Stephen Harper's Photo Op Support for Autism

Jonathan Howard has helped raise awareness for autism with his run across Canada. He has met with political leaders of all levels and parties. Some of those he met with are genuine in seeking to help autistic children and adults and their families. Some are not. Stephen Harper is not.

The Harper government did nothing to help autistic children across Canada receive evidence based treatment for autism. Not a thing. Until now. Stephen Harper posed recently with Jonathan when he and Terry Robinson arrived in Terry's home town of Dryden.

After all the struggle with parents advocating for their autistic children in every province in Canada over the past 10 years, after the Auton, Wynberg and Hewko cases, with autistic children in Canada still lacking access to evidence based effective autism interventions Stephen Harper finally offers his contribution to the cause of autism in Canada --- he posed for a picture with Jonathan Howard.

Well done Mr Harper.

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Ontario, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Canada Need Medicare for Autism NOW!

Nova Scotia has been in the news recently as a result of losing two valuable medical professionals, a husband and wife, who are moving from Nova Scotia to Manitoba so their autistic child can benefit from the autism treatment services at St. Amant. Ontario has also seen a number of news articles - Canada.com, Toronto Sun, Hamilton Spectator, and Welland Tribune featuring the plight of Ontario's autistic children languishing on waiting lists for treatment that, in some cases is never provided. Saskatchewan, Canada's Autism Wasteland, is also plauged by long waiting lists for treatment for autistic children.

Canada's autistic children need more than the photo op help provided by Conservative MP's who are turning out for the cameras when Jonathan Howard runs through their constituency but who voted against Shawn Murphy's bill to amend the Canada Health to include ABA treatment for autism.

In Nova Scotia NDP Opposition Leader Darrell Dexter, as reported on Canoe.com, has reacted to that province's autism crisis:

NDP leader Darrell Dexter says provincial and federal health ministers need to act to place Autism Spectrum Disorder under the Canada Health Act.

Dexter says the move would ensure equal treatment for all Canadian families affected by autism no matter which province they live in.

The NDP are also calling for Ottawa to enact a national strategy on autism.

Canada needs a National Autism Strategy. Canada Needs Medicare for Autism NOW!

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Conservative MP Patrick Brown's Photo Op Support for Autism

Conservative MP Patrick Brown, Barrie, Ontario, joined Jonathan Howard when the Run the Dream campaign arrived in the Barrie area this week. Mr. Brown ran a ways with him and got a good photo op out of it. Like other Harper Conservative MP's though, when Mr. Brown could have done something to actually help autistic children in Canada he turned his back on them.

When Shawn Murphy's private members bill C-304 calling for a National Autism Strategy and an amendment to the Canada Health Act to include ABA/IBI as a medically necessary treatment for autism was up for a vote in the House of Commons Mr. Brown voted against the Bill. He voted against a measure that would do more than raise awareness, he voted against ensuring that autistic children in Canada, regardless of where there parents live, would receive effective evidence based treatment for autism.

NAYS -- CONTRE



Brown (Barrie)

For Stephen Harper's Conservatives autism is a good photo op but they are not prepared to actually do anything to really help autistic children.

Stephen Harper's Canada does not include autistic children.

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Autism Poser - Conservative MP Colin Carrie's Photo Op Support For Autistic Children

""I'm here today really as a thank you," Mr. Carrie told a small gathering at the Whitby Library Celebration Square. "A thank you to Jonathan for his commitment, for not only these kids but their families. To raise awareness, there's so much to be done for these kids. My son is a wonderful musician, a wonderful magician and without having the correct diagnosis and treatment, these kids can be lost."

Oshawa MP Colin Carrie (Conservative) greeting Jonathan Howard, newsdurhamregion.ca

Oshawa Conservative MP Colin Carrie greeted autism Run the Dream runner Jonathan Howard recently as he ran through Durham region in Ontario. Autistic children in Ontario are particularly hard hit by lack of treatment with many of them languishing on waiting lists and and autism agencies cutting back on treatment services for lack of funding. Mr. Carrie, as the above quote indicates, has a personal interest in autism disorders, having a son with Aspergers who, again judging by the above quote, appears to be quite high functioning.

Mr. Carrie took advantage of the photo opportunity to meet with Jonathan Howard and talk about the need for treatment for autistic children but when he had the opportunity to do somethng about it, to actually provide the financing to ensure the necessary treatment, Mr. Carrie turned his back on autistic children. When MP Shawn Murphy brought a private members bill C-304 to amend the Canada Health Act to ensure financing for treatment of autistic children in Canada Mr. Carrie towed the party line and voted nay. Colin Carrie Oshawa Conservative MP, father of a son with Aspergers, and greeter of Jonathan Howard voted nay to treatment for autistic children.

