[J.Graham]

Looking for gently used Touchmath Pre-K and/or Kindergarten.

If you have these and would like to sell please email me with price etc.

Thanks,

Jen

magnolias@telus.net

[J.Graham]

Hi all,

I am looking for any research articles or studies (peer reviewed would be best) regarding comparisons of ABA vs Pharmacutical drugs (Ritalin etc.)as treatment options for a child with autism. If anyone has any links to any please send them to magnolias@telus.net

Thanks,

Jen

[J.Graham]

Hi everyone. I was wondering if anyone has had experience with CBI Consultants? Looking for any info – positive or negative… I am requesting this info for another parent.
If you could e-mail me privately I would really apprecriate it.

Thanks.

magnolias@telus.net

[J.Graham]

You are correct, she was placed into a facility… I wonder if she is scared and wants to go home?
With all due respect, not everyone can afford a Lovaas team.
The point here is not the treatment, although it would certainly help if affordable, but the ability for CPS to come into the home and take a child with no apparent reason except that the father seems overworked. Aren't all parents of children with autism overworked? There has been no wrong done to this child in the home, with many accounts from teachers, family, friends and even a nurse confirming she is cared for as best as possible by her loving Dad at home and is happy there.
What this Dad needed was the extra support from the ministry, not to have his child taken away, this is not in the best interest of the child. BC needs to take responsibility for not helping. This Dad has 3 kids and two having autism and is doing his best with what little support he has been given. We all are.
Wandering is very common among children with autism… in the US they have recognized this and are working very hard at having a wandering prevention and response system put into place for this very reason. http://www.awaare.org
Should we think twice about phoning 911 if/when one of our children wanders because we could risk our child being taken from us when found? I hope not… If this is how the Ministry in BC is going to help us, be very afraid… I am.

[J.Graham]

If anyone has any information you could give to this Dad, or any help you could offer, please contact him at the email below.

Thanks,

Jen

My name is Derek I am a single father of three wonderful young children, aged 9, 10 and 11; my youngest two have both been diagnosed with severe autism. Though a constant and challenging struggle, I have done my best to protect and nurture them, as I love them so much and have dedicated my life to their achievement of happiness. My youngest child …is a bright and beautiful little spitfire named Ayn. She has and is blossoming so well here at home and has come so far to overcome her obvious disability, she does however continue to struggle and outburst when in other environments, particularly at school. Ayn is naive and unaware of the dangers that exist in the world at large, so when on Sunday she escaped the backyard we were very worried for her safety. With each passing moment the likelihood that something terrible had happened increased, as Ayn should stand out from other children easily and should have been quickly spotted. Fortunately Ayn was discovered two doors down playing in a neighbours backyard, the neighbour had taken an afternoon nap which provided Ayn with the ability to play undisturbed. The challenges I have faced in caring for my daughter have been encompassing and life altering, these challenges are very dynamic and new challenges arise as fast as the old one depart. Now with her discovery of the neighbours nearby trampoline and pool, she will undoubtedly seek to return there, vigilance will be required to face this new found challenge, but it is one which I must now face just as I have with each prior challenge and as i would have to with our future challenges as well. As it stands today I may never get that opportunity. This morning two workers from CPS arrived at my home to request that I "voluntarily" give Ayn over to them (she was at school at the time), if I refused they would simply coercively remove her. There should be no illusions here when someone approaches you and says "give me your child or i'm taking her" you should not pretend that any such choice would be done "voluntarily". They do not argue that she was abused, they do not argue that she was unnurtured, they simply say that as a single father I have an overwhelming amount of responsibilty and workload, and that Ayn's naivity renders her a danger to herself, and due to me having so much to deal with they should remove her in effect to lighten my workload. It is not argued that Ayn was thriving here, it was not argued that Ayn was failing to improve at home, but that her behaviour was self endangering. My little girl is autistic, I am aware that she does not understand the dangers that lurk, I love her and I protect her, when Ayn has a tantrum at school it is me they either call in to calm her or send her home to, when she is injured it is to me whom she turns because she "needs a bandage". The greatest successes this little girl has had were nurtured in the home, she loves it here, she loves her brothers and she loves her Dad, please help me get my little girl back.

