Saturday, April 05, 2008

Medicare for Autism Now! Rally April 19th Oakville



"Medicare for Autism Now!" Rally


Saturday, April 19th, 2008

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Iroquois Ridge Community Center,

1051 Glenashton Drive,

Oakville, Ontario, L6H 6Z4

Why should you attend?

* Despite a decade of lobbying, collaborating and litigating – autism treatment is still excluded from our universal health care system. Canadian families from BC to Newfoundland and everywhere in between are still bankrupting themselves in order to provide treatment for their disabled children.

* The current and limited patchwork of funding and services provided through the provinces’ social services ministries could evaporate tomorrow with a change of government, or the stroke of a bureaucrat’s pen. No legislation or mandate exists within these social services ministries to deliver health care or to protect and enshrine our children’s medically necessary treatment.

* In 30 years of "advocacy", the only two initiatives which have achieved ANY success in obtaining treatment funding in any province has been litigation, and more recently, focused political action. Both were brought by volunteer parent groups.

* Autism is an epidemic of staggering proportions, it now afflicts one in every 150 children in North America, one in every 94 boys. Autism has become an election issue in the U.S. - Senators Clinton, Obama and McCain have all articulated extremely progressive positions. In 2006, the U.S. federal government unanimously passed the "Combating Autism Act" which allocated $945 million into research and treatment. The U.S. federal government recognizes their responsibility to intervene by acting to avoid a major health and social crisis.

* It is time for our federal government to recognize their responsibility to act! This is not a left or right issue – it’s a right or wrong issue!

* Today, all over Canada, parents of children with autism and growing numbers of fair-minded, but outraged Canadian voters expect our federal government to act. We are letting those who govern and those who wish to govern know they will be held accountable, regardless of party affiliation, at the ballot box in the next federal election.

Who should attend?

You – and every fair-minded Canadian you know!

In Canada, children with autism and their families suffer from political indifference. It will take the sustained energy and dedication of EVERY CANADIAN who desires a just society to correct this injustice. For our children’s sake, and the sake of future generations, we urge you to attend this rally. Please bring friends, family, kids, anyone and everyone you know who is appalled by the gross injustice done to our children every day by the governments of Canada and its provinces.

Come and find out how you can make your vote actually count!

Featured speakers will include:

Jean Lewis – Vancouver parent, B.C. Co-ordinator for "Medicare for Autism Now!" initiative

Harold Doherty – Fredericton parent, Maritime Co-ordinator for "Medicare for Autism Now!" initiative

David Marley – Vancouver supporter/advisor, B.C. Co-ordinator for "Medicare for Autism Now!" initiative

Stefan Marinoiu – Toronto parent, "Medicare for Autism Now!" supporter

Deborah Coyne – Toronto parent, "Medicare for Autism Now!" supporter

Please RSVP a.s.a.p. to: Jennifer O’Brien

Email: jobrien116@cogeco.ca


For more information regarding "Medicare for Autism Now!" – check out:

www.medicareforautismnow.blogspot.com

8 comments:

Maddy said...

Probably a little bit far for me to travel. I wonder what your views are on Michael Moore's 'Sicko'?
Best wishes

Unknown said...

I have not seen "sicko".

Too bad you are too far away to visit.

Blogger Charles LeBlanc said...

You going lawyer man????

Unknown said...

Charles,

I am one of the speakers. I am going.

Blogger Charles LeBlanc said...

Do you want me there for taking pictures???

:P

Blogger Charles LeBlanc said...

lol...lol.I got to learn to read your blogs!!!!

I just saw you are going to be a speaker....

Unknown said...

Nah Charles you would only ruin them with your new photoshop toy. :-)

Anonymous said...

The Medicare for autism rally in Burnaby which was organized by Feat B.C. had several hundred people in attendance. There were a number of excellant speakers.
Many people were there supporting their friends and relatives with autistic children.
It is a growing movement and will continue to grow and become stronger as more and more children are given the diagnosis of autism.
All the best to you in your quest for justice as you present this Medicare for autism rally in Ontario