I Remember Canada - A Beautiful Reminder From Teresa Doyle

The Environment Is Of Vital Importance - Next Time Include Elizabeth May

This blog is focused on autism disorders, very closely related conditions including intellectual disability and epilepsy.  It is about my son and the joy he brings me each day despite his serious disorders and challenges.  Occasionally it is just a celebration via pictures of the pleasure I experience each day that I live in Canada's Green City .... Fredericton.  Fredericton has been called the Green City, not because of any political party dominance under the green banner although Mr David Coon shook 'the traditional voting patterns one year ago when he was elected as an MLA in Fredericton , but because of its abundant natural growth and wildlife.  It is a beautiful green city and I love Fredericton.  Beyond these topics I don't usually touch directly on politics unless it involves advocating for autism services in  New Brunswick and federally.

I am making an exception today though.  I am asking whoever organizes future debates in this election period to include Elizabeth May in those debates. I am seriously disappointed with the "masterminds", the old boys, who decided to exclude Green Party leader Elizabeth May from the debate last night.  Obviously elections are about electing representatives including a party to form our government.  But elections are also about discussing important public issues and few public issues are as important as our environment.  The wizards that organized yesterday's leaders debate, hiding it so it could barely be found and excluding Elizabeth May did a disservice to all Canadians.  Regardless of the party affiliation for the person we vote for as MP this country can use Elizabeth May.

Elizabeth May can discuss all issues with her very sharp  and well informed mind.  But she brings an exceptionally important perspective  and presence to the discussion of our environment ... the most important issue, in my humble opinion, facing all Canadians. 

Happy Canada Day, Eh!

Canada flag photo by Harold L Doherty, very happy to be a Canadian,  

living in Canada, despite the lack of progress on the national autism front  

Today is Canada Day and I am very happy to be a Canadian living here in Canada.   We can still enjoy living in one of the world's freest countries in the world.  I am happy and thankful that Canada is my home. I am thankful for our freedoms, our beautiful natural environment and our national health care system that generally takes  good care of all Canadians not just those who can afford the very best care. 

Not much positive though can be said on our national autism front, a point that was reinforced by the death this week of former Fredericton MP, national autism champion and all aground great guy Andy Scott.  Andy did succeed in getting autism on the national agenda with his private member's motion M-172 and tried to follow up to push the Harper government to action. Our Prime Minister and his submissive federal health bureaucracy though have done absolutely nothing to advance the cause of Canadians with autism, particularly those with severe autism disorders ... Canadians like my youngest son.   

Notwithstanding lack of autism progress nationally though events of the past year have brought home to me all too forcefully that I am very lucky to be living in this wonderful Canada. When I could not breathe while waiting in an after hours clinic I received immediate care, was sent by ambulance to the emergency clinic of the local hospital and received acute care attention for a week at minimal expense.  When Conor suffered grand mal seizures and an adverse drug reaction he received care for two weeks at the same hospital including 6 days in the intensive care unit where he received the medical attention that saved his life.

My family and I are fortunate to live in Canada even without national level autism effort. 

I will continue to fight on the national autism front with wonderful autism advocates like the members of Medicare for Autism Now! 

In the meantime I wish everyone a very happy Canada Day, eh!

Canada's World Autism Awareness Day Act: Great Preamble, Zero Action

On November 1, 2012 Canada passed An Act respecting World Autism Awareness Day an Act with a great preamble which provides for absolutely no action to ensure that effective evidence based early intervention for autism would be provided to all Canadian families affected by autism spectrum disorders.  

Talk, and rhetoric, is cheap.  Intervention is not. Failure to provide intervention and services is not cheap.   The human and financial costs of failing to take effective autism action continue to rise across Canada. 

60-61 ELIZABETH II

——————

CHAPTER 21

An Act respecting World Autism Awareness Day

[Assented to 1st November, 2012]

Whereas autism spectrum disorders affect a significant number of families in Canada;

Whereas Canada has a health care system and social safety net to prevent illness and serve citizens;

Whereas Canadian families affected by autism spectrum disorders have unequal access to services across the country;

Whereas worldwide the number of diagnoses of autism spectrum disorders is growing;

Whereas a greater awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for people with autism is required to engage more Canadians in helping their fellow citizens;

Whereas early intervention in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders can have promising results and help people engage with and contribute to society;

Whereas there is no known cause or cure for autism spectrum disorders;

Whereas 192 United Nations representatives agreed that World Autism Awareness Day would draw the attention of people across the globe to this neurological disorder that is affecting an increasing number of families;

Whereas in 2007 the United Nations General Assembly designated April 2, from 2008 on, as World Autism Awareness Day;

Whereas Canada is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which maintain that children with disabilities should enjoy a full and decent life in conditions that ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate their active participation in the community, while also enjoying all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children;

And whereas Canada is a member of the United Nations and supports the work of this vital international organization;

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

SHORT TITLE

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the World Autism Awareness Day Act.

WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY

World Autism Awareness Day

2. Throughout Canada, in each and every year, the second day of April shall be known as “World Autism Awareness Day”.

Published under authority of the Senate of Canada

Heartless Canada Does It Again - Rejecting Another Immigrant Family Because of Son with Autism

Image by Kaz Novak, The Hamilton Spectator

An immigrant South Korean family, Sungsoo Kim, wife Sunmi Kim, daughter Lisa and son Taehoon, have been living in Canada for the past 9 years. A permanent residency application has been rejected  by Canadian officials because the 12 year old son   is autistic.  He  received the autism diagnosis several years ago but after he and his father, Sungsoo Kim,  had arrived in Canada.   

Change is difficult, very difficult, for many people with autism disorders.  For my severely autistic son slight changes in his daily routines and expectations can result in serious problems.  I can not imagine the harmful impact on this 12 year old autistic boy,  to be sent to another country now, after growing up in Canada over the past 9 years.  He has South Korean heritage, a Korean name and family but this boy after spending 9 of his 12 years in Canada IS Canadian.  

I understand the costs argument but it is still heartless for Canada to send this autistic boy to live in  a country he does not know, absolutely heartless.   If and when harm comes to this boy from this decision Canada must bear a major part of the responsibility.  

I am generally very, very proud to be Canadian but I am not proud of the way we treat good people who have chosen to live among us and become part of Canada because a child is diagnosed after arrival with an autism disorder. Woe, Canada!

Robocall Misdirection Campaigns Are A Threat To Canadian Democracy

Canadian Flag, Nashwaaksis, Fredericton, NB

Photo by Harold L Doherty

Robocall misdirection campaigns are a threat to Canadian Democracy.  Please email your Member of Parliament and ask him or her to take all necessary steps to investigate and prevent future assaults on our democratic freedom. The federal government web site linked below will provide your MP email address by entering your postal code. I have also attached below, as an example, the letter I have just emailed to the MP for Fredericton where I live.  This is serious.

Find Your Member of Parliament Email Address

...................................................................................................................................

March 1, 2012

ASHFIELD, The Hon. Keith, P.C. 

Dear Mr. Ashfield

I have the privilege of living in the Nashwaaksis area of the Fredericton riding which you represent in the House of Commons.   I enjoy the many advantages that accrue simply by being a citizen of Canada, the most fundamental of which is our truly democratic system of government.  Our democracy is more than a privilege, more than a right, even more than a set of Constitutional principles.  It is who we are as Canadians.  The recent news that an organized campaign of  misdirection, of "robocalls",  by which many Canadians were intentionally sent to the wrong polling station depriving some of the opportunity  to vote in the last federal election, the "robocall" campaign,   is the most serious threat to Canadian democracy that I have ever seen.

I hope that you, as our Fredericton Member of Parliament, and  a member of the current government are taking seriously this threat to Canadian democracy. This is not about a particular political party or the political fortunes of individual political candidates.  This is about our democratic values and ultimately about whether we choose to live as free people. 

I ask that you:

1)  take all necessary steps to ensure that our federal government holds a judicial inquiry into the "robocall" campaign, 

2)  examine any potential harm to Canadian democracy that has result from the "robocall" campaign, 

3)  take steps, including passing appropriate legislation to quash future such threats to Canadian democracy;

4)  to punish all those responsible for the recently reported "robocall" campaign.

Respectfully,

Harold L Doherty

Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3A 1T1

cc. Citizens of Canada

Autism Woe Canada: From Coast to Coast, No One Stands On Guard for Canadians with Autism Disorders

Two news reports show all too clearly that no one stands on guard for autistic children, youth and adults in Canada:

EDMONTON — A 51-year-old Edmonton man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for abuse and neglect of his teenage autistic son that left him looking like a "concentration camp victim." Vancouver Sun, Postmedia News, October 18, 2011 

Leave the Wild Rose province of Alberta and head to Canada's Ocean Playground in Nova Scotia and things don't get much better for Canadians with autism disorders.

