Fredericton Autism Intervention Services Founder Danielle Pelletier Honored Saturday Night

L: Danielle Pelletier, R: Harold Doherty

In the photo above I am standing with Danielle Pelletier, an SLP and founder of Autism Intervention Services Fredericton.  I was privileged to be in attendance and to have the opportunity to speak with Danielle who was honored Saturday night for her service to autistic children in the greater Fredericton area over approximately two decades.  She began her work as an SLP  working with autistic children at the Stan Cassidy Centre.  Danielle also provided moral support and professional credibility to a group of parent autism advocates known as FACE (Family Autism Centre for Education). FACE was the most active organization advocating for government funded evidence based early intervention services for autistic children.  Ultimately our provincial government did seek organizations to provide the early intervention services for autistic children.  Danielle answered the call in Fredericton where, six years ago,  she founded the Autism Intervention Services Fredericton Agency (1666 Lincoln Rd, Fredericton, NB) where she and her team have been providing evidence based ABA and Speech Language therapy for autistic preschoolers.  Danielle and her team have helped many autistic preschool children in Fredericton over the past 6 years and she absolutely deserves the honor and the standing ovation she received Saturday evening.  

Thank you Danielle for your outstanding contribution to the lives of autistic children in our community. 

Is Walking Autism Therapy? No, Just Fun for Conor and Dad

In the space of two days Conor and I went on several walks together.  Nothing makes me feel better than going for a good walk, preferably along a trail or hiking in the woods.  I love being outdoors in nature and I always have. As an added bonus I like walking even more when I am walking with Conor.  

We took advantage of the long weekend to get lots of walking in.  It may not be as scientifically based as swimming with dolphins or riding horses in Mongolia but it makes me and Conor feel better. We both enjoy walking together. So far this long weekend here in New Brunswick we have gotten out for several trail walks and a bridge walk across the St. John River to downtown and back.  Autism therapy? Well  ....  at least as much as most unproven therapies that stretch therapeutic value into therapy but no, it is just healthy fun with my buddy Conor.

Killarney Lake Autism Therapy? No, Just Fun for Conor and Dad

I am sure that riding horses in Mongolia would be fun, and would probably help sell some books and other nifty promotions, but I don' think such an adventure would qualify as an autism therapy.  Yesterday, here in Fredericton, New Brunswick, the weather was warm if slightly overcast.  The trails were in great shape at Killarney Lake and I headed over with Conor for our first Killarney Lake outing of 2011.  Therapy? No. Therapeutic? Maybe, more so for Dad than Conor. We both definitely enjoyed the adventure.  

We had fun, pure and simple.  When Conor decides to set the pace Dad can only scramble to keep up. Sometimes though my Buddy turns and waits for his slower stepping Dad to catch up. We are looking forward to many return visits to Killarney Lake this year.

Rat Therapy for Autism?

Pam Panchak/Post-Gazette

Although ABA, Applied Behavior Analysis, is supported by five decades of research encompassing thousands of studies, confirming its effectiveness as an autism intervention, the anti-ABA activists continue to rail against ABA. Meanwhile autism continues to see the growth of totally non-evidence based therapies. Some of the stuff is dangerous although some does offer good old fashioned fun, with its therapeutic value, for autistic children. One of the more interesting developments is the use of rats, not as objects of scientific study, but as therapy for children with autism.

The Children's Therapy Center of Washington Hospital in Peters uses rats, as therapy pets, to interact with autistic children. As reported at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Rats are bringing out best in kids with autism":

"Clients giggle and grin as they interact with Moe and Larry, two tiny therapy animals who are well-behaved and affectionate and who the children call "the pets" or "the little puppies."

...

The long, skinny hairless tails are dead give-aways, at least for adults, who know what these therapy pets are -- rats.

"Oh yes, many people, including me, had reservations about working with rats," said Ms. Pollock, who is the center's facilitator for pet-assisted therapy. But Moe and Larry and their owner, Drue Tepper, 18, have won over almost everyone during weekly therapy sessions that started in March 2007.

......

Henry Cicconi, 6, of Canonsburg, has been working regularly with the rats for about 14 months now.

"When Henry started here, he didn't talk. Now he calls the animals by name," said his speech therapist, Lisa Haines."

Maybe the American Academy of Pediatrics will have to revise its "Management of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders" to add a section on Rat Therapy. In the meantime I think we well stick with ABA for Conor. And activities like swimming and hiking. Rats? I think we will wait for the double-blind, randomized, control study results to come in.

