[Nancy Walton]

Due to illness, the September 15th, South Fraser ASBC meeting is cancelled. Our next meeting will be October 20, where Margo Squire from the Early Autism Project will do a presentation on Peer Play. Details will be posted in October.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

Nancy Walton

[Nancy Walton]

Hey all you writers out there!!! Check this out:

A Cup of Comfort is a best-selling anthology (book) series published by
Adams Media, an F+W Publications company. Each volume features powerful
true stories about the experiences and the relationships that inspire and
enrich our lives. Submissions are now being sought for A Cup of Comfort
for Parents of Children with Autism. This inspirational volume seeks
personal anecdotal stories (not prescriptive articles) about the unique
aspects of parenting a child with autism and related disorders (Asperger
syndrome, Rett's disorder, disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental
disorder). Possible themes include, but are not limited to: impact on
other members of family; creative solutions to everyday challenges;
breakthroughs; effective treatments; silver linings; tender moments;
helpful support; unexpected positive outcomes; blessings large and small;
reasons for hope; adult children with autism. We are most interested in
stories written by parents, but will also consider and likely publish some
stories written by professionals and family members or friends with
intimate knowledge of the child and parents in question. Submission
deadline: Oct. 1, 2005. Note: deadlines are sometimes extended. Stories
must be original (not derived from another published work), true, positive,
in English, and 1,000-2,000 words. Open to aspiring, unpublished, and
published writers. Payment: one $500 grand prize per book; $100 each, all
other published stories. Plus copy of book. Guidelines:
<http://www.cupofcomfort.com> (click on "Share your Story") or e-mail
request to: <cupofcomfort@adamsmedia.com>. Additional volumes with varying
themes are planned. A cup of comfort is published by Adams Media, an F+W
Publications company, and edited by Colleen Sell <wordsinger@aol.com>.

Let us know if you get published– Nancy

[Nancy Walton]

The Pizza Party/Garage Sale was quite a success. We all had a wonderful time. But more importantly, we raised $285 for the Friends of Children with Autism, supporting the Wynberg Law Suit in Ontario. A kick in the bucket…but if 9 other groups put on similar parties, we could hand over $2850 !!!

To be quite honest, the dinner and wine was fun, but did not really make much money. The big money maker was the garage sale. We had lots of items brought in and some serious door-crasher buyers ready to scoop up some good deals (thanks to therapists on several teams who forewarned parents of what items were leaving one team and would be good for another). Most of the garage sale was over in 20 minutes. So other groups could do one just before a regular support group meeting. Or just have some friends over to your house and run a swap meet.

In anycase, we all felt like winners. We got to get rid of old therapy stuff and others got to pick up some great bargains.

Best of luck to the Wynberg group.

Thanks to Elenore, Paul, Pam, Domenica and Deb for helping out.

For those of you who couldn't make it, or want to set up your own Pizza Party/Garage Sale, you may contribute by cheque or through Paypal via the name Friends of Children with Autism. If you are sending a cheque, please mail it to:
Friends of Children with Autism, 775 Duplex Avenue, Toronto, ON M4R 1W5.

[Nancy Walton]

Hi Anne,

I remember my bank was a little confused too. I just explained to them what exactly the govt. required and what it was for….1) must be "in trust" for the child, but otherwise in your name, 2) must be chequing, 3) can't have bank machine access. They didn't have "in trust" accounts that had chequing, but they created one. I think if you tell your bank that Coast Capital Savings is able to do it, they'll probably find some way to make the approapriate account.

I also remember that I was paying some ridiculous service fee and when I pointed it out to them, they said they couldn't give me the usual discounted service fees because it was a chequing acount (most "in trust" are savings). I explained that every penny I pay to the bank is money that is not going to my son's therapy. They gave me a break on the service fees.

Just keep trying and if CIBC doesn't deliver, I'm sure Coast Capital will be happy to have your business.

nancy Walton

[Nancy Walton]

My original post for this was under Government Topics, so I'll copy that post below so that everyone has the details again (I've made a few changes in start time, what's below is correct)

PIZZA PARTY/GARAGE SALE/FUNDRAISER NIGHT
July 21, 6:00 – 9:30 pm
at Semiahmoo House Society
15306 24th Ave
South Surrey

Reservations must be made at wiklo@shaw.ca.

Dont miss out on the fun!! Before I tell you who we are raising money for, here's what you get:

a) For $10 entrance fee, Pizza, pop wine, salad and dessert. Dinner starts at 7pm

b) Bring any ABA or child oriented items to donate to the sale (put prices on them please). You will be cleaning out your therapy room, helping other families and raising money for the fundraiser.

c)Between 6:30 and 8pm you can shop at the sale table and pick up great ABA items and toys. At 8pm all items will go on half price. At 9pm, all items left over will be free.

d) Mingle and smooze with new and experienced ABA parents, consultants and therapists throughout the night.

All proceeds from the night will go to the parents involved in the Wynberg case to help pay for the Ontario governments appeal against their recent win (see below for details, copied from a recent post from Andrew in Ottawa). Keep in mind that a strong win for them is a strong win for us.

Come on out and have a fun, social, shopping-tripish, pig-out evening.

Here is the post regarding the Wynberg case:

Friends of Children with Autism (FOCA) is asking for your support!

On April 1, 2005, Justice Kiteley of the Supreme Court of Ontario issued her long-awaited reasons in the case of Wynberg al. v. Her Majesty the
Queen. She agreed with the Wynberg plaintiffs that the age 6 cut-off for the Intensive Early Intervention Program (IEIP) for children age 2 to 5 is age discrimination contrary to section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights
and Freedoms, and she also ruled that Ontario's failure to provide Intensive Behavioural Intevention (IBI) to autistic children in the province's public schools violates the Minister of Education's duty under section 8(3) of the
Education Act to ensure that appropriate special education programs and services are provided to children with identified exceptionalities. The
judge also awarded damages for past and future costs of IBI, dating from November 2002.