"The provincial government has suspended Braemore's licence and replaced its executive director. The Cape Breton District Health Authority's board of directors is now acting as the interim board for the home.

The review was ordered by the province's Department of Community Services in February after officials found that an autistic resident of Braemore was locked inside a constantly lit room for 15 days last fall.

Minister says she feels 'absolutely terrible'

At the time, Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse said the review was needed after her department concluded the 20-year-old man, who was allowed out occasionally for exercise and meals, sometimes urinated in the room when he couldn't leave to use a bathroom. The home's executive director, Debra MacPherson, later apologized.

Peterson-Rafuse, who was in Sydney on Tuesday to meet with the interim board, said she was taken aback by the report's findings.

"I accept the responsibility as minister to say that we could have done better too," she said in an interview."  CBC News, October 28, 2011"

A father in Alberta doesn't see what the fuss is all about over his failure to provide a humane level of care for his autistic son.  In Nova Scotia a government Minister is "taken aback" and, golly gee whiz,  she is just all shocked and surprised to see that a group home which is supposed to care for its residents didn't care at all and put adult squabbles and interests ahead of the dignity and well being of an autistic resident. 

Other Canadian provinces are no better.  Here in New Brunswick we have twiddled our thumbs and stuck stubbornly with an adult care system that does not provide safety, security and a dignified life for its autistic residents.  Adults who   suffer from severe autism disorders are sentenced to spend their lives in a psychiatric hospital. No one, including an Ombudsman's Office that has done little to help autistic children and adults in New Brunswick, will do anything to provide a decent life for the autistic adults in the care of the government once their parents succumb to old age and death. 

Our Supreme Court of Canada reversed decisions by a British Columbia trial judge and three BC Court of Appeal justices and put deference to government decision makers ahead of the best interests of autistic children in the Auton Case. Our federal governments under both Liberal and Conservative Prime Ministers have done nothing to provide Canadians with a Real National Autism Strategy.  

A Real National Autism Strategy is needed to ensure that regardless of where autistic Canadians live in this country they will be able to live in decent, humane conditions.  If we can't we should stop parading around the world, with a holier than thou attitude,  lecturing others about the way they treat their citizens.

Jack Layton: Canada, and Canadian Families with Autistic Children, Have Lost A Strong, Compassionate Voice

Photograph by Fred Greenslade, Reuters

There will be many words spoken to express the great loss that Canadians feel on hearing of the passing of Jack Layton.  His positive, feisty, spirit won the hearts of many Canadians in the last election but he has long been a champion of great causes from the homeless to the environment.

Jack Layton was also aware of the challenges facing Canadians with autism and the need for the federal government to address those challenges. The Medicare for Autism Now! organization had obtained the following statement from Jack Layton as leader of the NDP which I had posted on September 17, 2008:

"Jack's Response on Autism

First, both NDP MP Peter Stoffer and myself have challenged the federal government for not providing funding in its last budget to help families with autistic children. I fully recognize that families with autistic children are in crying need of support and they are very disappointed that the Conservative government has ignored their needs in their budget spending.

On the matter of voting, in the April 3, 2006 to September 14 ,2007 session of parliament MP Shawn Murphy introduced his private members legislation Bill C-304, An Act to provide for the development of a national strategy for the treatment of autism and to amend the Canada Health Act. C-304 received first reading on May 17, 2006 but unfortunately it did not make it to third reading or a final vote because it died when the Harper government chose to prorogue that Parliament. I am also aware that on March 29, 2007, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs issued a report on the Funding of Treatment for Autism titled:" Pay Now or Pay Later: Autism Families in Crisis" in which they recommended that the federal government demonstrate some leadership in the autism file by collaborating with the provinces to create a National Autism Strategy and address the funding of treatment. However, this report was not put before parliament for a vote.

New Democrats recognize that providing support for families with Autistic children has to be a bigger priority for the federal government than another corporate tax cut. That is why Peter Stoffer has introduced Private Members' Bills, C-211, An Act to amend the Canada Health Act (Autism Spectrum Disorder) to "ensure that the cost of Applied Behavioural Analysis ( ABA) and Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) for autistic persons is covered by the health care Insurance plan of every province" and C -212, An Act respecting a Canadian Autism Day. ' The federal NDP is proud of Mr Stoffer's efforts to help put the needs of Autistic children on the political map."

