Canada Still Awaits A National Autism Strategy

The following comment by Brian Rimpilainen, a friend and autism dad from Fredericton New Brunswick, was published in autism group networks and in the Telegraph-Journal. Brian is a dedicated autism advocate who has worked as a member of the Autism Society New Brunswick Board of Directors, the ASNB representative on the Autism Society Canada board and the Medicare for Autism organization. He has also been actively involved in direct citizen advocacy through local print media and internet media tools such as Facebook where Brian is the founder and administrator of the National Autism Strategy / ABA in Medicare NOW! group:

As 2008 comes to a close, I am reminded of former Fredericton MP Andy Scott's statement of June 5, 2007: "Mr. Speaker, it is regrettable that we have seen little action by the government toward implementing a national autism strategy ;

A year earlier Mr. Scott's private member's motion called for "evidence-based standards, innovative funding arrangements for diagnosis, treatment and research, and a national surveillance program."

I am the father of a son with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). I watched hopefully as Liberal MP Shawn Murphy introduced a private member's bill, which would called for amendment of the Canada Health Act to provide coverage for autism treatments. The bill was defeated. The Liberals and the New Democrats both voted, by and large, in support of Bill C-304.

Autism is a serious neurological disorder that affects 1 in 150 Canadians. Persons with an ASD can display a wide range of intellectual, communication, behavioural and/or social deficits. While no known cure exists, a treatment that has been demonstrated in hundreds of studies to decrease the negative autism deficits, and in some cases virtually eliminate these deficits exists. Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) has been demonstrated to improve the abilities in all these areas and improve the quality of life of persons with autism.


Despite this, governments in Canada have an atrocious record in dealing with the autism crisis and in helping these vulnerable people.


I hope all MPs will carry the torch Mr. Scott has lit as we move into 2009.


autism

Run the Dream Voices For Autism Fredericton Update

Run the Dream runner Jonathon Howard is now in the Fredericton area and will be presenting the Fredericton fundraiser, Voices for Autism! on June 5th, beginning at 7:00pm at the Delta Fredericton!

Supporters, government and business leaders and community members are invited to gather for Voices for Autism, featuring musical guests:

- Steve Waylon & Rebel Ridge
- Tore Down
- Cathy Hutch & B.J. McKelvie’s Autism song, “I’m in Here”

The evening will be lots of fun with:

- Raffle draws, 50/50 and a fantastic silent auction
- New Brunswick’s ‘Their Stories’, which are video stories highlighting personal experiences with Autism and the effect it currently having on some families,

- Keynote speakers will be Dr. Paul McDonnell, who has worked with and helped so many autistic children and their families in New Brunswick and has been the person behind much of New Brunswick's Autism Services Model, Brian Rimpilainen, who has worked tirelessly toward establishment of a National Autism Strategy, and me (Harold Doherty).

- Appearances by Jonathan Howard and Chairman of Run the Dream, Bill Robertson.

The evening is designed to be supportive with the goal of raising money for Autism Spectrum Disorder support groups in New Brunswick through a variety of different voices.

Purchase your tickets online at Ticket Atlantic, Voices for Autism and visit Run the Dream for more information.

autism