[Isaac]

Here’s a gem from former MCF Minister, Penny Priddy, from comments made to the Vancouver Sun as Government adjourned the legislature this week.

"I feel incredibly nostalgic," said Priddy. "It's a huge gift we've had. I mean I spent 91/2 years in cabinet — that's an enormous gift. I've got a lot of pride in the work I've done. It feel good to point to things I believe are legacies." (Vancouver Sun, April 13, 2001)

Funny how former Ministers come down with a case of “Selective Amnesia” after they leave office.

Let's “point” to one of the “things” in the Priddy legacy, shall we? How about the one where negligence, incompetence and arrogance vis a vis the autism treatment controversy landed Priddy’s Ministry in BC Supreme Court … where she LOST.

Supreme Court ruled our disabled kids are in the right; Priddy’s Ministry — leading the government charge in court — was found to be wrong (along with the rest of Government).

For the first time in B.C. history, Government was accused and found guilty of violating the constitutional rights of disabled children; for the first time in Canadian history, government was accused and found guilty of neglecting to provide or fund “medically necessary” treatment. All this during Minister Priddy’s tenure at the helm of the Children’s Ministry. This shameful history is part of the Priddy legacy too.

Isaac
(Miki’s Dad)

[Isaac]

RE: the Ministry of Health “BC Health Guide”

Most of us received in the mail today — or soon will — Government’s new “BC Health Guide”, produced to help “you and your family stay healthy” (Health Guide overview available at http://www.bchealthaction.org/guide.html)

As part of the BC Government’s $290 million “Health Action Plan”, the glossy, 396 page BC Health Guide has been published in very large quantity by the BC Ministry of Health (MOH) for distribution to every household in B.C. The hefty “handbook” is comprised of twenty-one chapters dealing with a variety of health care issues from “First Aid and Emergencies” to “Chest and Respiratory Problems”; Chapter 11 of the Guide is devoted to “Infant and Child Health”.

As the parent of a child afflicted with autism, I quickly flipped to the “Infant and Child Health” chapter of the Guide to read what the BC Health Ministry says to parents who suspect there may be a developmental issue with their child’s health. I eagerly searched for some kind of infant developmental check-list — some MOH red flags. I looked for MOH guidance on recognized, well established childhood developmental milestones parents should look for to confirm their infant is healthy or, conversely, may be a child in developmental trouble in immediate need of assessment, diagnosis and early intervention. Sorry, not in this government publication.

Coming as no surprise to our new generation of committed parents struggling to provide necessary health care for children with autism, there is absolutely nothing in the newly published BC Government “Health Guide” that addresses the need to screen for developmental problems in infants and young children.

The MOH Health Guide has a lot of helpful physical health care advice targeted mostly for adults, but it has NOTHING (as in “zero”) to say about developmental health for infants and young children. So what DOES the BC Guide say about children’s health? It talks about:

– bed-wetting
– Chickenpox
– Colic
– Cradle Cap
– Croup; Diaper Rash
– Diarrhea and Vomiting
– Fever
– Fever Convulsions
– Impetigo
– Pinworms
– Prickly Heat
– Roseola

That’s all folks! These are ALL the Infant/Child health issues BC Ministry of Health deems sufficiently worthy to talk about in the Health Guide hand book going out to hundreds of thousands of BC households. What is OMITTED about children’s health just screams about the serious, systemic problem with government priorities and misplaced ministry mandate for children’s health.

An obvious conclusion about the Health Guide is that the government view of “health” is still very narrowly defined as PHYSICAL health only. Neurological health issues are totally shut out — and there are very serious statutory and constitutional problems that flow from that.

In blatant disregard for the July 2000 BC Supreme Court ruling stating that autism, like cancer, is a HEALTH issue, the MOH Health Guide confirms that a profound, discriminatory attitude prevails in the way government even DEFINES what constitutes children’s health.