Goodbye Jack.

Maeng Family and Son with Autism Will Not be Deported from Canada!

 

VIKTOR PIVOVAROV/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

The deportation order for the Maeng family of Moncton New Brunswick, Canada has been rescinded.  The family is no longer facing deportation because of their son's autism and epilepsy. The federal government rescinded the order after the Province of New Brunswick confirmed confirmed it will cover the health costs associated with the family's autistic son Sung-Joo Maeng 15. 

It feels good to be a New Brunswicker.  It feels good, once again, to be Canadian.  We have done the right thing by these good people. We have done the right thing for Sung-Joo Maeng.

Woe Canada! More Canadian Shame as South Korean Family In Moncton Forced to Leave Canada Because of Son's Autism and Epilepsy

VIKTOR PIVOVAROV/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

Canada's shameful and dishonorable conduct towards families and children with autism and other disabilities continues with the forced expulsion of a South Korean family because one of their son's suffers from autism and eplipsy.  The family operates a business in downtown Moncton New Brunswick and the oldest son has, as reported in the Times & Transcript, graduated with honors and has gone on to Dalhousie University where he studies science and hopes to become a dentist:

"They came to Canada to seek a better life for their children, but now they're being told to leave because their youngest son's illness costs too much. They came to Canada to seek a better life for their children, but now they're being told to leave because their youngest son's illness costs too much. The Maeng family from South Korea moved to Moncton in 2003 and within a few years set up a business, The Main Stop Oriental Market on West Main Street. They care for their youngest boy, Sung-Joo, 15, who has been diagnosed with autism and epilepsy, while their older son, Jung-Joo, 19, has worked his way through school, graduating with honours from Harrison Trimble High School last year before moving on to Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Tae-Shik Maeng and mother Hee-Eun Jang, received a letter informing them that their family would have to leave Canada by June 30. The family's application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to extend their temporary resident permit (worker and student) was denied due to the medical and education expenses of Sung-Joo"


Shame on us Canada. 

Canadian Autism Shame: Canada Bars Autistic Teen From Permanent Resident Status

Canada has, to its shame and dishonor,  refused to include evidence based effective treatment for autism in the universal Medicare, our public national health care scheme,  that it offers to all Canadians thereby excluding  1 in 110 autistic Canadian children from receiving a fundamental benefit of our society.   Now it has extended that shameful treatment to autistic citizens of other nations, and even some of his family members, who would like to visit and reside in Canada.  

As Hugh Adami reports in the Ottawa Citizen:

"What Canadian immigration has done to an English teenager and his parents is cruel, embarrassing and hypocritical. The federal government has barred 17-year-old Lewis Crowe, who lives with his mother in England, from living in Canada because he has autism. Furthermore, he cannot visit the country without the permission of the immigration department. Stranger still is his father and stepmother, Robert and Pauline Crowe, are "inadmissible" as permanent residents because of Lewis's disability."

As a Canadian I am proud of my country which I believe is the best country on earth in which to live.  As the father of a teen aged son with severe Autistic Disorder though I believe that Canada has behaved shamefully in treating autistic Canadians as second class citizens by excluding Autism treatment from inclusion in Medicare. Now Canada has extended that shameful treatment to autistic persons and their families from other countries who would like to visit and reside in our otherwise wonderful country.  

Shame Canada, shame on us. 

Swine Flu Vaccines, Autism and Public Health Gamblers in Canada

As in Europe, and in the US, so too in Canada where officials are also fast tracking swine flu vaccines without proper safety trials. The CBC, as expected from a government financed media, offers an uncritical assessment of the Canadian fast track strategy in Swine flu vaccine fast-tracked in Canada, U.S., Europe. CanWest News offering a more independent, critical analysis of Canadian strategy reports that, unlike in the US, Canada does not have a plan in place to provide no fault compensation to people injured by the vaccine as occurred in the 1976 swine flu scare vaccination program:

A leading public health expert is calling on Canada to create a no-fault compensation program for people who may be harmed by a swine flu vaccine that millions of Canadians will be urged by the government to get this fall.

