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Pete Stelmaschuk
MemberFamilies know who the good Consultants are:
They are the ones that stuck with us through this battle (and of course have the proper credentials).
We need to make our voice heard to the government.
MemberIt was great to see such a large turn-out of parents with autistic children at yesterday's Community Living meeting. My regards to the Maple Ridge Autism Support Group. It was great to meet such an actively positive group! I encourage all parents to attend the next Community Living meeting in their area.
It appears we are at a time of changing government structure, particularly regarding MCFD. The more informed we are of these changes, the better advocates we will be for our children.
Shelley Bonwick
Zane's MomMemberI agree with Michelle, parents with autistic children need to be at the meeting in Maple Ridge. I did not know that the "recommendations to the Govt show that autism funding will be included in this package to this body, but these funds will not be earmarked for children with autism." These are concerns that need to be addressed.
The meeting takes place at 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge 9 am 3 pm, Saturday, October 26th. See ya all there.
Shelley Bonwick
Zane's MomMemberI thought I would pass on this letter from Lorraine Ward in response to comments made from a "Militant Mom".
"I sat at the Joint Budget table these past two weeks (voluntarily) and choked back my tears while I reminded government that if we did not protect individuals and families during this transition and in the midst of budget reductions, we would see more family suicides like the Baulne family in Kelowna in January 2002. It would have been much easier to sit in the comfort of my home and send out poison pen missiles to people sitting down with government than it would have been to sit at that table and fight for families. Aside from parenting my two teenagers with autism, this was one of the most difficult unpaid tasks I have experienced in terms of emotional wear and tear.
I also spent a large part of my summer volunteering on the Finance and H.R. Work Committee supporting the TSC. It would have been far more lucrative to devote my attention to my accounting service rather than to volunteer for this labor of love. And it would have been a lot more fun to be on the golf course, but these are the choices we make.
At the Coalition and at the TSC we have always believed that the success of the transition to community governance and the safety and security of individuals and families was as important to the Ministry as it was to us. We recognized, just like people affected by changes to Health, MHR, Forestry etc., that the budget targets set by Treasury Board were firm and that although we always reserve the right to protest it made sense to sit down with the Ministry and try to work with them to protect families. Our plan was always to do this with two reasonableness tests in mind both of which have been agreed to by the Minister in writing the first was that any changes had to have the support of the community and the second was that the safety and security of individuals must be paramount. So we, the community of parents, family members and service providers, sat down with senior ministry staff to work through the numbers and stay firm on our principle of reducing bureaucracy and administration and being creative while ensuring that families are not hurt.
Although I cannot say anything specific because the information is subject to the oath of confidentiality, as a Mom, I am very pleased with where we ended up. Over the next few days the results of this commitment, to work with the Ministry instead of against them, can be measured by what we achieved. It is my firm belief that families across the province will be pleased and relieved. I believe that we have been successful in finding ways to deal with the reduced budgets imposed by government while protecting individuals and families.
If there is or was a better alternative I would have loved to hear it! Instead all I heard from Dawn Steel was criticism of our efforts without proposing any viable alternative. My personal philosophy is not to criticize unless I have a superior plan. Step up to the plate, Dawn, if you have a better idea we all would love to hear it. There is still time.
I grieve when I see a community divided on the issue of how we try to help our loved ones with special needs. I recoil with shock when I see a mother pitting herself against other mothers. I dream of a society where we put our shoulders together and push with all our might toward a common goal: helping families make choices which best suit themselves and their loved one. We can keep throwing stones at one another while we sit back and let government arbitrarily slice huge chunks of money out of community living budgets, and we can watch bureaucracy grow, with dire consequences to families, or we can join together and use our energy in a positive manner to take control of spending and address those hundreds and perhaps thousands of families out there who have no services, or services which do not work for themselves or their loved one. And we can await the next suicide. We can make this a community endeavor, and yes, this does involve trust, or we can sit back and let government ruin more lives. Its time to make a choice. I know who I trust and I know where I will focus my energy: on those people who have made community living a reality over the past thirty or more years. The rest is negative and does not deserve anyones attention or fear."
Lorraine Ward
MemberI can't make the meeting tonight but I heard that Birgitta will be giving another talk in Surrey. I was hoping someone will post the details of the meeting or (if it shouldn't be discussed on this forum) could you email me at petrixx@shaw.ca. For us out in Abbotsford, it is just to far for us to go.
Shelley Bonwick
Zane's MomMemberMy heart goes out to Linda Cucek when thinking of all she has endured. Her son is eighteen yet still she remains active in the cause, and that should always be applauded. Likewise, Sabrina Freeman's contribution is undeniable. Both parents serve as examples for positive activism. If each of us could contribute only a small fraction in comparison to what these ladies have already done, it would be truely amazing. They are inspiration to my belief that parents can truely make the differnce in our children's lives.
MemberAlthough I encountered (and still do ), pretty-much the same problems with supported child-care before my son became school-aged, I used to be one of those parents that never fully appreciated parent-teacher-aide issues. I am now faced with the dilemma of withdrawing my son from Kindergarten, or allowing the teacher and his aide to keep him "special needs" for the rest of his life.
The question remains: if I take Zane out of school, what do I do with his education ( keeping in mind that autism is a behaviorally defined disorder, characterized by a marked impairment of social skills)? I live in Abbotsford and I have heard that there are daycare/kindergarten centers in Surrey/Langley/Whiterock that allow ABA therapist to do as their training has taught and to act in the child's best interest. If this is an option (I am also considering homeschooling), I would really like more information.
Tomorrow I go to my son's first IEP meeting. There are several important issues that need to be addressed and resolved. Every day, my therapists have accompanied my son into kindergarten. Our communication book has became a written docement of every struggle. I am very interested in collecting records of other parents with the very same struggles and I would gladly pass my own on. My email is: petrixx@shaw.ca
MemberI have a question in regards to the Conference.
Are we saying we shouldn't attend because the Laurel Group is involved? If we qualify for the subsidy, should we not make use of it?
I am against the age discrimination (of course) but maybe Linda Ried will attend and I can tell her myself.
What is a mother (desperate to learn more of autism treatment and care) with a five year old autistic boy to do?
Zane's Mom
MemberHas anyone ever had their child "stim" off their own name? I have asked the professionals and they don't have much to say. My son is repeating his name to himself over and over. It really makes him seem strange and otherwise he has no visable autistic mannerism (no big ones anyways).
Should I just try to ignore the behavior? Use his name less frequently? I know this board is not to replace consultants but I have always found that parents are far more knowledgable than the "professionals" (I hope this does not offend anyone).
Shelley
Zane's momMemberDesparately searching for an ABA therapist for the Abbotsford area. Zane is very mildly autistic, becoming more verbal every day. Hours are very flexable and experience is required. Please phone 604-864-0894 or 604-308-3438 and ask for Shelley.
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