National Strategy for the Treatment of Autism Act

The House resumed from February 14 consideration of the motion that 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, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

The Speaker: previous intervention next intervention

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-304 under private members' business. * * * (The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:) (Division No. 122)

NAYS

Carrie

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Run the Dream to Visit Conor's Birthplace Burlington

I couldn't help noticing that Jonathan Howard's autism awareness raising Run the Dream will soon be heading to Burlington, Ontario. Conor and his older brother were both born at the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital when we lived in Burlington (and Dad did the 4-5 hours commuting to and from the Eaton Centre in Toronto each day).

Jonathan has a positive autism message for autistic children and their families:

"I want children to dream like anything's possible. This run is my way of telling children and their parents to never stop dreaming."

BurlingtonPost.com, July 18, 2008

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Jonathan Howard Runs The Dream and Raises Autism Awareness in Ottawa

Jonathan Howard Meets Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion
Photo from Run the Dream - Jonathan's Blog

Jonathan Howard Runs the Dream across Canada to raise funds to support people with autism and raise autism awareness. He began in March in St. John's, Newfoundland and hit Fredericton, New Brunswick where I met him on June 5. I had the opportunity to talk with Jonathan at that time and I was very impressed. He is a sincere and dedicated young man of 24 who has committed the better part of a year of his life to help people with autism.

Jonathan has met, and raised autism awareness, with provincial premiers along the way. This week, as detailed in his hometown journal, The Mississauga News, Jonathan arrived at Ottawa where he was joined on his run by Kathleen Provost, executive director, Autism Society Canada, and Senator Jim Munson. Jonathan also met with federal Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion. Jonathan reports on his blog that he had extended an invitation to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Jonathan, very diplomatically, states:

For those wondering- What about the Prime Minister Stephen Harper? The invitation was sent a week ago and I am still awaiting a response. Lets Hope!

Far be it from me to challenge Jonathan in the Hope department. If anyone can get Mr. Harper to wake up to the realities of autism in Canada it just might be him.

Keep up the good work Jonathan!

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Run the Dream Celebrates World Autism Awareness Day

RUN THE DREAM LAUNCHES "THEIR STORIES" INITIATIVE

IN CELEBRATION OF UNITED NATIONS WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY

Internet-enabled video interviews with parents, family members, caregivers, and persons with an Autism Spectrum Disorder will be recorded and made available for the public on the Run the Dream website.

April 2, 2008 is the first annual United Nations (UN) World Autism Awareness Day, fulfilling the UN resolution which encourages all member states to take measures to raise awareness about autism throughout society. In support of this resolution, Run the Dream is launching Their Stories, web-based video interviews with the persons most affected by an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), who can best describe what it means.

Run the Dream invites parents, family members, caregivers, and persons with ASD to share their stories, via a video interview which can be recorded on the Run the Dream web site, http://www.runthedream.ca/stories.html#stories, starting immediately, and viewed on the same web site starting on April 2, World Autism Awareness Day. Stories will be recorded and shared with the public on the Run the Dream website until the run is completed at the end of November this year. Run the Dream will continue to share these stories by then compiling the videos from each province and presenting them to the respective Premier, and likewise will present all videos from across Canada to the Prime Minister. The Their Stories initiative is the very first of its kind in Canada using an automated web-based structured interview process, and based on our research, is a global first as well. This innovation is possible through the generous sponsorship of Minavox ( www.minavox.com) and the use of their ground-breaking Canadian-developed technology, Savisys.

In the few days since Jonathan Howard started his run, stories from across Canada have flooded Run the Dream's e-mail inboxes, "Jonathan Howard, created the concept of Run the Dream and started a cross-Canada run in support of ASD on March 25. Even though we're only in the beginning days of this journey we've already received touching stories and offers of support from a large number of Canadians who want to tell their story, and who want to help in making Run the Dream a success. In our view these stories are worthy of sharing with every Canadian. We're delighted that Minavox is making their software and service available to Run the Dream for this purpose," says Bill Robertson, Chairman of Run the Dream's organizing committee.

Working with Autism Society Canada (ASC) http://www.autismsocietycanada.ca/Run the Dream wants to ensure all voices are heard. Those people who do not have access to a computer or a webcam can share their stories using any PC with a webcam, including those of ASC's community partners, through the Their Storiesweb portal. "ASC represents a very large collective voice of the autism community in Canada; we applaud this opportunity to tell Their Stories", says Kathleen A. Provost, CFRE- Executive Director, Autism Society Canada.