Kumanan Wilson, Canada research chair in public health at the University of Ottawa, said in an interview with Canwest News Service that children and adults could be exposed to an incompletely tested vaccine and that a compensation scheme is needed to encourage the public to buy into any mass immunization program.

When the World Health Organization last month proclaimed swine flu the first pandemic since 1968, Canada’s chief public health officer, David Butler-Jones, said everyone should get the new flu shot when it becomes available.

“The more people that have immunity, the easier it is to stop,” he said.

But Canwest News Service has learned that, unlike the United States, the Public Health Agency of Canada has no plans to compensate people who may be injured by an H1N1 vaccine.

A vaccine injury program would give people who suffer an adverse reaction faster access to compensation without having to go through the legal system. Quebec is the only jurisdiction in Canada that has a non-fault compensation program.

Public Health Agency of Canada officials acknowledged last week there won’t be time for a swine flu vaccine to go through standard safety testing before immunizations begin in the fall. The first doses are expected to be available in three to four months. Officials said they are working with regulators on ways to reduce any time required for getting the vaccine out. Canada could invoke emergency provisions to get the vaccine out quicker, before all the data from human trials that test safety are complete.

Hopefully Canadian governments will enact a true no-fault compensation system for those injured by the swine flu (H1N1) vaccine and will at least fully and accurately record what happens to those, particularly pregnant women and young children, who receive the untested vaccine shots.

Specifically, given some evidence that the swine flu (H1N1) virus has itself been linked to autism, governments should keep reliable records on autism diagnoses amongst children receiving the swine flu vaccine, or children born of mothers who received the vaccine while pregnant. Would it be too much to ask governments to keep such records and make the resulting information available before relying on the old "correlation does not imply causation", or "it's just a coincidence" arguments to mock those who see their children regress into autism after vaccination?

autism

An Open Autism Challenge To MP Mike Lake, Canada's Official Autism Dad

Mike Lake
Conservative Member of Parliament
Edmonton-Mill Woods-Beaumont

March 3, 2009

Mike Lake
Conservative Member of Parliament
Edmonton-Mill Woods-Beaumont

Dear Mr. Lake

I am the father of a 13 year old boy diagnosed with Autistic Disorder, assessed with profound developmental delays. I have in all candor been disappointed, very disappointed, with the positions you have taken in support of your party's refusal as Canada's governing party to take serious steps to address Canada's national autism crisis. I have read your statements in particular on treatment and funding of autism treatment for autism in Canada. I know that you do not need to be convinced of the benefits of ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) for the treatment of autism disorders. There have been several serious, credible reviews of the hundreds of studies which have examined the evidence basis in support of the effectiveness in treating autism. Apart from the ideological positions of a very small minority of professionals and autism advocates there has for some time been an overwhelming consensus endorsing ABA as an autism intervention. Yet you, as an autism father, and Member of Parliament, a member of the governing party in Canada, have taken no steps to ensure that funding mechanisms are put in place in conjunction with the federal and provincial governments to ensure provision of ABA for autistic children regardless of where their parents happen to live in Canada. I challenge you, as a fellow autism dad, one that has actually fought with some success to ensure the provision of autism services, to take steps while your party forms the government to ensure that all Canadian children with autism in need of ABA services are able to obtain them regardless of what province their parents live in.

As an autism advocate I have advocated with other parents for many years to obtain ABA interventions here in New Brunswick yet my name, although put forth, was twice rejected as a participant in the national autism symposium, along with many other serious parent autism advocates for ABA services for autistic children in Canada. You participated as a keynote speaker at that staged symposium. Although the symposium was obviously designed to cast doubt on the consensus of professional and parent support for ABA as an autism intervention the effort was undermined by the release just days prior to that event of the American Academy of Pediatrics Report, November 1, 2007, Management of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders which reviewed the professional literature and concluded much as the US Surgeon General, the New York State Department of Health, the MADSEC (Maine) Autism Task Force and the Association for Science in Autism Treatment that:

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.31–4

American Academy of Pediatrics, Management of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Your party has used you, as an autism father, to help quiet the voices of those who were seeking to amend the Canada Health Act to ensure that all autistic children would be able to receive ABA intervention in Canada. You faithfully quoted the party line that this could not be done for legal and constitutional reasons. Fine. Leave that argument aside.

