it
Keep up the good work
That's the way
You haven't missed a thing
TERRIFIC
FINE
That's the best ever
PERFECT
BEAUTIFUL
You're really going to town
OUTSTANDING
FANTASTIC
TREMENDOUS
Now that's what I call a fine job
Nice going
That's great
Right on
Superb
Good remembering
Keep it up
You got (# of responses) right
You did a lot of work today
That's it
I like that
I'm very proud of you
That's a good girl
MARVELOUS
Way to work
That's really nice
Good going
Well look at you go
Way to go
You've got that down pat
Good for you
I think that you've got it now
Good job Ariel
You remembered
You figured that out fast
Now you have the hang of it
You are very good at that
That's coming along very nicely
That's much better
Good work
I'm happy to see you working like that
You are doing much better today
Now you have it
Hurray
You are learning fast
You did it
Good for you
Couldn't have done it better myself
You make it look easy
You really make my job fun
That's the way to do it
Outta sight
Nice going
Got it
SENSATIONAL
That's better
Nothing can stop you now
EXCELLENT
That was first class work
WONDERFUL
Much better
You've just mastered that
That's better than ever

[Maureen St. Cyr]

Hi Dave…I'm actually surprised you've never run into this before, but yes, to my knowledge all the reputable consultants charge for phone and email service, though sometimes not at the same rate as for in-person workshops. The actual fees vary, and if you are concerned, you should speak to your consultant about it, but it is not unreasonable to think we would have to pay for these. Whether by phone or mail or in person, it takes their time to work on your child's program, and it is their time that we are paying for.

[Maureen St. Cyr]

I must have missed Shannon Rice's post, but
I am extremely skeptical about any
consultants who are "courting her." We all
know there is an extreme shortage of
qualified, capable, professional ABA
consultants. THEY don't "court" anyone — they
have waiting lists. Before using any new
consultanting firm or individual, it is best to
check them out VERY carefully. Ask about their
education and background and especially ask
for references. "Has BC hired some qualified
consultants?" If by this you mean the BC
government, pardon me for laughing out loud.
Our wonderful provincial mandarins will have
to be dragged kicking and screaming through
the courts before they will bow to doing
anything of value to our children.

[Maureen St. Cyr]

Is it reasonable to do a pop quiz during a team
meeting? I guess that would depend on a few
things:

1) How did they do it — attitude-wise. Was this
a genuine assessment of skill, or a power
play?

2) How 'senior' is the senior, and how 'junior'
are the juniors? If you have a very experienced
and skilled ST and a group of very green
juniors, then quizzing during a team meeting
might be a good way to keep the training up.

3) Saving the most important for last — What
does the consultant think of it? If mine advised
our ST to do full written exams quarterly, I'd
think long and hard before at least giving it a
try. And if anything in Ariel's program looks
funny to me, I call our Big C first about it.

All of the above said, my personal gut reaction
is that running through the program as a team
with the child during the meeting is a far better
way of assessing skill levels than a "pop quiz",
assuming my mental image fits the actual
event that occurred.

[Maureen St. Cyr]

When it comes to dealing with inquiries from ANYONE about something that is personal family business, I think you have to make your own decision. But having said that, the fact that you would be uncomfortable discussing your ABA program with a social worker is another fine example of why the recent legal battle was fought — and why it was won.

You have every right to be proud of having an ABA program for your child. It is the first best thing you could do, and arguably the toughest (remember, dolphin therapy is easy). You have the right to tell anyone who asks, "Yes, I do ABA, the only scientifically-proven treatment for autism in existence."

And thanks to Justice Allan, no government can ever again threaten you or your family for exercising your child's rights under the Canadian Constitution.

[Maureen St. Cyr]

Hello Anna, and anyone else in similar straits…

Unfortunately, you don't mention where you are, but if you're on/near the north shore, there's 2 Cute 4 U on Bellevue in West Van…so that's for hair.

For flash cards, I'd try Staples — I've bought stuff like that there for both Ariel and our little TD wonder as well.

Good luck

Avery

[Maureen St. Cyr]

How do you spell government stooge? Gee, could it be Carole McLean and Christopher Booth? Let's see, shall we take it in order?:

"…we hope that when future decisions are made regarding funding other approaches to autism treatment are not disregarded."

Hmm, dolphin therapy, perhaps?

"There is a disservice…in publishing articles suggesting that a Lovaas style early intervention program using applied behavioural analysis is the "cure" for autism."

Ah yes, the "Lovaas claims cure" argument. Seems the government tried that one to no avail as well. Do any of us use the "C" word? Does Lovaas or McEachin or Smith or Madam Justice Allan? I thought not.

"We and many others believe that the Ivar Lovaas's methods are cruel and dated and his premise shows a complete misunderstanding of the autistic child. "

Oh yes, them and many others, like government hacks and "service providers" on their payroll. Such dated methods. Unlike such "new" treatments as Hanen, pulpwood diets, and let's not forget dolphin therapy,

"That there is one golden treatment for any given medical condition is absurd…"

Of course not. After all, why treat bacterial infection with antibiotics when there are so many alternatives, like faith healing…or DOLPHIN THERAPY!!!

"Just because the Lovaas method has been done for 30 years does not mean it is the right thing to do."

No, just because it's been done for 30 years, researched and proven effective — THAT'S why it's the right thing to do. But heck, if you want something new, there's always DOLPHIN THERAPY.

"…we would urge all parents with autistic children to find out as much as possible about autism through a variety of sources."

Funny, that's what we did, and guess what — we found out there was only one therapy program that has any effect, and now we have a laughing happy beautiful daughter, instead of the withdrawn, sad child we once had. But maybe she'd be doing better if we'd tried THE MIRACLE DIET! (thought I was gonna say dolphin therapy, didn't you?)

"There exist many other treatments…"

Name two with any proven effectiveness.

"and each child must be treated as an individual…"

Which is why Lovaas programs require consultants and plans and data collection and adaptation and generalization, as opposed to, say, DOLPHIN THERAPY, which works exactly the same way on ALL autistic children.

"There is no cure for autism, but there are ways to raise children to be successful and confident adults without resorting to a Lovaas program of therapy. "

Sure there are. You can raise children to be successful and confident adults without Lovaas therapy…as long as they're not children with autism….or are on such a mild end of the spectrum as to have few deficits to start with.

I hope with all my heart that these idiots have an extremely high-functioning five-year-old. Otherwise, they're going to get a harsh wake-up to reality in a few years, and their child will be the one who has paid the price for it.

If these two are for real, they are the perfect shining example of how misguided, misinformed and malignant people can be in their ignorance, and they are the best example of why this lawsuit was so necessary, and why this government deserves to be punished for the myths and malicious negligence they have perpetrated on our children for far too many years.

Sorry about the endless vent. Sometimes I don't know whether to laugh, cry or scream.

Avery
Ariel's Dad

[Author]

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