In disregard for the BC Supreme Court view on the nature of autism, very young children with autism — yet to be diagnosed with the disorder — are completely ignored in the BC Health Guide. Our children do not even appear as a “blip” on the Health Ministry radar screen. Yet this is the ministry that consumes over 1/3 of your provincial tax dollars and continues to deny your child’s inclusion in the publicly funded health care system.

Some might argue it makes sense that child development issues don’t even make honourable mention in the Health Ministry’s 396 page Health Guide. After all, autism treatment is the responsibility of the Ministry for Children and Families. This would be a compelling argument except for the thorny and inconvenient fact that the Health Ministry currently has a mandated and acknowledged responsibility for autism diagnosis and assessment! That’s what they said in court.

So what’s up? Why does the user-friendly BC Health guide received in the mail today only spend 21 out of 396 pages on “Infant and Child Health”? How come a meager 5.3 percent of Health Guide pages devoted to children? Why do they not at least mention some of the SYMPTOMS of developmental children’s health issues parents should be looking for? The simple MOH fig leaf: “it’s not our problem, talk to the Children’s Ministry”.

In 1997, the Government of British Columbia transferred responsibility for children with developmental issues out of the Ministry of Health into The Ministry for Children and Families — a Ministry created to deal with social problems (MCF was formerly a division of the Ministry of Social Services). Even though MOH pays for autism diagnosis and assessment, they are on-record regarding policy, that children’s developmental health (autism treatment in particular) is the responsibility of Ministry for Children and Families — a Ministry set up for child protection, not health care issues.

An important part of the BC Supreme Court's reasons for judgment in the July 2000 autism ruling is opinion that child and youth mental health programs should never have been transferred to the Children’s Ministry. But that is where they remain. How many synonyms can we think of for government incompetence — and intransigence?

BC Supreme Court states (Auton et al. v. BC Government, July 2000):

“[58] Dr. Thomas Barnett, who is the child psychiatry representative on the B.C. Psychiatric Association, described the transfer of child and youth mental health programmes from MOH to MCF in 1997 as "an expensive experiment gone wrong." At the community level, he sees no benefits resulting from the transfer, in large part because the individuals who make policy within MCF and determine what services are available for autistic children lack training in psychiatry, psychology or behavioural intervention.”

The Health Guide actually does talk about one health problem that is relevant to some parents of children with autism. There is a section about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS, P. 93). The Guide says, “Symptoms of IBS often increase with stress …”. Of course what the BC Health Guide fails to mention is that for BC parents of children with autism struggling with Children’s Ministry bureaucrats for publicly funded autism treatment — and battling with school districts for mainstreamed educational supports — government is THE major source of pathological stress causing Irritable Bowel Syndrome in mothers of children with autism (this is a best kept government secret so far … anyone interested in doing a landmark study on this womyn’s issue)?

Page 119 of the BC Health Guide DOES give some helpful advice on dealing with “Neck Pain”: the guide states, “Most people occasionally feel … a ‘kink’ in the neck caused by tension … or irritation …”

Even with the helpful BC Health Guide, I still haven’t figured out how to deal with the awful “pain-in-the-neck” caused by MCF’s social workers.

Regards,
Isaac (Miki’s Dad)

[Isaac]

To all FEAT BC e-mail list subscribers:

An appeal was formally filed today against the BC Government in the ongoing struggle to secure publicly funded, medically necessary autism treatment for children with autism.

A portion of today’s FEAT BC press release is below. The full release can be downloaded via the link in this post.

Regards,
Isaac (Miki’s Dad)

____________________________________________
After winning a landmark judgment against the provincial government in BC Supreme Court, the families of children with autism have been forced to file a Notice of Appeal today against the approved remedy which heaps more injustice on defenceless children.
____________________________________________

The link below downloads the complete FEAT BC press release:

https://featbc.org/downloads/FEATbc.release_02_21_01.pdf

[Isaac]

Today on the “Daybreak” show, CBC radio aired a piece on government’s new, so-called “intensive, behavioural”, autism intervention project.