You also voted on December 5, 2006, along with your party, in support of Andy Scott's private members' motion M-172, seconded by Peter Stoffer which called for the development of a National Autism Strategy on the following terms:

“(a) the development, in cooperation with provincial/territorial governments, of evidence based standards for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder; (b) the development, in cooperation with provincial governments, of innovative funding methods for the care of those with autism spectrum disorder; (c) consulting with provincial/territorial governments and other stakeholders on the requirements of implementing a national surveillance program for autism spectrum disorder; and (d) the provision of additional federal funding for health research into autism spectrum disorder.”

Your name was clearly recorded on the yea side right between MP's Kramp and Lapierre:

YEAS -- POUR
...

Khan
Komarnicki
Kramp (Prince Edward—Hastings)
Lake
Lapierre
Lauzon

While some money has been spent on research, with unknown objectives, no steps have been taken in 2 1/2 years to to develop, in cooperation with provincial and territorial governments, innovative funding methods for the care of those with autism spectrum disorder. In other words no steps have been taken to actually help autistic children and adults now living in Canada. Perhaps in 30 years the additional research dollars offered to Canadian researchers might play some role in offering some help to autistic persons not yet born. But here and now, in Canada nothing has been done by your government to help living autistic Canadians.

I know that you, as a Conservative MP from an Edmonton, Alberta riding have little to worry about politically. You could spend your time advocating for the protection of Bigfoot and other mythological creatures and still win landslide re-election for years to come. But I challenge you as an autism father who has actually advocated with some success for autism services for my son and other autistic children in New Brunswick, as one autism dad to another, to actually do something on behalf of Canada's autistic children and adults. You are a member of the governing Conservative Party. You have allowed your status as an autism parent to be used to support your government's refusal to act to include autism treatment in the Canada Health Act.

I ask simply that you use your standing in the party on autism issues to ensure that Prime Minister Harper and Health Minister Aglukkaq call a meeting of provincial health ministers to discuss funding of autism treatment and services for autistic children and adults living in Canada. This much you have already promised. This much you can do.

I challenge you as one "autism dad" to another, as one that has gotten some things done here in New Brunswick, to use your position in the governing party to actually do something for autistic Canadian children and adults.

Respectfully,


Harold L Doherty
Fredericton NB

cc. Facing Autism in New Brunswick

autism

Autism Change.org and Estee Klar Misrepresent Canada's Autism Climate

Change.org's autism page does not present a progressive view of autism. The Change represented on it's autism page represents no change at all. It is a media portal for the neurodiversity ideology which says that people with autism should not be cured or treated for their autism disorders, although the term "disorder" is frowned upon at Change.org.

According to the neurodiversity ideology found at Change.org autism represents variations in personality and ways of thinking. Autism is no longer a medical disorder defined by the DSM requiring treatment. Instead a social model of autism is put forward, one which views problems encountered by persons with autistic personalities as the result of society's failure to accommodate autistic personalities and ways of thinking. There is little, if any, mention of the life situations facing the severely autistic, some who live their lives in institutional care, or of self injury, or aggression, or the cognitive deficits of many persons with Autistic Disorder.

Change.org continues its subservience to neurodiversity ideology with an article by neurodiversity blogger, and Michelle Dawson disciple, Estee Klar which seriously misrepresents Canada's autism realities. Ms Klar in The Canadian Autism Climate: Too Cold For Comfort Introduction misrepresents the Canadian autism climate and attempts to pass off her views as representing the realities of Canadian autism parents.

In the article Estee Klar, now a graduate student in critical disability studies, and a long time anti-ABA ideologue, continues to advance her neurodiversity thesis that autism should not be viewed as a medical disorder. "Based on the notion that autism is a disease or something “wrong,” the government of Canada continues to endorse an intervention promoted by a series of parents in Canada."

The "notion"? Autism is defined as a disorder in the DSM. Presumably, Ms Klar as a parent of an autistic child, obtained for her child a medical diagnosis of one of the autism disorders before beginning her career as an anti-ABA advocate. Presumably there were observable behaviors or lack of development that prompted such a diagnosis. Was Ms Klar hallucinating, imagining such deficits, when she sought medical attention for her child, the attention that resulted in a medical diagnosis that Ms Klar now blithely dismisses as a "notion"?

