[Isaac]

Dave Collyer wrote:

"It has been my experience … that a good consultant who has the training, experience and supervision is critical."

I fully agree with Dave's view on this; a good consultant is ABSOLUTELY crucial for successful outcomes. Designing a Lovaas-type ABA treatment program (which, by the way, should always be a program that's customized to the child) is a VERY complicated affair. This is no place for amateurs or "professionals" of the generic sort.

Line therapists must certainly be sufficiently trained and educated so as to properly implement the treatment program, but in no way are they (or the parents) qualified to DESIGN an effective, successful Lovaas-type ABA treatment program. To design a quality autism treatment regimen requires, at minimum, a graduate level degree and many years of hands-on work in this specific discipline (i.e., autism-specific ABA, along the Lovaas model).

Autism treatment is a very serious undertaking. Well-meaning amateurs and/or inept "professionals" should be kept as far away from your child as possible.

[Isaac]

Hello everyone,

It's easier now to order your "MEDICARE FOR AUTISM NOW!" wristbands.
Just go to https://featbc.org and click on the wristbands photo. The order form will download to your computer (Acrobat PDF form).

[Isaac]

Hello everyone,

Here is yet more peer reviewed research to back up what everyone with no government agenda (or a contractor's nose in governmentÕs copious dough-trough) has known for a very long time É Lovaas-style autism treatment works.

The latest research can be downloaded here:
https://featbc.org/downloads/Sallows_Graupner_05.pdf

Isaac

[Isaac]

Hello everyone,

Here is a recommended read for members of this discussion group who are interested in science-based autism research that’s happening right now.

–> https://featbc.org/downloads/Science_06_05.pdf

In the June article from ‘Science’, the Journal's author presents new findings — based on MRI brain-scan research — that suggest a possible “paradigm shift” in what we know about autism.

This research is important stuff. It sure would be gratifying to know that one or more Canadian universities were part of this kind of valuable research work, but alas, to the best of my knowledge this type (or quality) of autism research is not happening anywhere North of the 49th. To be fair, perhaps Paul Martin has some kind of as yet unannounced government 5-year plan for innovation and research in the works of which I’m not aware.

The autism study covered in the ‘Science’ article is pure research thus far (read: no treatment implications yet) but it significantly moves the field forward. The piece is a very refreshing read, as contrasted against the pabulum regularly served up by mainstream media’s coverage of this disorder.

Isaac

[Isaac]

Yet another autism treatment study has been published showing that intensive behavioural treatment for autism (A.K.A. Lovaas-ABA) really works and — importantly — is more effective than the potpourri of "eclectic" offerings that government-owned academic hacks and quacks are so very fond of pushing in Canada.

You can read about the research here: https://featbc.org/downloads/Cal_State_08_05_05.pdf

[Isaac]

More information has become available relating to the "autism-is-a-misunderstood-culture" thread we had in this forum a few weeks ago (The mother in Richie's world, Times-Colonist, Victoria, Page D01, 13-Mar-2005).

The Ottawa autism list has a post by Andrew Kavchak, about a web site that speaks to the topic:
_________________________________________________
In autismsupportOttawa@yahoogroups.com
"It was just brought to my attention that a new website has been created to provide some critical analysis to the arguments propagated by the "Autism is a culture" fringe. If you have ever found their statements somewhat misguided but were confused by the content, this site may provide you with some assistance in putting it in context and perspective."
http://66.221.49.64/dawson/

_________________________________________________

[Isaac]

Further to the discussion on whether autism is somehow a misunderstood "culture," and the ridiculous notion that society must change to accept weird and disruptive behaviour as natural, please refer to the World Health Organization's classification of autism below:
**************************************************************

World Health Organization
International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems
10th Revision
Version for 2003

Chapter V, Mental and Behavioural Disorders, Disorders of Psychological
Development

F84.0 Childhood autism
A type of pervasive developmental disorder that is defined by: (a) the
presence of abnormal or impaired development that is manifest before the age of
three years, and (b) the characteristic type of abnormal functioning in all the
three areas of psychopathology: reciprocal social interaction, communication,
and restricted, stereotyped, repetitive behaviour. In addition to these
specific diagnostic features, a range of other nonspecific problems are common,
such as phobias, sleeping and eating disturbances, temper tantrums, and
(self-directed) aggression.
Autistic disorder
Infantile:
á autism
á psychosis
Kanner's syndrome

**************************************************************

So, to all the delusional and likely disingenuous people who endorse the fringe notion of autism as a ÔcultureÕ, please note that autism is a rubric in the World Health Organization International Statistical Classification of DISEASES, not the U.N.'s Statistical Classification of Misunderstood Cultures (although a W.H.O. statistical list of opportunistic malingerers would be quite apt). Publisher Lenny Schafer eloquently sums up the autism-is-a-culture nonsense thus: "[they are] a handful of imposters crying a contrived victimhood."

Isaac

(thank you to Nora Whitney for the WHO contribution)

[Isaac]

To follow up on my recent comments regarding the fallacious 'autism-is-a-culture' thesis, i.e.– the "don't force autistic kids to be normal" view of autism, recently reported in the Victoria Times Colonist story of a parent-advocate, Sheri Marino ("The Mother in Richie's World" http://www.featbc.org/cgi-local/forum/show.cgi?tpc=4&post=5250#POST5250), today we read a markedly opposing medical opinion in the 'USA Today' (article by Sharon Jayson, USA TODAY, March 29, 2005).