Robin Syme, a senior official from the Children’s Ministry, (A/Director, Child, Family and Community Living) described the autism project and her view regarding the most recent BC Supreme Court ruling.

Jean Lewis, FEAT BC Director, presented FEAT BC’s position on the government autism project.

It’s worth a listen. The program can be heard at the following address http://www.featbc.org/files/media/radio/autism.ram

Thank you Jean. Outstanding job!

Isaac (Miki’s Dad)

[Isaac]

Who are B.C.'s Waiting Children?
_________________________________________________

A provincial election can’t be far off, judging by the government media blitz coming out of Victoria lately.

The Children’s Ministry launched an expensive media campaign this week to show voters their “caring” side with its “Adopt a Child in BC” campaign. The campaign slogan reads, “kids can’t wait to have a family” (Madison Avenue warm ‘n fuzzy kiddie font and streaming videos can be viewed @ http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/adoption/new/index.html). An equally compelling slogan could easily read, “Kids can’t wait to have effective autism treatment” (anyone want to buy a full page ad for that one … we’re easy to reach).

The government campaign asks, “Who are B.C.'s Waiting Children?”
Apparently, “Some of B.C.'s waiting children have special placement needs due to … developmental … or behavioural challenges. They might have special psychological … needs, and may need special supports to help them grow and develop.” (From web site http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/adoption/new/adopt/who.html)

So let’s see if we’ve got this straight. Government steadfastly refuses to pay for autism treatment, even though it’s “medically necessary” according to BC Supreme Court. As a result of government failure, some kids get placed WITH government because their autistic disorder deteriorates; i.e. absent effective treatment, some kids progressively get more out control and the burden on family becomes intolerable. Then, tragically, some untreated kids ultimately become “B.C.'s Waiting Children.” With an election on the horizon, government bureaucrats (and/or spin doctors) likely have concluded there are too many special needs kids in government care. Why not to try to fix the problem with a multi-million dollar TV ad campaign (http://www.gov.bc.ca/communications/media/). The logic likely goes something like this: “lets do a glossy sell job to find adoptive parents for all those special needs kids who are overloading the system and costing us A LOT of money. An ad campaign will also pump up MCF’s flagging caring and compassionate image for the upcoming election”. What about new money to support those prospective adoptive parents? Sorry, this isn’t about substance, we’re manipulating the public here.

The new MCF campaign says, “Some of B.C.'s waiting children … may need special supports to help them grow and develop.” Ironically, government neglect failed these special needs kids in the first place. The necessary “special supports to help them grow and develop” are simply the cruel, empty words of bureaucrats — there is no new funding for MCF’s “Adopt a Child in BC” initiative. This lends support to those who argue the “Adopt a Child in BC” is just pre-election NDP media spin, paid for with lots of your tax dollars. The propaganda campaign is strongly reminiscent of the 20 million dollar pre-election government media blitz in the Clark era of Spring 1996 — different players, same game plan.

The Minister for Children and Families dutifully set out this past Tuesday to sell the government’s “Adopt a Child in BC” campaign on CKNW’s Bill Good Show. Mr. Good asked some tough questions. Not surprisingly, the answers fell far short of the mark. Bill Good said families listening to the Minister “would gag” on her answers. The Minister’s interview is at the CKNW site: http:www.cknw.com (up to October 31).

Meanwhile, FEAT BC members may be interested to know that our government has decided to add to the $400 million they already spend on home-care health care services (http://142.36.183.50/4DClient.acgi$nritem?4109 … “Home care expanded under B.C.'s health action plan”). This funding includes the Ministry of Health’s individualized funding program for home palliative care that gives spouses over $36,000 per year to care for an ailing member of their family … IN THEIR HOME. So… the priorities of this government dictate individualized funding is available from the Ministry of Health for OLDER British Columbians — at the end of their life — but there will be no individualized funding in BC for young, disabled children, struggling at the BEGINNING of their life.