Ms Klar is not sure, in her attack on ABA in Canada, who to blame for the fact that most Canadian provinces now provide ABA interventions to one extent or another (services that parents of autistic children in most states in the US are also fighting for from their health insurance providers):

Whatever the entry point into the foray of autism, what lies ahead is largely dictated here in Canada of what the government dictates is the proper autism “intervention.” Based on the notion that autism is a disease or something “wrong,” the government of Canada continues to endorse an intervention promoted by a series of parents in Canada.

As the quote indicates Ms Klar begins by labelling ABA as a government dictated autism intervention. Then she loses her train of thought and indicates that gee, ABA was actually "imposed" because ABA was "promoted" by a series of parents in Canada. Apart from the contradictions in this statement, blaming first the government; than a "series of parents", it illustrates the extent to which Ms Klar is out of touch with other autism parents in Canada and out of touch with any semblance of the realities confronting persons with autism and their families.

Parents in every province in Canada have fought hard to obtain ABA interventions for our children. I am one of those parents. Together with many other parents here in New Brunswick I fought hard to have government put ABA services in place by trained ABA service providers. New Brunswick went from providing no autism specific services to provision of ABA intervention by trained workers and clinical supervisors in the pre-school years and now is implementing an autism training program for teacher aides and resource teachers in New Brunswick schools.

I have also been involved across Canada meeting people from Halifax to Toronto to British Columbia working hard to achieve ABA services for autistic children in every part of Canada. It is not just " a series of parents" who are promoting ABA. Ms Klar has not been involved in such advocacy and is speaking purely as an ill informed outsider, ideologically opposed to our efforts.

Ms Klar has a more serious problem when advancing her misrepresentation that ABA is "imposed" on Canada's autistic children. The truth is, and as someone actually involved with autism parental organizations in Canada, I know this, many autistic children, including in Estee's Ontario, still languish on waiting lists to receive ABA interventions. ABA is NOT imposed, it is sought after by parents who want to help their autistic children. The waiting lists exist because so many parents want ABA for their children. Such lists are powerful evidence to refute Ms Klar's "notion" that ABA is imposed.


Nor do Governments provide expensive services because a few parents "promote" something. It was a very substantial number of parents, with too much common sense to gloss over the realities of their children's autism disorders, and with hundreds of studies and credible reviews of ABA as persuasive authorities, that resulted in governments moving across Canada to provide ABA. Not because it should be "imposed" but because most parents want ABA for their autistic children AND because to date it is the only evidence based effective intervention for autism. The most recent review confirming the evidence basis for the effectiveness of ABA was the American Academy of Pediatrics, Management of Children with Autism Disorders, (2007):


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.31–4


American Academy of Pediatrics, Management of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2007


Ms Klar was not one of those parents who fought for effective ABA treatment for autistic children. She does not know the obstacles that had to be overcome to convince government to take action and provide ABA services. She does not know what she is talking about when she comments on Canadian autism parent advocacy.

I do know what I am talking about and many other parents in New Brunswick and every province in Canada do as well. The families in the BC cases in Auton and Hewko, the families in the Ontario Deskin Wynberg case know what ABA for autism advocacy really entails. People in Ontario that I have actually met, like Barry Hudson, Jennifer O'Brien, Norrah Whitney, Bruce McIntosh and Stefan Marinoiu know what they are talking about. I have met autism parent advocates from coast to coast like Jim Young from Nova Scotia and Jean Lewis fom British Columbia. We are not sitting at a Toronto art museum pondering social models of autism. We are dealing with the hard cold realities of life for many of our autistic children. We have been involved in the difficult advocacy necessary to help our children.


Ms. Klar misrepresents autism realities, the effectiveness of ABA as an autism intervention, and the challenges faced by Canadian parents who fought so hard to obtain ABA to benefit their children.

Estee Klar has not been involved with the parent advocacy that has resulted in ABA services being provided for autistic children in Canada. Estee Klar knows not of what she prattles.

Change.org should be ashamed of itself for promoting Estee Klar's regressive neurodiversity ideology.

autism

Woe Canada: Can Do American Politicians Address Autism Crisis While Harper & Ignatieff Do & Say Nothing

In the 11 years since my son, Conor, was diagnosed with autism the rates of autism diagnoses have skyrocketed in numbers that can not be explained entirely by the definition changes for pervasive developmental disorders (autism spectrum disorders) in the DSM. In the United States several American political leaders are taking steps to address the autism crisis while in Canada, the Harper government passes a budget which spends big bucks everywhere but offers nothing, zilch, for autism. And his de facto governing partner Michael Ignatieff also remains silent on autism issues; demanding nothing for autism as part of his party's continued propping up of the Harper party.