This innovation is possible through the generous sponsorship of Minavox (www.miavox.com ) and the use of their ground-breaking Canadian-developed technology Savisys. "Minavox is proud to be associated with Run the Dream and Autism Society Canada, and to be able to provide its services to let Their Stories be heard." said Todd Nowensky, Managing Director and Vice-President of Business Development for Minavox Inc. Added Geoff Kushnir, Managing Director and Vice-President of Technology: "In our view this is one of the best illustrations of what is being described as the new era of the internet, Web 2.0."



Jonathan Howard, 24, McMaster University alumnus, and accomplished athlete developed the Run the Dream campaign to help raise awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with ASD and their families. Run the Dream is an eight month solo run across Canada, starting in St. John's, NL on March 25 and finishing in Victoria, BC on or about November 21. The run will cover approximately 9000km, crossing 10 provinces and more than 650 communities across the country. The campaign is targeted to raise $2.5 million to benefit children affected by ASD and their families. Jonathan appreciates the groundswell of support that has already formed behind his effort and would particularly like to acknowledge the contributions of the sponsors (listed below) of Run the Dream.


# # #


For more information on Run the Dream or to schedule an interview

with Jonathan Howard please contact

Alex Bittner at: alex.bittner@runthedream.ca, 888-507-5885 ext. 4.

For more information on Autism Society Canada please contact:

Lynn Andrews, Director of Communications:

lynn@autismsocietycanada.ca

For more information on Minavox please contact:

Ada Nowensky, VP of Marketing
anowensky@minavox.com


Run the Dream would like to thank their sponsors:

Telus – Official telecommunications sponsor for Run the Dream

Gatorade

Landmark Sport Group

Mariposa Cruises

Minavox

Evolution Rehabilitation and Personal Training Ltd

Whitewater Web Solutions

Brightworks

Spa Sensations

Lauren Canzius
General Manager, Media Relations & Communications
Run The Dream
lauren.canzius@runthedream.ca

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Run the Dream - Jonathan Howard Runs Across Canada for Autism

INSPIRED YOUNG CANADIAN RUNS ACROSS CANADA FOR CHILDREN'S AUTISM CHARITIES

Jonathan Howard's Run The Dream Campaign is Targeted to Raise
$2.5 Million for Autism

On March 25, 2008, in St. John's NL, Jonathan Howard dipped his shoe into the Atlantic Ocean, signifying the beginning of an eight month solo run across Canada, finishing in Victoria, BC on or about November 21.

The run will cover approximately 9000km, crossing 10 provinces and more than 650 communities across the country. The campaign, with the inspirational name Run The Dream, is targeted to raise $2.5 million to benefit children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families.

In partnership with Autism Society Canada, Jonathan is proud to dedicate his run to the cause and to children everywhere, "I want children to dream like anything's possible," says Jonathan. "This run is my way of telling children and their parents to never stop dreaming." Working together, Autism SocietyCanada and Run The Dream will raise awareness about ASDs. "Children, youth and adults with ASDs and their families from coast-to-coast will be watching and cheering Jonathan on as he Runs the Dream! " says Kathleen A. Provost, CFRE- Executive Director, Autism Society Canada.

Day one of the run included a visit to St. John's City Hall, Mile Zero of the Trans Canada Highway , a rally with students at Memorial University and an official launch with the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador at the Elaine Dobbin Centre. From St. John's, Jonathan will continue to crossNewfoundland toward the town of Holyrood.

"We the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, no strangers to chasing the dream, will be with Jonathan, in spirit, every step of the way," says Joyce Churchill President of Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador .

Coinciding with Jonathan's run is the first annual United Nations World Autism Awareness Day taking place on April 2. He will be near Gander NL into the 9th day of his run at that time.

Kicking off the campaign was a launch party on March 20 in Jonathan's home town, Mississauga, ON. Events and fundraising opportunities are scheduled throughout the eight-month campaign in cities across the county. You can log on to www.runthedream.ca for more information or to make a donation.

Jonathan Howard, 24, McMaster University alumnus, and accomplished athlete developed the Run The Dream campaign to help raise awareness of the challenges faced by children with ASD and their families. Jonathan appreciates the groundswell of support that has already formed behind his effort and would particularly like to acknowledge the contributions of the sponsors (listed below) of Run The Dream.

# # #

For more information or to schedule an interview with Jonathan Howard please contact Alex Bittner at: alex.bittner@runthedream.ca, 888-507-5885 ext. 4.

autism