I would be forever in your debt,

Derek

iconoclast_ensues@yahoo.com

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_152278868178942&ap=1

[J.Graham]

Hi Roxanne,

Why the animosity and personal attacks? Why are you concerned if Ducky is this posters name?
Does it really matter? No it doesn’t…
I read those posts as someone passing along info that worked for them to other parents. This is a good thing…
Dave Chan simply did what was best for his child at the time.
We did the same 2 years ago… by leaving the public school system and homeschooling through an Independent school.
We have never looked back… my Consultant and I write the IEP and my sons team follows it.
The money that the Ministy gives the Public school for my child, that was never used for my child is now with the Independent school and we see $15,000 plus of that a year to use to educate him properly.
No more dangerous 'safety plans' put into place without our approval, no more uneducated people wasting my childs time and no more empty promises and stress.
This fits for my child… he's happy, we have intructional control, he has a chiuld specific program designed especially for him that we can adjust whenever necessary and most of all… he's learning. That's the ultimate prize isnt it?
Also, were not broke anymore…
How a parent gets there is a personal choice… we all want the same thing and we are all on the same side.
The right to an education for all kids should be a given, but it is not. There are pockets of communities in BC that are still in the dark ages, some are in the lower mainland. Some are still exactly where they were 14 years ago. That’s why there is no 'one size fits all' here.
I tried to fight the fight in the public system, but at some point I had to weigh the critical loss of time it was taking from my sons learning and winning. So I bailed… others have too.
I'm still part of the fight though, but without my sons involvement on a day to day basis.

I understand and truly feel your frustration Roxanne and everyone here, our kids deserve so much more and some have been fighting so long their hearts are so very heavy, mine is too, but the only way we can get there together is through open discussion and hearing what might have worked for those successful parents and building on that.
I'm certainly not saying one can't disagree… that wouldn't be healthy. But not listening is not creating an open environment for discussion and solutions either. That goes for all opinions.
Together, we are so much stronger…

Jen

[J.Graham]

I just thought that I would pass this along.

I had my taxes done this year (yes I'm very late) through Ability Tax Group.
They were recommended to me by PLAN.

I have had others do my taxes and either the cost of having the taxes done
was unaffordable or the lack of knowledge of the ins and outs of Disability
Claims was not adequate.

This year it cost me $100 to get my taxes done and I'm getting back a great
refund.
Thanks Vasco!

http://www.abilitytax.ca/

Jen

[J.Graham]

I'm posting this for another Parent…. hopefully some of you can help.

Does anyone know where a parent can get respite services for a 6 year old child with autism?
Is there a trustworthy agency one can go through to hire someone to come to the home even for 1 day a week?
The At Home respite funding is not approved.
Any ideas anyone can give me to pass along to this parent who is in dire need of a day off would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jen

[J.Graham]

Do any parents on the board have anyone they can recommend to do our taxes? I would appreciate any referrals anyone can give.
Please email me at magnolias@telus.net

Thanks,

Jen

[J.Graham]

Tutor/Therapist Needed (North Burnaby – Heights)

We are looking for a tutor/therapist to teach a very adorable 8 year old boy in our home.
The person we are looking for must be reliable, responsible, open minded and have a willingness to learn. Play skills are a great asset.

Experience would be great, but training will be provided for the right candidate.
Your duties would include teaching communication, academic, social and life skills using the scientific methods of ABA.
In return you will receive ongoing supervision and training by the very qualified Board Certified Consultant Stephanie Jull.
We live in North Burnaby, near Hastings and Gilmore.

Qualifications:

• Fluent in English
• Experience working with young children
• Applicants in Psychology, Special Education, Early Childhood Education, and Speech & Language Pathology are encouraged to apply
• Candidates are required to be self-motivated, extremely reliable, enthusiastic, and possess excellent communication skills
• A car and a valid driver’s license is a great asset
• Minimum age for applicants is 19
• Commitment of minimum 8-10 hours per week for at least a 12-month period /mandatory bi-weekly team meetings
• CLEAR CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK COMPLETED WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS

Please email your resume with references (if you have them) AND availability to magnolias@telus.net Attn: Tutor Position.

Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you!

[Author]

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