President Obama's commitment to addressing autism issues is well known:

Autism

President Obama and Vice President Biden are committed to supporting Americans with Autism Spectrum Disorders (“ASD”), their families, and their communities. There are a few key elements to their support, which are as follows:

• First, President Obama and Vice President Biden support increased funding for autism research, treatment, screenings, public awareness, and support services. There must be research of the treatments for, and the causes of, ASD.
• Second, President Obama and Vice President Biden support improving life-long services for people with ASD for treatments, interventions and services for both children and adults with ASD.
• Third, President Obama and Vice President Biden support funding the Combating Autism Act and working with Congress, parents and ASD experts to determine how to further improve federal and state programs for ASD.
• Fourth, President Obama and Vice President Biden support universal screening of all infants and re-screening for all two-year-olds, the age at which some conditions, including ASD, begin to appear. These screenings will be safe and secure, and available for every American that wants them. Screening is essential so that disabilities can be identified early enough for those children and families to get the supports and services they need.

Recently governors Doyle of Wisconsin and Corzine of New Jersey have spoken forcefully in support of initiatives to help autistic people and their families:

Governor Doyle in the Wisconsin State of the State Address:

First, we can make sure kids with autism get the treatment they need. Private insurers should cover autism; the treatment has been proven effective, and families deserve the right to see their children improve.

Governor Cozine's efforts on behalf of autistic people in New Jersey were described in a February 3, 2009 editorial on NorthJersey.com:

SINCE New Jersey has the highest incidence of autism in the nation, it's only fitting that our state should be a leader in supporting families facing this devastating diagnosis. The earlier the disorder can be identified and the more services that are available, the more positive the outcome. That is why Governor Corzine has made autism a high priority and has started a series of initiatives that are at various stages of progress. His efforts will inevitably be affected by the economic crisis and the state's financial woes. But as The Record's Elise Young reported this week, some success is already evident. An expanded and invigorated Governor's Council for the Medical Research and Treatment of Autism has been set up, along with an Adults with Autism Task Force and a training program for police, firefighters and emergency medical technicians on how to respond to those with autism. Perhaps the most promising and potentially effective initiative is the "early intervention" plan, which will result in evaluation guidelines for doctors and other health professionals who treat infants and toddlers. Guidelines have already been drafted and may be ready by spring.

Meanwhile back in Canada there is no mention in budget documents or discussions by Prime Minister Harper or Opposition Leader Ignatieff of autism or any commitment of funds to address Canada's autism crisis.

Too bad about that autism stuff eh?

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Fredericton New Brunswick August 31 2008

autism

Fredericton New Brunswick August 30 2008

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Grim, Chaotic Autism Reality In Ireland

The Independent paints a grim picture of autism reality in Ireland in Autism 'chaos' as one-third wait over year for diagnosis and in an editorial Grim message on autism . Figures released by Irish health authorities show that in one county there are no waiting lists while in others there are 14 months to 3 year delays in receiving diagnosis. For many Irish autistic children the early period when intervention is most effective expires on the waiting list for diagnosis.

The waiting list tragedy is not unique to autistic children in Ireland. Here in Canada there are huge discrepancies between provinces with respect to autism services. Ontario is notorious for its waiting lists for receipt of autism treatment with children left "rotting on the vine". In its editorial the Independent noted that in Ireland:

"following the release of a damning report, the Government was warned that inaction in the welfare of children will lead to a litany of social ills, including an increase in suicide and self-mutilation and family breakdown, which will cost the State dearly in the not too distant future."

So too in Canada our governments, federal and provincial, have been warned by the Senate Committee report "Pay Now or Pay Later" what the future would hold if action were not taken to provide funding and a national autism strategy to ensure that autistic children received the treatment they need. In Canada a cynical Stephen Harper led Conservative party uses pre-WWII views of Canadian federalism to justify its lack of commitment to helping autistic children across Canada.

autism

Conor Loves The Snow

This is one of the hardest winters we have experienced in this part of the world for a long time. But Conor is not complaining about the snow. Heck no, the snow is no problem and autism is not an issue. Conor enjoys the snow, he loves the snow, just like so many other Canadian kids.

autism