The fight for a REAL National Autism Strategy including Medicare coverage of ABA
for autism began more than 15 years ago in courts in BC and in the offices of
Fredericton MP Andy Scott, joined by Nova Scotia MP Peter Stoffer, former
PEI MP Shawn Murphy, and Ontario MP Glenn Thibeault and has continued
under the leadership of the Medicare for Autism NOW! organizaton.
Members of CASDA, the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders
Alliance, might be interested in the strong federal NDP statement
of commitment to a REAL National Autism Strategy and Medicare
coverage of ABA for Autism.
July 19, 2014
CASDA
Leadership Committee
Cynthia
Carroll, Executive Director, Autism Nova Scotia
Laurie
Mawlam, Executive Director, Autism Canada Founndation
Richard
Burelle, Executive Director, Autism Society Canada
Dave
Mikkelsen, Executive Director, Society for the Treatment of Autism
Debbie
Irish, Executive Director, Geneva Centre for Autism
Suzanne
Jacobson. President, Quick Start
Jill
Farber, Executive Director, Autism Speaks Canada
Dear
Executive Directors and CASDA Board Members:
I
am a father of a severely autistic 18 year old son with intellectual disability
and epileptic seizures. Although I am not currently a president, member
or executive director of any organization or board I have been actively
involved as an advocate provincially in NB for 15 years where we have, in
response to focused parental advocacy, one of the earliest established
credible provincial early autism intervention programs and autism trained
Education Aides and Resource teachers in our schools.
We also
worked during those 15 years with the late Andy Scott, then our Fredericton
area MP, towards a National Autism Strategy that resulted in the private
members' motion to that effect sponsored by Andy and Nova Scotia MP Peter
Stoffer.
I wish to
bring to your attention a reply I received recently from the office of the
Leader of the Official Opposition, Thomas Mulcair. The reply is set out
in full on my blog Facing Autism in New Brunswick in a July 11, 2014 commentary
NDP Continues Strong Leadership for A
Real National Autism Strategy.
To
save your time though I reprint the reply directly. It confirms the
federal NDP commitment to a real National Autism Strategy including ABA
coverage under Medicare:
Dear Mr.
Doherty,
Thank you for writing. We appreciate hearing of
your advocacy work on behalf of your son and all individuals living with autism
spectrum disorders.
Please be assured that New Democrats are determined
to help put the needs of Autistic children on the political map. The NDP
supports the continuing efforts to create a National Autism Strategy, therefore
ensuring that individuals would receive the highest level of care, regardless
of which region of Canada they live in.
As you mentioned, NDP MP Glenn Thibeault is helping
to provide leadership on this matter along with working to have the Canada Health Act amended to include Applied
Behavioural Analysis (ABA) and Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) as
medically recognized treatments for individuals living with autism spectrum
disorders. (http://glennthibeault.ndp.ca/post/thibeault-re-introduces-autism-legislation)
Going forward you can count on our team of New Democrat MPs to continue
to speak out on this matter. It’s time for leadership that will move Canada
forward.
Again, thank you for taking the time to be in touch.
All the best,
Office of Thomas Mulcair, MP (Outremont)
Leader of the Official Opposition
New Democratic Party of Canada
This is,
in my humble opinion, very significant news for autism parents and
advocates. The fight for a Real National Autism Strategy has been a
long one, starting at least 15 years ago in NB. It will undoubtedly take much
more time but the statement by the current Leader of the Official Opposition is
an important step in that struggle.
It would
be appreciated if you and your members could advocate directly to your
respective MPs and would be MPs and request all parties to make the same
commitment made by the New Democratic Party of Canada. If that is too much for
your organization to contemplate I ask you all to highlight this important
development on all your information sites and members news releases.
Respectfully,
Harold L
Doherty, Fredericton, NB
cc.
media, interested parties
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