The province of Ontario has appealed Justice Kiteley's landmark decision, and secured an early hearing date for its appeal: the week of December 5, 2005. The province challenges the judge's decision on the Charter and Education Act, and a number of the procedural decisions she made at trial about the admissibility of evidence. The broad scope of their appeal means
that our lawyers will have to review over 17,000 pages of trial transcripts, and an equivalent number of pages of documentary evidence, in order to defend the decision we won after almost two years of trial.

It is really important that we renew our financial commitment to this case, to allow our lawyers to protect and preserve the decision, and to make arguments to the Court of Appeal that, if successful, will make the decision
even stronger as we anticipate that this case will eventually be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada. Our lawyers are also preparing a cross appeal to address certain points where the judge was not in agreement with us.

Your contribution to the organization set up by the Wynberg plaintiff
amilies and their supporters – The Friends of Children with Autism (FOCA) – will enable us not only to hold the benefit of Justice Kiteley's decision, but also to make it even more beneficial by way of a powerful cross-appeal.

[Nancy Walton]

Whoops, forgot to mention, the PIZZA PARTY/GARAGE SALE is this Thursday, July 21st.

nancy Walton

[Nancy Walton]

HOW'S THAT SOCIAL LIFE COMING ALONG???

Time to get out and have some fun. The Pizza Party/Garage Sale is a fantastic opportunity to socialize with a bunch of up-beat, proactive parents, therapists and consultants. Some parents are coming solo, some are getting out together for the night. Reserve your ticket now at wiklo@shaw.ca. Details below:

6pm doors open, hand over any garage sale items you are donating, have a glass of wine or pop and socialize

6:30 Garage sale begins. Stock up on therapy supplies and toys at cheap prices!!!!

7:00 Dinner is served. Help yourself to Pizza and salad and more wine or pop (tea or coffee)

8:00 All garage sale items will be half price.

9:00 All left over items are free.

The Party is at Semiahmoo House Society, 15306 24th Ave South Surrey. This is a lovely building with large doors that open up to allow a garden like atmosphere if weather is good.

Hope to see you there

Nancy Walton

[Nancy Walton]

The following items will be on sale at the Garage Sale/Pizza party, Thursday July 21 at 15306 24th Ave, South Surrey. To be able to buy these items, you must reserve a ticket ($10 each) which will buy you wine(or pop), pizza, salad and access to the garage sale.

Little People Lotto
My first Lotto
Bingo Lotto
Discovering Sounds
Colored clothes pins (fine motor)
Large string and beads (fine motor)
puzzles
Lucky Ducks
xylaphone
talking Winnie Pooh in zipper rain coat
Barney Videos
Winnie Pooh videos
Mechanical bug with remote
Barnyard Bingo
Catch the fleas (fine motor)
Spill the beans
mini alphabet books
2 Mr. Potatoe Head with matching pictures (kind of like block imitation)
Lengthen the Dinasaur Neck game
1 Lg and 1 Sm Pon Pon ball

Please feel free to post any items you might bring to the party. Remember, items are donated to raise money for the Parents fighting the appeal of an ABA law suit in Ontario. A good win for them, will be a good win for us.

Nancy Walton
wiklo@shaw.ca for reservations

[Nancy Walton]

Surrey School District Parents (and future parents)

I was asked the following questions by members of the Surrey school board and while I think I know the answers, I'd like to hear from you. All information will be kept confidential (please write "confidential" at the top of your e-mail to me) unless you don't mind the board knowing who you are. I would just like to give more accurate accounts. I think many parents don't express their concerns for fear of retaliation against their child. So consider this to be a safe outlet of your concerns.

1) If you have children coming into the school system in the next few years, will you be wanting an ABA trained aide (SEA)?

2) If you are currently in the system, do you have what you would consider to be an ABA trained aide?

3) Are you currently satisfied with the SEA that your child now has? Feel free to elaborate.

4) How beneficial do you feel the Special Education Teaching Assistant (SETA) training has been for your aide?

5) Is the teacher, integration teacher and principal helpful in ensuring that your child is able to do ABA in the school? Feel free to elaborate.

Please e-mail your answers to wiklo@shaw.ca. Also, if you know of someone who isn't computer savvy, please ask to pass on their info to me as well. Thanks for your help.

Nancy

[Nancy Walton]

Wonderful responses everyone, yes this is a wonderful topic. I heartily agree with all said. I'd like to add that we now do the "each program on a clipboard" system and it is wonderful. I had to laugh at Michelle's story, as I picture in my head a previous male therapist running, along side my son on his bike, clipboard and pen in hand.

Anyway, to add to the topic, when my son was younger, we had really keep on him on task all the time and entering data into books (which we did before the clipboard system) took too much attention away. So we had a "cheat sheet", with a section for each program for taking data. The therapist would spend 15 minutes before the shift, setting up the session cheat sheet (writing in what prompts to use, what targets etc) and then data would be taken on the sheet and at the end, they would take up to half an hour transfering the data into the book. This was expensive, but the therapist time with my son was highly focused. He would spend a little less time in therapy, but he would be watched and interacted with non-stop.

As he grew older, we had tokens, which made it easier to keep an eye on stims without taking data on the spot. But also, he was able to entertain himself better (this should always be a progarm anyway), so we are now doing preparation, data, and graphing as he does each program.

Nancy Walton

[Author]

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