In an ironic twist, Victoria is asking British Columbians to send in their ideas on how to best honour the “Trudeau legacy” (http://www.gov.bc.ca/bcgov/popt/trudeau.htm). One of the government’s suggestions is "Placing a portrait of Trudeau next to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the B.C. Legislature". The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms — the supreme law of Canada — is what the Dosanjh government is now violating according to the BC Supreme Court. The word “hypocrisy” is all that comes to mind.

A photograph of Trudeau in the BC Legislature would be nice, but here is a more appropriate honour of the Trudeau legacy: BC should COMPLY with, and abide by, the constitution Pierre Trudeau brought home to this country. We cannot honour the Trudeau legacy without honouring the charter rights of disabled children.

BC’s children are still waiting.

Isaac
(Miki’s Dad)

[Isaac]

Hi everyone,

A quick note to advise there are several relevant
newspaper clippings added to the featbc web site, including Georgia Straight's editorial, two Victoria Times-Colonist letters, Kitimat Sentinel and Langley Advance letters to the editor.

Available at http://www.featbc.org/the_media/ (click on newspapers).

Also, a copy of the recent unanimous (and strong) Kitimat Council resolution in support of Lovaas Autism Treatment is available for download at the FEAT BC site (Lobby and Advocacy page).

Regards,
Isaac

[Isaac]

Two new stories added today to the FEAT BC media page … "Mom tackles government for failure to help" Vancouver Province 09/01/2000, and "Mother of autistic son launches human-rights [action against BC's Dosanjh government]", Coquitlam Now News, 09/13/2000.

These and other stories are at https://featbc.org

Isaac
(Miki's Dad)

[Isaac]

Hi all,

The FEAT BC web site has been upgraded recently — many thanks to our intrepid volunteer, Attila Odry for his terrific web design work! We invite everyone to take a tour of the new and improved site (https://featbc.org).

For anyone who missed media coverage of the landmark BC Supreme Court decision … and August 25 BC government Notice of Appeal, the revamped FEAT BC Site has TV news clips (including BCTV), streaming radio news (such as CBC’s “As it Happens”), as well as newspaper and newsmagazine articles from the Vancouver SUN, regional papers and Maclean's.

Isaac
(Miki's Dad)

[Isaac]

The Vancouver Sun ran a story today about the Government's appeal of the BC Supreme Court Decision (link below). Thank you to Jean Lewis for giving a strong interview to Sun reporter Neil Hall.

BCTV will be covering the story today (08/29) as is CBC NewsWorld.

Isaac

http://www.vancouversun.com/newsite/news/000829/4667316.html

[Isaac]

RE: Lovaas Treatment/ABA article in MacLean’s Health section

Hi everyone,

MacLean’s magazine hit the stands today (Sept. 4 edition) with a feature on autism and ABA in the Health section. The article is well done: legal issues and the BC Supreme Court victory are discussed; Lovaas Treatment/ABA is a major focus of the piece; government neglect is mentioned, as is the impending Lovaas/ABA law suit against the Government of Nova Scotia.

We encourage everyone to support this type of positive coverage in Canada’s leading, national newsmagazine by purchasing one or more copies to distribute to key people you may know e.g. relatives, your MLA & MP, Doctors, School District administrators, local media people … and yes, even local MCF staff. The article will give your fight a big boost in legitimacy amongst those you know and those whose opinion you are working to sway.

Please write to the Maclean’s editor expressing your views on the story and the issue of public health care funding for autism treatment.

A copy of the Feat BC press release about the BC Government’s appeal of the BC Supreme court decision is available at https://featbc.org/downloads/appealrelease.pdf — many thanks to Avery Raskin (Ariel's Dad) for on going press relations support!

Isaac (Miki’s Dad)
Feat of BC

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