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Autism Therapy: Autistic Man Benefited From ABA

If you listened to many of the anti-ABA ideologues in the Neurodiversity club you would not want ABA therapy for your child. If you are the parent of a newly diagnosed autistic child and you listened to thef promotoers of the Alleged Autism Rights Movement you would not seek ABA therapy for your child. If you listen to these ideologues you would pass on the only proven effective healt treatment AND education intervention for autistic children.

Many of the anti-ABA ideologues have no actual experience with ABA themselves and yet they dismiss the conclusions of responsible agencies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Maine (MADSEC) Autism Task Force, the New York State Department of Health, the US Surgeon Generals Office, the Association for Science in Autism Treatment, the May Institute, and five decades of research pointing to the effectiveness of ABA in helping autistic children. Of course the ideologues who believe that autism is not truly a disorder, because their mild version of autism poses few restriction on their enjoyment of life, also dismiss, the views and efforts of hundreds of thousands of parents across North America who are seeking to treat, educate or otherwise help their autistic children with ABA intervention.

If you are the parent of a newly diagnosed autistic child seeking therapy for your child read the responsible authorities referenced above, the latest being the 2007 report of the American Academy of Pediatrcs, Management of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. ABA is not a "cure" for autism. But it is have been proven effective at helping autistic children as stated by the American Academy of Pediatrics:

The effectiveness of ABA-based intervention in ASDs has been well documented through 5 decades of research by using single-subject methodology21,25,27,28 and in controlled studies of comprehensive early intensive behavioral intervention programs in university and community settings.29–40 Children who receive early intensive behavioral treatment have been shown to make substantial, sustained gains in IQ, language, academic performance, and adaptive behavior as well as some measures of social behavior, and their outcomes have been significantly better than those of children in control groups.31–40

You may also want to read the NBC10 feature Autism Therapy Proves Effective For Bucks County Teen which tells the story of A.J. Corless diagnosed with low-functioning autism whose family sought ABA intervention for their son, now a thriving adult:

"I learned how to do current events, English, spelling, proofreading. I'm learning how to cook, take inventory, put pictures on scrapbook and upload pictures," Corless said.

But his life wasn't always that way.A short time after his second birthday, Corless was diagnosed with low-functioning autism."I was told to go home, worry about my other children. He wouldn't amount to anything," Joanne Corless, A.J.'s mother, said.The Corless family chose to ignore the bleak diagnosis from doctors and were determined to help A.J. reach his full potential.That's when they turned to an intense, one-on-one therapy, called applied behavioral analysis or ABA.

"The ABA is just constantly keeping them on task, constantly reinforcing them, making them learn," Joanne Corless said.The Corless family saw change instantly."He's come a lot further than we've ever dreamed he's come," Joanne Corless said.Joanne said shortly after beginning ABA therapy, A.J. began to speak and follow directions.Now at 18, he plays classical piano, volunteers at a library and excels in many sports."I have a red belt in karate. I like going to the special Olympic games," A.J. Corless said.

He also can get you anywhere you need to go."I like to get my mom directions to places so she doesn't get lost," A.J. Corless said. Everyday, he works to overcome the obstacles of autism and his family said specialized therapy makes it possible."I look at A.J. and I think that he is a child that has learned to live with his disability. He has a great life. He really does," Joanne Corless said.




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Autism Quotes # 1

"If a child cannot learn in the way we teach ... we must teach in a way the child can learn."

Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas

"When Jack was diagnosed we were devastated at that thought of what life might be like for him. Now he can talk. ABA is hard work, but it has opened up a whole range of opportunities for him. Life just keeps getting better."

Charmaine Fraser, Mother of Autistic Son, Australia

So we're choosing to tell our daughter's story now, after being quiet about it for the last 16 months: to emphasize how important it is that this bill pass in its original form. If it seems opportunistic or self-serving, well...there's not much I can say about that, except that things like ABA and other therapy programs would seem to be the point of insurance: to insure the well-being of these kids who otherwise would be without hope for a future.

Finally, the only thing that really gave me pause about posting this was something that was said to me about the possibility SWSNBN might read this later on in her life and be mortified. My only response to that is this: I'm not a religious person, so prayer is out of the question, but I hope beyond anything I have ever hoped in my miserable life that my daughter, at some point in the future, is able to read this blog and yell at her father about it. I want that so badly it physically hurts."

Pete, A Perfectly Cromulent Blog, Father of Autistic Daughter, Texas