In stark contrast to the fringe notion that autism is a 'natural' yet somehow misunderstood part of human diversity, research psychiatrist and neuroscientist, Dr. Thomas Insel, Director of the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health and head of an interagency federal panel on autism, holds the following professional view regarding the disorder:

"[autism is] a tremendously disabling brain disease, which really robs a child and a family of the personhood of this child."

The position of this medical scientist couldn't possibly be more obvious and succinct — autism IS a disease.

So, with apologies to Ms. Marino and others who may unfortunately share similarly delusional views of this debilitating disorder, the expressed view of the leading mental health expert in the U.S.is that we are dealing with a genuine disease — not a misunderstood culture, not a learning disability, not a social services problem, but rather, a severely disabling disease of the brain. Ergo, for Canadians who believe that our universal health care system is the defining feature of Canadian nationhood, the message to all is patently clear: "Medicare for Autism Now!"

Isaac (Miki's Dad)

________________________________________________________
USA Today excerpt from the article, "More questions than answers in autism,"
Sharon Jayson, March 29, 2005:

"Research psychiatrist and neuroscientist, Thomas Insel, director of the National
Institute of Mental Health and head of an interagency federal panel on autism.

Insel says autism might in fact be "many different illnesses with one name," which would account for the array of symptoms, varied times of diagnoses and different strands of autistic behavior. "These are urgent questions because we're talking about a lot of children and a tremendously disabling brain disease, which really robs a child and a family of the personhood of this child," Insel says."
_____________________________________________

[Isaac]

test

[Isaac]

Regarding some recent posts to the chat-board, I would like to offer a few clarifying remarks on how Lovaas-type ABA is typically funded in the U.S. vs. Canada, in view of some misleading assertions made recently in this forum.

"… unless you are on Medicade (poverty level) the U.S. gov. does NOT cover "all" treatment in the U.S. regardless of IDEA and ADA, and their treatment and funding for medicade families is selective at best."

This perhaps may be true for physical disorders, but it's decidedly untrue where ABA treatment for American children afflicted with autism is concerned. In the U.S., parents have developed a way to utilize Medicade to fund medically necessary autism treatment for their children; they re-classify the child as an individual who is "poor" and then obtain the federal funding required for the prescribed autism treatment – i.e., Lovaas-type ABA. In short, necessary autism treatment is funded by the U.S. government and is not "selective" or available only for the rich, but rather, is quite common and widespread across the U.S., under federal funding. The situation in Canada is distressingly disparate É "please go and plead with a social worker," for your kid's physician-prescribed autism health care (could it possibly get more absurd).

To further address recent remarks to the forum:

"These [U.S.] laws change by state and county …"

Not true. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the American Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are both very important U.S. federal laws designed to protect disabled persons, including children afflicted with autism. It states the obvious that U.S. federal law canÕt possibly "change by state and county," because they are, by definition … federal laws.

And onto the last remark recently posted to this forum:

"Further … what the heck does same sex have to do with ABA?

For anyone who takes the trouble to keep up with Canadian news, the answer is quite obvious. An excerpt from a recent Ottawa Citizen article helps explain for those who don't:

"Paul Martin said, 'You can't pick and choose minority rights, or the fundamental rights, that you're going to defend. You're going to defend all rights. I defend the Charter.' Picking, choosing and discriminating is exactly what Mr. Martin and Justice Minister Irwin Cotler did last June when the federal government intervened against disabled children in the Supreme Court of Canada's hearing of the Auton case, in which several were seeking to have their autistic children's core health needs brought under the umbrella of Canada's health-care system."

The full Ottawa Citizen article is below, on the same-sex Charter rights connection with autism treatment.

*******************************************************
Autistic children deserve full health-care coverage
The Ottawa Citizen
Feb 4, 2005
Page: A13
Section: News
Edition: Final

Byline: Andrew Kavchak

As the parent of a four-year-old autistic boy who was diagnosed at CHEO in 2003 and who is still on the waiting list for medically necessary treatment, I am greatly offended by the prime minister's attempt to claim the moral high ground by suggesting that same-sex marriage is a minority-rights issue.

Paul Martin said, "You can't pick and choose minority rights, or the fundamental rights, that you're going to defend. You're going to defend all rights. I defend the Charter.''

Picking, choosing and discriminating is exactly what Mr. Martin and Justice Minister Irwin Cotler did last June when the federal government intervened against disabled children in the Supreme Court of Canada's hearing of the Auton case, in which several families were seeking to have their autistic children's core health needs brought under the umbrella of Canada's health-care system.

Although the families had won in the lower courts, the government side won at the Supreme Court in November and the equality provisions of the Charter were effectively gutted. Since then, Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh has not made a single effort to extend medicare to autistic children.

Society should be judged by how it treats those who need help. On this score, Canada fails miserably.

Last December, an Ipsos-Reid survey revealed that, despite the Supreme Court decision, 84 per cent of Canadians believe the health-care system should cover the costs of the intensive behavioural treatment required for children suffering from autism.

Why should health care for disabled children not be at least as important a priority for our government as same-sex marriage?

Andrew Kavchak,
Ottawa
*******************************************************

[Author]

Posts