[Nancy Walton]

South Fraser ASBC Meeting REVIVAL!!!

Our first return meeting will be Thursday July 20th 7 – 9 pm.

Our speaker will be Michelle Weis, who was recently on the chat board telling us about the ABA school her son attends in Buffalo, New York. She will tell us about his wonderful successes at the school and she will show us the communication device (Springboard) that her son uses.

Also, Michelle has a younger son who has fully recovered. So, Michelle is a seasoned parent, with information for all of us.

Details:
Thursday July 30, 7-9pm at
Semiahmoo House Society
15306 24th Ave
South Surrey

Refreshments served
Donations gladly accepted

For more information or confirmation of attendance please e-mail Eleanore at elledubois@shaw.ca

[Nancy Walton]

If you are an ABA therapist in the lower mainland, interested in working in the public school system, please contact Nancy Robins at whale58@telus.net.

Nancy Walton

[Nancy Walton]

I have been thinking about Michelle Weis' post about specialized schools. Michelle is very ABA wise and experienced and everyone should pay attention when she contributes to our community. Thanks for sharing your new life with us.

I have been thinking about one component of Michelle's post, which is the specialized school for ABA. There are many other apsects of the post that point out how BC is third world…the fact that the school is year around, has extended hours, has fully qualified staff and is available to the age of 21 (and probably can start at age 3).

But it is the segregatedness of the school that has been bothering me. It is true that such a school definetly benefits the autistic child in terms of learning, behavior etc. Here is what is bothering me:

I have been teaching in schools for 17 years. When I first started teaching, there were no developmentally disabled (or physically disabled) children in the school. When the special needs kids first started to be integrated, at the high school level, children made fun of them, because they had never seen them before. Teachers and principals were even miffed at having them in the school.

However, now we are at a point where the high school children were raised with disabled children in their schools. Now, typical students do not bat an eye when an autistic child bahaves strangley. It amazes me how accepting and even helpful they are because they have known these kids since they were in Kindergarden.

As I raise my son in a regular school and go to regular swim classes and regular camps, the community of children are getting to know and love him. As he gets older, even though he probably won't ever be alone, I feel like there is a safety net of peers surrounding him in the community. This would not happen if he attended a special school and attended special camps etc.

I have even been thinking about having some schools specialize in autism, but then we are only getting 1/5 of the community exposed to our children.

So, this is a tough one. I'm not saying we shouldn't segregate. I just want the autism community to think about what will happen to our larger community if we do it.

[Nancy Walton]

Forgot to mention that meetings are every other Friday afternoon.

Nancy

[Nancy Walton]

White Rock area

Piano playing therapist needed Sundays and one other afternoon to work with our very happy, and active 8 year old boy. More hours availiable starting in July. We have an excellent team (including the school aide), under the supervision of Sharon Baxter.

Please send resume to Nancy at wiklo@shaw.ca . No ABA experience necessary.

[Nancy Walton]

Hi Danielle,

I think this Peter Stoffer announcement is going to be more like a celebration. We are celebrating the many politicians coming out in support of us. We are celebrating that this bill will be introduced.

Just by being there, you are supporting these politicians in there bold move to put autism into the Health Care Act.

Nancy

[Nancy Walton]

Parents old and new,

This Peter Stoffer announcement is a perfect time to get to know your neighbourhood ABA kin. Feel free to post on this chat board if you can drive someone in to Metrotown or if you need a ride. Think of all the information you can be sharing on your drive in. It is important that you feel connected to your community. That you do not feel alone.

Hope to see you all there.

Below is the information about Peter Stoffers announcement:

Peter Stoffer, NDP MP from Nova Scotia, who tabled Bill C-459, which was a private member's bill to, "ammend the Canada Health Act to include IBI/ABA into Medicare" is coming to Vancouver next Friday, March 24th.

He is coming for the sole purpose of holding a press conference to announce his intention to re-introduce his Bill in the House of Commons when parliament reconvenes in April!

THIS IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD FOR OUR CAUSE!

Mr. Stoffer has asked us to invite as many ABA parents and supporters as possible to attend his press conference. There will be a number of speakers, including Peter Stoffer, Peter Julian, Dr. Glen Davies, Dr. Sabrina Freeman and others. Needless to say, we ALL need to be there!

Friday, March 24th @ 2:00 p.m.
Bonsor Recreation Complex in the South Burnaby Metro. Room,
6550 Bonsor Ave.
Burnaby, B.C.

[Nancy Walton]

Myrica, and any other Surrey district parents, please e-mail me at

wiklo@shaw.ca

Thanks,

Nancy Walton

[Nancy Walton]

If you have any signatures on the original petition (for healthcare and getting a university chair), just keep them until the election is over. As soon as you know who your new (or old) MP is, you can bring them in to him or her. We want to keep this in the spot light on a daily basis as soon as parliament is back in session.

Remember, these petitions can be downloaded at canadaautism.com

Nancy Walton

[Nancy Walton]

The next South Fraser ASBC meeting is Thursday December 15th, 7-9pm. For this meeting, we will just have a discussion group where we can discuss any issues that are currently concerning you. Then we can mingle and enjoy some refreshments.

New parents, this is a great opportunity to have some questions answered and get a boost of support for the challanges ahead of you.

The location is
Semiahmoo House Society
15306 24th Ave
South Surrey

Hope to see you there,

Nancy Walton

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