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Sam Yassine
MemberFEAT BC-News Release
FEAT BC tour to Ontario and Maritimes is welcomed by autism advocates nation wide. A press release has been distributed to all media outlets across the nation.
Autism advocates across the country are grateful for FEAT BC determination and tireless work to secure Medicare for autism now.
We are determined to continue the fight and we will not let our children down. It is our parental responsibility to protect our children and it is our children right to include Medicare for autism now.
We will not go away and we will not compromise. It is time to choose between our children and Steven Harper government.
Sam Yassine
MemberNews Release
May 22, 2007
For Immediate ReleaseFEAT BC goes coastal tour to Halifax
Vancouver, B.C. Jean Lewis, founding director of FEAT-BC (Families for Early Autism Treatment of BC) today announced that she and other representatives of FEAT-BC will be travelling to Halifax on Saturday, May 26th for a gathering of parents of autistic children and their supporters from across the Maritimes.
One purpose of this event is to recognize the leadership of MPs Shawn Murphy, Andy Scott, and Peter Stoffer, as well as that of Senator Jim Munson, in the fight to get Medicare coverage for autism now, said Lewis. These men have distinguished themselves among Canadian parliamentarians with their dedication to curtailing this emerging health care crisis. Parents of autistic children and supporters look forward to thanking them personally.
The principal purpose of the gathering is to organize a team of FEAT activists for deployment during the upcoming federal election in select constituencies across the Maritimes.
On the way to Halifax, stops are planned in Ottawa and Toronto for meetings with Ontario-based parent activists.
At 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 24th, a news conference will be held in the Charles Lynch Press Room on Parliament Hill.
FEAT-BC (Families for Early Autism Treatment of BC) is a not-for-profit volunteer organization of parents and professionals working towards universal access to effective, science-based treatment for all Canadians diagnosed with autism in Canada.
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For further information, contact: Jean Lewis at jean.lewis@telus.net, or telephone 604-925-4401 or 604-290-5737.
MemberHello
Just a thought to keep in mind.
Liberals and NDPs are on record now that they both support Medicare for autism (they both voted in favor of Bill C-304). This is a fact that no
one can change and it is your achivement that you should be proud of.Regardless of what Conservatives, Blockquebcois and their Lapdogs think, Medicare for autism will continue to be a focus.
Our health care is clearly discriminatory when it comes to autism.
All we need to do now is to pressure onservatives to support Medicare for autism and commit to it in writing.
We owe it to children and future generations.
Cheers
Sam Yassine
OttawaMemberHi Folks
An interesting article on Tony Clement Announcment in Kamloops This Week.
Cheers
Sam Yassine
OttawaBy DALE BASS
Nov 24 2006Why bother? Could someone tell me why federal Health Minister Tony
Clement even bothered to inject his government into the reality of
autism in Canada when it's definitely too little and probably too
late?He wants to sponsor an autism symposium next year.
Maybe he should just come to Kamloops, where the Chris Rose Centre
for Autism Therapy – and its amazing director, Wanda Carisse –
spearhead just such an event every couple of years.We've seen some of the most vital people involved in research about
and coping with autism come to town to share their vast knowledge.Some have been controversial – one year, the British doctor who has
linked autism's prevalence with the mercury in basic childhood
immunizations spoke.Some have been downright inspirational, like Temple Grandin, a
brilliant woman in the field of animal husbandry, with a PhD in the
field, but who must also deal with the reality of the disability
every moment of her life.Just this year, the May conference included workshops on
socialization – one of the major dysfunctions in the autistic brain –
music therapy, sexuality and autism and tools for teaching these
children successfully.Heck, there was even a workshop on toilet-training – and believe me,
if you think toilet-training a child with a normally functioning
brain is hard, try it with a child on the autism spectrum.Yup, the work's already been done for our esteemed health minister.
Maybe our own MP might even mention the Kamloops conferences to
Clement and invite him to take in the next one.If he did come, he'd discover that the other part of his strategy –
laying the foundation "to improve our understanding of autism and its
prevalence – has also already been done.That foundation is all the families who are coping with the
disability that experts say now affects one in every 400 births.
There's prevalence covered off.There's not much need for a research chair to look at effective
treatment and intervention for the disability. Once again, that vast
foundation – the parents and caregivers – already have that
information. For some parents, the most effective treatment is
applied behavioural analysis (ABA), an intensive, exhausting,
repetitive method of teaching that has been shown to make a vast
improvement in the lives of many children on the autism spectrum.The only problem there is that ABA is prohibitively expensive for
most families, although they find the way to pay the tens of
thousands of dollars every year to ensure their child gets it.You have to go to Alberta to get the government to pay for it – and
trust me, there are families who have made the jump to the east just
for that reason.ABA funding isn't considered essential, and the governments won't pay
for it.In fact, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that our provincial
government's are guilty of discrimination if they refuse to pay for
autism treatment through their health programs.Clement's concern about autism apparently doesn't extend to the point
of insisting provincial governments provide the treatment. Nor did he
kick in any money to even make it a bit easier for the parents who
are mortgaging their children's futures in many cases to help their
youngsters deal with the present.He's going to ensure a website is created to help the public
understand the spectrum.Now that's a bright move.
