Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Online Petition

To all Canadians, if you have not already done so, I urge you to visit and sign the Autism Spectrum Disorders Online petition at:

http://www.petitiononline.com/andap1/

You will need a Canadian address, including postal code, in order to sign the petition. The petition states:

"Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)"

To: Canadian Parliament (House of Commons)

PETITION: TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED

We, the undersigned citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House to the following:

Whereas children suffering from an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are among the weakest and most vulnerable sector of Canadian society;

and whereas, in Canada the rate of children being diagnosed with ASD is high and increasing at an alarming rate (currently approximately 1 child in 195);

and whereas, until the cause and cure of autism are found, children suffering from autism can benefit from the provision of Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) therapy treatment based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA);

and whereas, for a variety of reasons including lack of assigned resources, unconscionable waiting lists, and delegation to Ministries with little or no expertise, the provision of IBI/ABA therapy treatment to children with autism is woefully inadequate;

Therefore, your petitioners call upon Parliament to

1) amend the Canada Health Act and corresponding Regulations to include IBI/ABA therapy for children with autism as a medically necessary treatment and require that all Provinces provide or fund this essential treatment for autism; and

2) contribute to the creation of academic chairs at a university in each province to teach IBI/ABA treatment at the undergraduate and doctoral level so that Canadians professionals will no longer be forced to leave the country to receive academic training in this field and so that Canada will be able to develop the capacity to provide every Canadian with autism with the best IBI/ABA treatment available.

Sincerely,

I signed the petition yesterday (signature #6287). This is a quick easy way to remind our federal politicians that the health care that is so important for all Canadians should include autistic Canadians and treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Harold L Doherty

autism