How many of you out there who know nothing about autism are going to
wake up one day and decide you're going to go to the government of
Canada website to learn about it? Isn't typing the word "autism" into
your search engine just as easy, and more likely to give you a host
of references?Maybe Clement should have done that himself, before making his
announcement.And if he really does care, maybe he could use that research to come
up with a true national strategy that has nationally applied
standards, that provides funding for the provinces to pay for
treatment – and heck, with a surplus in the billions, the
Conservatives can probably handle it.Then, I'll believe Clement and his government really does care.
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———-© Copyright 2006 Kamloops This Week
MemberHi Folks
An excellent interview on MPTV with Peter Stoffer and Jen Ralf. Please
distribute far and wideSam Yassine
MemberHi Folks
More media coverage
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7005605216
Autism Association Of Canada Demands Action On National Strategy
November 22, 2006 3:59 p.m. EST
Jacob Cherian – All Headline News Staff Writer
Ottawa, Canada (AHN) – Tony Clement, the Health Minister of Canada is under fire from families of children with autism and related advocacy groups for not providing a strategy for laying out treatment resources equally across all of Canada's provinces.Sam Yassine, father of an autistic child and a Families for Early Autism Treatment advocacy group member, tells CanWest News Service, ''Parents across the board, they are tired of waiting," adding that, ''We need action now. Enough time wasted on raising autism awareness.''
Clement, in response to the pressure, released a series of small steps intended to disseminate public information and help researchers studying the abnormality.
Clement said in a news conference, ''Today's new initiatives will contribute to laying foundations to improve our understanding of autism and its prevalence."
However, there is no agreement between the provincial and federal governments on how to deal with the condition or on what the standard treatment might be.
Clement responded that the conservative government is "obliged to help unravel the mysteries of the disorder."
But Yassine emphasizes that the government is slow to take action and that the children and their families are suffering as a result.
In the meantime, the Autism Association suggests that the national government come up with strategies to strengthen resources and help professionals to ascertain early detection of autism.
Yassine adds that it is also essential to develop "behavioral intervention programs" to help children and families affected with autism throughout the provinces.
MemberHi Folks
More media coverage
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7005605216
Autism Association Of Canada Demands Action On National Strategy
November 22, 2006 3:59 p.m. EST
Jacob Cherian – All Headline News Staff Writer
Ottawa, Canada (AHN) – Tony Clement, the Health Minister of Canada is under fire from families of children with autism and related advocacy groups for not providing a strategy for laying out treatment resources equally across all of Canada's provinces.Sam Yassine, father of an autistic child and a Families for Early Autism Treatment advocacy group member, tells CanWest News Service, ''Parents across the board, they are tired of waiting," adding that, ''We need action now. Enough time wasted on raising autism awareness.''
Clement, in response to the pressure, released a series of small steps intended to disseminate public information and help researchers studying the abnormality.
Clement said in a news conference, ''Today's new initiatives will contribute to laying foundations to improve our understanding of autism and its prevalence."
However, there is no agreement between the provincial and federal governments on how to deal with the condition or on what the standard treatment might be.
Clement responded that the conservative government is "obliged to help unravel the mysteries of the disorder."
But Yassine emphasizes that the government is slow to take action and that the children and their families are suffering as a result.
In the meantime, the Autism Association suggests that the national government come up with strategies to strengthen resources and help professionals to ascertain early detection of autism.
Yassine adds that it is also essential to develop "behavioral intervention programs" to help children and families affected with autism throughout the provinces.
MemberHi Folks
I believe today Ottawa rally on Parliament Hill was a turning point in many ways. Well, it was the first time ever we had over 100 parents and supporters participating in a rally and that is good but that is not all.
I think the most significant change was that parents were really angry and Mr. nice polite parent turned to an angry and vocal giant.
Andrew kavchak comment on Health Minister yesterday announcement was this is BS. When MP Mike Lake said well let get back to the issue Andrew said this is the issue.
Dear parents, the time for raising autism awareness, committees and subcommittees is over. Now it is time for action and only action counts. Clement symposium, autism research chair to explore autism and web page on Canada health will not help parents and children desperately waiting for services and support. An MP, MPP and a senator that is still not aware of autism and its challenges does not deserve to be in his/her position. Our children can not wait any more, every day lost is irreplaceable.
On this notes many thanks to FEAT BC and the folks that took the time and effort to come down to Ottawa. Keep the good fight.
Cheers
Sam Yassine
OttawaMemberHi Folks
Just a thank you note to our guests from BC in Ottawa for what you achieved in the last couple of days.
The media coverage that you generated is way beyond any discription. Off course more to come tomorow at the press conference and the rally.
As Jean Lewis put it, Ottawa belong to all. It is the center of all political action and it belongs to all canadians cross the country.
Minister Clement announcment will have the proper response tomorow at the press conferance and the rally.
We do not need symposiums, we don't need web sites and most certainly we do not need further delays. We need mediacare for autism NOW.
Again, thank you FEAT BC. You are a breath of fresh air.
Sam Yassine
Ottawa -
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